Heading to the beach is a perfect way to spend a summer day, but the wrong food choices can put a damper on your sandy escapades. Some snacks simply aren’t meant for the beach, where the sun melts, the sand sticks, and the seagulls swoop. From melted chocolate to sandy sandwiches, choosing the wrong beach eats can lead to more hassle than relaxation. Here’s a guide to some foods that are better of staying home.

A family enjoying a picnic on a sunny beach, with a man, woman, and child eating sandwiches and fruits on a pink blanket.
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Chocolate

A piece of chocolate wrapped in foil on a wooden table.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Chocolate is a poor choice for a beach snack as it melts rapidly under the sun, creating a gooey mess that’s tough to clean off hands and towels. Whether it’s chocolate bars or chocolate-coated snacks, you’ll likely end up with more on your hands than in your mouth.

Cheesy Dishes

Mexican dip in a black skillet with tortilla chips.
Chipotle Fundido Dip. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Cheesy concoctions like dips, nachos, or cheese sandwiches might seem like a good idea, but in the heat, they become oily and unappealing. The cheese can separate and become a magnet for sand particles, which complicates eating and cleanup.

Soft Fruits & Pre-cut Fruit

A close up of slices of watermelon.
Photo credit: Canva.

Bringing precut fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, or kiwi might save some prep time, but these fruits tend to degrade quicker once sliced. They lose their refreshing crispness, can become watery, and the exposed surfaces may attract insects, making them less enjoyable to eat.

Greasy Fast Food

Fried chicken pieces with fries and a biscuit served on a white plate, with a popeyes logo visible.
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Fast food items such as burgers, fried chicken, and fries are tempting but impractical beach foods. They can turn soggy from the heat, and their greasiness attracts sand, making every bite crunchy in the wrong way. Plus, they’re likely to draw seagulls and other pests looking for a quick steal.

Mayonnaise-Based Salads

Bowl of creamy potato salad garnished with herbs next to fresh lettuce leaves.
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Salads that include mayonnaise, like tuna, chicken, or potato salad, are high-risk choices for beach outings. Mayo warms quickly, which can turn your delightful dish into a breeding ground for bacteria, increasing the risk of food poisoning under the hot sun.

Sandwiches

A ham and cheese sandwich on a wooden board.
Photo credit: Depositphotos.

Although sandwiches are convenient, those packed with layers of meats, veggies, and condiments can disintegrate easily. They often end up soggy, the fillings slide out with each bite, and they can be a chore to eat when you’re also juggling a beach towel and sunscreen.

Salads with Light Lettuce

Fresh caesar salad with croutons and shaved cheese on a white plate.
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Salads made with delicate lettuces like iceberg or romaine are a no-go for beach picnics. These greens wilt rapidly in the heat, losing their crispness and becoming limp and unappetizing. It’s best to opt for heartier greens if a salad is a must-have on your beach menu.

Sticky Desserts

Chocolate peanut butter and jelly frozen yogurt bars on a plate with a spoon.
Chocolate Peanut Butter and Jelly Yogurt Bars. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Desserts with sticky components such as syrup, caramel, or jelly should be avoided at the beach. They can melt or become gritty with sand, which complicates eating them cleanly. Plus, they often leave sticky residues on hands, which isn’t ideal when handling beach gear.

Salty Chips

A bag of potato chips sitting on a white surface.
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Chips are a beach go-to, but super salty snacks like potato chips can exacerbate thirst, especially on a hot day. They can also leave a residue on your fingers, which inevitably ends up coated with sand, making for a gritty and uncomfortable snacking experience. Opt for less salty, easy-to-handle snacks to keep your hydration levels in check and sand at bay.

Raw Meat or Fish for Grilling

A man and a boy are preparing hamburgers on a cutting board.
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Transporting raw meat or fish for a beach grill might seem like a fun idea, but it’s fraught with challenges. Keeping these items at a safe temperature during transport is difficult; if they warm up too much, there’s a high risk of bacterial growth and food poisoning.

Beer & Alcohol

A woman is holding a glass of whiskey.
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While a cold beer might sound refreshing, alcohol dehydrates the body, which can be problematic on a hot beach day. The combination of the sun, the sea, and alcohol can lead to quicker dehydration and a diminished ability to cool down, which can spoil your fun in the sun.

Sugary Drinks like Soda

A row of coca cola bottles lined up on a shelf.
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Sugary drinks such as soda or sweetened iced teas might seem refreshing, but they actually contribute to dehydration. These beverages can also become unpalatably warm under the sun, which diminishes their refreshing quality. Additionally, opened sweet drinks attract wasps, bees, and other insects, which could be a nuisance while you relax by the water.

13 Tips To Have The Best Spring Picnic

Picnic Desserts.
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Planning a spring picnic? Let’s make sure it’s one for the books. Forget about those soggy sandwiches and wilted salads, level up your picnic game with some simple, yet game-changing tips. From choosing the right gear to packing the perfect blend of snacks, these pointers will help ensure your outdoor feast is nothing short of spectacular.

Read it Here: 13 Tips To Have The Best Spring Picnic

13 Ways To Make Drinking Alcohol A Little Healthier

Group of friends enjoying drinks and laughter outdoors.
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Kicking back with a drink might be how you unwind, but have you ever thought about making that sip a bit healthier? It turns out, you can mix a bit of mindfulness with your merlot or margarita. Whether it’s opting for lower-calorie options, slashing the sugar, or just making smarter choices about what you mix your liquor with, there’s plenty you can do to make your happy hour a little happier for your body.

Here are 13 tweaks and tips to keep in mind next time you’re pouring yourself a glass, all aimed at enjoying responsibly while keeping an eye on your health.

See Them Here: 13 Ways To Make Drinking Alcohol A Little Healthier

6 Vegetables Perfect For Raised Bed Gardens And 3 To Avoid

A raised garden bed filled with a variety of plants, including tomatoes, leeks, and leafy greens.
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Jumping into raised bed gardening opens up a whole new world of growing potential, from boosting your soil’s nutrient profile to getting more green in less ground. The beauty of raised beds isn’t just in their efficient drainage or how they keep your soil from getting squashed underfoot; it’s also about making every square inch count. With space at a premium for most of us, picking the right veggies for these elevated patches is key.

This list will guide you through choosing the best plants for your raised beds, ensuring your garden thrives. While not every veggie is cut out for life above ground level, there are some that truly shine in compact spaces.

See Them Here: 6 Vegetables Perfect For Raised Bed Gardens And 3 To Avoid

Select images provided by Depositphotos.

Founder and Writer at Running to the Kitchen | About

Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.

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