Shop and Cook: Beach Snacks

Summer is almost here, which means those of us who are lucky enough to live in the Northeast have just one thing on our minds: the beach! Known for picturesque coastlines, relaxing atmospheres and clear, blue waters, our beaches in the Northeast are a popular destination for both locals and vacationers alike. Once you’ve packed your sunscreen and all other essentials to head down to the shore with, there’s just one last order of business: beach snacks!

When it comes to deciding what kinds of snacks to take to the beach, there are a few parameters to keep in mind: portability, lasting power and, of course, yum-factor. We’ve put together three options that check every box, and might even become your new go-to beach snack!

First on the cooler packing list: mason jar salads. Although we’ve included a recipe below, you can use any salad ingredients you’d like to create these versatile mini lunches. By stacking each ingredient inside a small mason jar, you make sure everything stays fresh and separated until you’re ready to eat. At that point, all you have to do is give the jar a shake, and voila!

Next up is a savory homemade snack mix that keeps all day (but is so delicious it probably won’t last that long). In this version, you’ll combine store-bought snack mix with a butter-Worcestershire sauce before roasting in the oven to create an irresistible nosh.

Finally, we have mixed fruit popsicles to serve as a refreshing and sweet day-cap.

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In order to prepare your mason jar salads, all you’ll need is whatever you like! For ours, we went with Dijon dressing, grilled chicken, marinated artichokes, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, yellow bell pepper, black olives, capers, feta cheese and chickpeas.

For the snack mix, we followed this recipe from Kitchn, which includes two kinds of Chex cereal, pretzels, peanuts and bagel chips. Season to your heart’s content with a whisked mixture of Worcestershire sauce, melted unsalted butter, salt, garlic powder and onion powder.

These mixed berry popsicles from Feeling Foodish combine blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, kiwi and mango with coconut water for a simple sweet treat. Freeze them overnight before packing with ice inside a hard-sided cooler.

Prep

We recommend prepping your beach snacks the day before, so everything is all set before you head out in the morning. Grabbing a bag of ice (or two) for your cooler is ideal to make sure nothing goes bad — or melts! — in the hot summer sun. Tap the play button to see how easily everything comes together:

For another great summer meal, check out Shop and Cook: Panzanella Salad.

Which one of these snacks will you be bringing to the beach this summer? Let us know in the comments!