When’s the best time to have fun outdoors during spring, summer, and fall. During these times, families and friend groups go on a road trip or vacation to parks, hiking trails, and beaches. Many beaches in the states, such as California beaches, are packed with visitors enjoying the great weather and the warmth of the sea.
However, food can be a bit more expensive and can take up a lot of your time on a trip. Aside from that, it could be challenging to find healthy food for you, your friends, and your family. So the best option when going on a trip to the beach is to pack some snacks or lunch to ensure that you have quality food and, at the same time, cut back some of the expenses you’re going to make on your trip.
Some people may encounter a slight issue when packing food for a beach trip because it can sometimes be tricky. You might have to consider many factors like the space on your cooler, heat when traveling and on the beach itself, and of course, the sand.
When bringing fruits and vegetables for a beach trip, you have to know that foods with lettuce in it will not last for a very long time, even if you store them inside a cooler. It is also essential to know that sticky food would probably attract sand. However, you may avoid these dilemmas by following some great tips for packing fruits and veggies to the beach.
Make sure your fruits and veggies are sand-free
When going on a beach picnic, your number one enemy is no other than sand. Sand could quickly spread all over your food, so you might want to consider taking extra precautions to make sure you can avoid sand clinging onto your fruits and vegetables.
When setting up your food by the beach, make sure to have a sturdy and elevated area where you can put your food – it may be a makeshift table or even a stacked wood or cardboard. You may also have a different towel for your food and put it over your beach blanket. Always wash your hands with water and brush off sand from your body before going to the picnic area to eat to ensure that your food is free from sand and saltwater.
Bring easy snacks
Bring package-free fruits and vegetables to your beach outing. Many fruits and veggies can be used for easy snacking, such as grapes, cherries, cucumbers, tomatoes, blueberries, and carrots. You may eat them on your car rides on the way to the beach or also for snacking while watching the kids enjoy swimming in the water. These fruits are not hard to cut or slice, so they are ideal for bringing on your beach trip.
Make your fruit box to create a more appealing way to easily eat all the yummy fruits. If you do not have time to create your own, you may order a fruit box online or buy it at your grocery stores.
Buy fresh fruits and veggies
Picking fresh fruits and vegetables is the most vital step to have a long storage life for your food. When buying leafy vegetables, make sure that they have a rich green color and have no withering or yellow leaves – if they do, this means that they are already past their prime.
For root vegetables such as squash, onions, and cabbages, choose one that’s bigger and heavy for its size. Make sure that there is no presence of any blemishes or soft and dark spots that signify that the fruit or vegetable is no longer fresh.
When getting fruits and vegetables, handpicking the products you want can ensure that what you get is fresh and new. When you opt for grocery delivery, you will not have control over the quality of the products you get, so there’s a high chance of getting stale fruits and veggies.
Clean your fruits and vegetables
Before packing your fruits and leafy greens for your beach trip, make sure to rinse and clean them thoroughly. Wash them under running tap water before storing them in your cooler. Wash your fruits and vegetables well, even those with skins that aren’t eaten.
Rub your firm-skinned food thoroughly under running water or scrub their skin with a clean veggie brush so that the dirt will come off and ensure that you are eating clean food. Ensure that packaged and “ready-to-eat” fruits and veggies that claim they are washed are also washed and cleaned thoroughly for extra safety. After that, you may dry them using a clean cloth or paper towel.
Storing leafy greens to keep them fresh
Store your leafy vegetables properly to ensure that what you packed for a beach trip is fresh. Please note that green vegetables would have a longer lifespan when rinsed and stored correctly.
If you plan on bringing lettuce, kale, and spinach, make sure to rinse them the night before your trip. Keep them inside a tea towel or paper towel, store them in a resealable plastic bag or a container, then refrigerate. You can take them out the day of your beach trip, and they will still be fresh and wonderful to eat.
Bring pre-cut and pre-packaged fruits and veggies
Cut your fruits and vegetables ahead of time, then store them in your containers. When you do this, it will be easy for you to take your fruits and veggies out on the beach since you would not need to experience the hassle of cutting and eating them. If you’re bringing vegetables like carrots and green beans, it is better to blanch them and give them an ice-water bath to retain their vibrant color and excellent texture.
You may buy pre-cut and pre-packaged fruits and veggies in supermarkets or grocery stores if you want an easier option.
Seal them properly inside plastic bags
Sealed fruits and veggies would remain fresh longer than those that aren’t. When going on a beach trip, ensure that you pack your refrigerated fruits and vegetables on your resealable plastic bags, silicone pouches, or airtight containers. Doing this will help keep your products’ moisture, which helps with dehydration.
Think of alternative ways of bringing your veggies
If you do not want to experience the difficulties in bringing lots and lots of veggies on your beach trip, you may always have a veggie salad. Make your vegetable salad ahead of time and store them inside cups with lids. You may choose your preferred vegetable like cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes, and add the fruits of your choice. Leave a small space in your cup and add your favorite salad dressing before eating.
If you want to enjoy a delicious but healthy drink on your beach trip, you can always make your vegetable juice, store them inside your cooler, and take them out if you’re thirsty. Having salad and veggie juice on a beach trip can be good lunch food or snacking. It’s a fun and less hassle way to enjoy your veggies on the beach.
Store your fruits and vegetables in a cooler
The most important thing to bring in a beach trip is the cooler. Having a cooler ensures that the perishable food you bring on your beach trip will last longer. Fruits and veggies that are peeled and pre-cut need to remain cold before eating, so storing them inside your cooler would be of great help to retain their freshness.