Food ideas to take to the beach

Food containers and storage bag

The first thing to keep in mind is how to properly take your food to the beach. You can't just carry it any old way if you want it to last long on the beach. Here are some tips:

• Choose airtight food containers that close tightly: you don't want any leaks!
• We recommend always taking your food in glass containers.
• Airtight bags for storing precut fruit, nuts or cutlery.
• All of this should fit in a backpack, bag or cool box with insulating material, so that the food stays nice and cool throughout the day.
• Always leave this bag tightly sealed and in the shade, under the umbrella. Place a towel or body wrap on top to protect it even more against the sun.

The best meals to take to the beach  

For beach dining, the best things to take are "easy" options, meaning food you can eat without needing dishes and that won't be super messy. Here are our recommendations on what food to take to the beach without getting too fancy:

• Sandwiches are a great choice for pure convenience. Try to avoid adding eggs or mayonnaise.
• Pasta salad is one of the star dishes of any day on the beach, right? It's fresh, quick to make, very easy to customise and even easier to eat right out of the container.
• Other salads, such as with quinoa, chickpeas, salmon or lentils, are equally delicious and easy to eat!
• Fresh gazpacho or salmorejo.
• Who hasn't eaten breaded fish or meat on the beach? It's a classic. It's a great choice from time to time, especially for the little ones! Try oven baking them for an even healthier option.
• Avoid fried foods.

How to take fruit to the beach

Fruit is one of our favourite foods to take to the beach. Why? Because it's cool and fresh, super hydrating and full of antioxidants... It's the perfect treat!

As for how to take fruit to the beach, it will depend on the type of fruit: nectarines, plums, bananas or apples are better whole and unpeeled. With peaches, watermelon or melon, it's best to cut them up beforehand and bring them in a container along with a fork. Another option we love is to make a mixed fruit salad or even add fruit to our pasta or bean salad.

What not to take to the beach and other mistakes 

While potato omelette is a typical Spanish dish to eat on the beach, it's not actually a very good choice. And that's because salmonella and the summer are a recipe for disaster. Avoid mayonnaise, eggs and dairy. It's best to replace yoghurt or smoothies with a nice piece of fruit—and skip the chocolate.

Another common mistake is to bring the cool box half empty. Did you know that the fuller it is, the longer it stays cold and the better the food lasts? And avoid filling it with ice, which will eventually get everything wet.

Lastly, do not store food and drinks together. Why? Because we tend to drink much more than we eat, of course, and continually opening and closing the cool box can cause the inside temperature to rise, spoiling the food.