Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 12 Beach Snack Ideas to Pack Along This Summer Beach activities call for snacks that give you energy and cool you off. By Carissa Chesanek Carissa Chesanek Carissa Chesanek is a food, spirits, and lifestyle writer with more than 13 years of experience in the industry. She loves researching new trends, chatting with chefs, mixologists, and home experts about their craft, and creating well-researched, fun copy for her readers. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on July 21, 2024 Close Summer is all about spending time outdoors and where else would you want to be other than on the beach? When it comes to packing the right snacks, not everything will do. Beach snacks are made for on-the-go and should be either light and refreshing or hearty enough to fill you up all day. If you’re heading out to the beach this summer and want to know the right snacks to bring, we have you covered. Here are our favorite beach snack ideas to enjoy throughout these warm months. 01 of 11 Smoky Roasted Chickpeas Grace Elkus All you need is smoked paprika, olive oil, and a can of chickpeas to make this protein-packed snack that’s also rich in fiber. Roast the chickpeas on a baking sheet until nice and crispy and you have the perfect snack to hit the beach that will keep you full while you soak up those rays. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 11 Crispy Homemade Baked Potato Chips Lauren Simpson Skip the traditional potato chips that come from the bag and make your own for a healthier version you won’t feel guilty about enjoying on the beach. These oven-baked chips are made with russet Idaho potatoes that have been sliced into thin rounds and then tossed in olive oil and garlic powder for a delicious homemade take on a familiar snack favorite. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 11 Pickled Tuna-Salad Sandwiches Mark Lund A can of tuna plus a hard-cooked egg helps make this sandwich full of healthy protein to keep you feeling full longer. This sandwich can also be customized to your liking with your choice of dill or sweet pickle relish for its filling so you can enjoy it the way you want. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 11 Honey-Paprika Walnuts Greg DuPree No snack is quite as nutritious and hearty as a handful of nuts. However, if you want them to be even more flavorful, you have to try this recipe. It calls for honey and paprika (you can also swap in pecans or almonds for the walnuts) that throw any other sweet and salty snack right out of the park. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 11 5-Minute Hummus Ditte Isager If you’re a hummus fan, this recipe is for you. It’s simple, nutritious, and incredibly satisfying. We use the water from the chickpea can to help add even more flavor then drizzle some olive oil on top before serving with pita or veggies. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 11 Nutty Superfood Breakfast Bites Those who want to grab a protein bar for energy while on the road will appreciate these breakfast bites. Here, you have dried fruit, nuts, and seeds to offer lots of natural flavor along with protein and antioxidants so you feel good about enjoying them. The honey and brown rice syrup help sweeten the deal, but we are never opposed to adding some dark chocolate in there. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 11 French Ham and Cheese Sandwich Danny Kim Forget whatever you knew about a traditional ham and cheese sandwich. This version is French-inspired with cornichons, Gruyere cheese, and Dijon mustard all served on a baguette that gives this snack a flavorful and elegant upgrade. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 11 Rosemary Pecans Rosemary Pecans. Real Simple Toss pecans in with melted butter, cayenne, and sugar to give these nuts a perfectly sweet taste with a slight kick. Level things off with the rosemary at the end after roasting to add a balanced fresh and earthy bite. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 11 Popcorn Jennifer Causey Popcorn is the ultimate snack but when you can make it into an even better treat, why wouldn’t you? These popcorn bars do just that, thanks to adding marshmallows, pretzels, and peanuts to the mix that all come together in these chewy, delectable squares that are impossible not to want to eat. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 11 Cantaloupe-Coconut Ice Pops Victor Protasio When it’s too hot outside to even think, you want a quick and easy way to cool down. Nothing does that better than a refreshing ice pop from the freezer (or cooler when you’re at the beach). These pops are made with cantaloupe and a homemade basil-coconut cream that are as bright in color as they are in flavor. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 11 Superthick Chocolate Chip Cookies Greg DuPree Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Any cookie lover out there will surely enjoy these super thick sweats to take to the beach. The mix of milk chocolate chips and semisweet offers the ideal amount of chocolatey sweetness and you’ll love how the middle is gooey while the edges are crispy to perfection. GET TEH RECIPE More Quick and Easy Beach Snacks If you’re looking for more ways to fuel up while on the beach this summer, here are even easier snacks to add to your cooler that require next to nothing in prep work. Cut fruit: Fresh pineapple, watermelon, and cantaloupe all make for easy snacking while on the go. Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries are perfect on their own and can be eaten as is without any cutting involved. Edamame: Steam or boil these beans at home before you sprinkle them with sea salt to taste. Trail mix: Customize your own homemade trail mix by using what you already have in the pantry, such as nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and granola. Frozen grapes: Cool down with frozen grapes that are refreshing, flavorful, and incredibly easy to create. Vegetables: Fresh veggies, such as carrots, celery, broccoli, and cauliflower make for a healthy and crunchy snack alone or with a creamy dip. Nut butter and crackers: Peanut butter, almond butter, or any nut butter will work on a cracker of your choice for a crunchy, protein-packed snack. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit