35 Beach snacks for kids and kid-friendly beach food ideas + recipes you will love
Beach food for kids: ideas and recipes for great beach snacks for kids and beach friendly meals and picnic ideas.
Family days on the beach are great fun but they make kids so hungry, you need to make sure you are prepared!
The sea, sun, and stimulation from the beach environment turn my kids into voracious eaters and the quest and the packing of beach snacks, beach-ready meals and picnics are are at the center of my preparations before a day at the beach with the kids.
So today, I am delighted today to be sharing with you over 20 beach-friendly ideas that will make feeding your family on the go a little easier!
Below, you will find ideas for store-bought snacks for the beach, for those days when you cannot spend time preparing a homemade picnic of you are in a seaside hotel with no cooking facilities and I also share delicious and easy to make recipes for beach meals that area great for kids.
I hope they will help you in the planning of the perfect family beach day!
Table of Contents
How to choose the best beach snacks for kids
When choosing a good beach snack for kids I look for the following:
Nutritious – my children are super active on the beach and use up a lot of energy so I need their snacks and meals to be good fuel for their endeavours!
Not too sugary – my kids adore sugary snacks but sugar doesn’t sustain them for long and may result in a lot of empty calories that leave little satisfaction and bring in little nutrition.
So, my favorite kids’ snacks for the beach have some sweetness in them but are not mostly sugar and hit a balance between kid-friendly taste and a healthy snack.
If I can’t hit that balance, portion control is key, I will not pretend we never go overboard with sugar!
Hydrating – The beach dries you and your kids up so hydrating snacks such as fruit and vegetables are useful, with water, to keep the hydration going.
Easy snacks for the beach: no-prep and store-bought snacks for kids
If you are short on time or you are on a family beach vacation with little access to cooking facilities, easy, no-prep and store bought snacks are your best friend for a stress free beach day.
Easy beach snacks for kids are:
Fruit: quartered apples, pears, bananas, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, mangoes, grapes, dates etc.
Dried fruit: apricots, dried apple slices, raisins, figs etc.
Granola bars: especially if made with mixed grains, seeds and dried fruit
Cheese: string cheese packed or individually wrapped cheese like Babybel are a favorite with my two
Chopped vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, halved tomatoes, celery and fennels are go down well with my children, especially if dipped in hummus (keep in a cooler)
Most of these snacks can easily go into your beach bag or cooler bag.
Beach picnic ideas and make-ahead beach food recipes you’ll love
If you have access to a kitchen, then these are some delicious and easy to make homemade beach snacks and beach meal ideas that are perfect for kids.
These recipes come from a trustworthy group of fabulous food bloggers: click on each entry to get the full recipe!
Tip: make sure you have a good cooler bag for the beach so you can store these beach snacks at the most appropriate temperature.
Delicious, homemade meal ideas and snacks for the beach your kids will love
This is a handpicked selection of great snacks and meals for a day on the beach with kids.
Each recipe has step-by-step instructions to make the meal suggested and make for a lovely beach picnic.
Super easy recipe for real Italian frittata
Italian frittata is a super easy, beach-friendly food for kids that can work as a quick snack or full meal!
Make it plain and serve it into a sandwich for great pick me up during the day or fold in zucchini for a more substantial meal.
Perfect cold, it keeps well in a cooler bag and it takes minutes to make: one of the easiest homemade snacks for the beach you can find!
Turkey Wraps
These turkey wraps are perfect for making in the morning and packing in a cooler for your day at the beach. Full of slices of turkey, bacon and fresh veggies, they will be a favorite with the kids too!
No-Mayo Tuna Salad Cabbage Wraps
No soggy bread and no messy mayo for a beach lunch that will leave you feeling energized, satisfied, and light!These nutritious No-Mayo Tuna Salad Cabbage Wraps the perfect beach lunch to pack in your cooler!
The very best zucchini slice
Zucchini slice is one of those ‘hidden secret’ sorts of foods. Is it a quiche? Is it a pancake? It’s neither, but make it once and it’ll become one of your go-tos for lunch boxes, picnics, parties... and a family day at the beach! Just pack into a cool box for a healthy and filling snack the whole family will enjoy
5 Ingredient Soft Gluten Free Flatbread | Italian Piadina
Made with just 5 ingredients, these gluten free flatbreads are perfect for sandwiches on the go. Roll the bread when it's warm, and it'll stay soft all day at the beach.
Tea Sandwiches {Perfect for an Afternoon Tea}
These 3 bite sandwiches are not just for tea! They're perfect to pack for a picnic or trip to the beach and will keep kids and parents happy
Snack And Lunch Idea: Easy Fairy Bread Recipe
This Fairy Bread recipe is as cute as it is easy to make! Everyone loves a classic sandwich on the go, and the touch of sprinkles makes it even more fun for kids, the perfect snack to pack for a family beach day
Picnic Tomato Caprese Cups
The perfect make-ahead beach picnic salad recipe ready in 10 minutes. Tuck it in your beach cooler then enjoy!
Vegan Pasta Salad
Delicious, quick and easy Vegan Pasta Salad that takes less than 20 minutes to make start to finish and doesn't require chilling. It’s made with simple ingredients that are healthy, colorful, and tasty and it is easy to pack in your beach bag!
Our FAVORITE Homemade Granola Recipe (Easy, Healthy & Clean)
This is the perfect grab-and-go snack for the beach! Healthy, full of nutrients for energy and it doesn't need to be kept cold! Just grab a handful between riding the waves!
Melon and Mint Salad with Coconut and Pistachios
This melon and mint salad is the perfect hydrating snack for a day at the beach! Pack it in a mason jar with toothpicks or reusable forks for easy eating!
Penne Pesto Primavera
Homemade Penne Pesto Primavera is the most delicious and the easiest Italian pasta recipe! This pesto pasta dish is full of flavors, filling and satisfying and perfect for a hot day of sea and sun
Hash Brown Ham and Cheese Egg Cups
Easy Breakfast on the go for those early mornings on the beach with the kids! These high protein Hash Brown Ham and Cheese Egg Cups are easy to throw in a baggie and go!
Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad
Sweet, tangy, colorful, and fresh Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad with poppy seeds is ready in under 20 minutes, travels well and a great side dish or mains for days out at the beach, and picnic.
The Tastiest Quinoa Salad Recipe!
This Southwest Quinoa Salad is perfect for picnics on the beach and potlucks because it doesn't require chilling. It's easy to put together in less than 20 minutes, plus it travels well!
Salpic�n de Pollo - Chicken Salad Tostadas
Crispy, fresh and full of citrusy summer flavour, this Mexican Chicken Salad is delicious tucked inside a tortilla or topped on tostadas. It has no mayo so travels beautifully in a cooler.
Chunky Chicken Salad for a Crowd
A trip to the beach is not complete without a Chunky Chicken Salad. Make this delicious chicken salad ahead of time and store it in the cooler for a great beach lunch for kids and adults alike
Creamy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Make ahead and pack in your cooler this Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is a tasty and easy-to-make side dish perfect for family picnics on the sand. Made with crispy bacon, cheese, and tender pasta that are tossed in a creamy ranch dressing. This pasta salad is approved by kids and grownups alike.
Oat & Banana Applesauce Muffins Recipe
These yummy muffins are a great snack for the family or a breakfast on the go for early beach mornings.
Almond Flour Banana Muffins: Easy Protein-Packed Gluten-Free Snacks
These almond flour chocolate chip banana muffins are packed with healthy protein and fats making them a filling beach snack. They are sweet enough that your kids will love them but still healthy and don't need to be in a cooler.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss Balls
These delicious peanut butter bliss balls are the perfect bite-sized snack for a day at the beach! These energy balls are also made with whole grains and flaxseed and packed with healthy goodness.
Nut Free Chocolate Bliss Balls
These Nut Free Chocolate Bliss Balls are quick and easy to make and travel well. Kids love the chocolatey flavour and don’t realise they are having a healthy treat! Because they are nut free they are perfect for sharing among friends too.
Homemade Peanut Butter Cups - Dark Chocolate
These Homemade Peanut Butter Cups are better than store-bought and healthier as well! These are best kept in a cooler bag since the chocolate can melt in the sun and are a wonderful sweet treat for kids on the beach, after ll that running and swimming!.
Healthy Whole Wheat Chex Mix Recipe
What would a day at the beach be without something crunchy and salty for snacking! Try this whole-grain chex mix for a fun family-friendly snack!
Spicy Roasted Chickpeas - Crispy Masala Chole in Air Fryer or Oven
Roasted Chickpeas are the best healthy, vegan and gluten free snack ever: a great way to add pulses to your kids' food choices while serving a tasty beach snack they will love
Keto Chili Lime Spiced Almonds • Low Carb with Jennifer
These pan-roasted Keto Chili Lime Spiced Almonds are a quick and easy keto snack to make and a perfect on-the-go beach snack idea!
Potato Salad
This Potato Salad has several layers of flavor – tangy, salty & sweet, with a creamy, crunchy, fluffy texture! It’s a must-have beach picnic as it can be easily packed in your cooler bag
Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Super crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken, made with pantry staples, is the perfect recipe for making as a snack for a day at the beach. You can pack it in serve sized portion for easy eating at the beachside
Hawaiian Spam Musubi Recipe Without Mold
One of the most popular Hawaiian snacks to take to the beach is Spam Musubi. It's full of flavor and perfect for breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon snack.
Vegan Granola Bars
The perfect on-the-go snack - these Vegan Granola Bars are hearty, healthy and completely satisfying. They are easy to make, require simple ingredients, and you don't even have to bake them! Super easy to carry, they are a wonderful beach snack for kids and adults alike
Cinnamon Apple Chips
With only three simple ingredients and no refrigeration required, these cinnamon apple chips are a perfect beach snack! The kids won't only enjoy eating them, but making them as well!
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
All you'll need is 5 ingredients, and 15 minutes to make these Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars. Enjoy them as a healthy snack or dessert and carry them to the beach with you to make the kids' day at the sea even more special
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Ball Salt & Baker
Chocolate PB protein balls are a perfectly portioned healthy snack. This is one of the recipes we like to take to the beach because they aren't messy (we like to keep them in a ziplock bag in our cooler), and they provide great protein in just a small bite. Plus they taste amazing!!
Keto Crunchy Cheese Crackers [Cheezits Copycat]
These Cheeze-It Copycat crackers are easy to make, gluten-free, and the perfect snack to throw in a ziplock baggie to take with you anywhere! No cooler needed and kids will love it!
Mexican Street Corn Salad + Video
You can serve this Mexican street corn salad chilled and it's a great make-ahead option for cookouts and picnics on the beach!
Pin this make-ahead 35 beach food recipes and beach-friendly snack ideas for kids and adults using the image below and access them any time you plan a family bech day!
