Shore Things: The Best Foods for Your Beach Bag

Beach volleyball and sand-castle building are bound to work up an appetite, but you can do better than sandy cold cuts and store-bought chips. These "sea foods" are portable, refreshing, and heat-resistant (or at least cooler-friendly). You might even say they're a shore thing.

 

Shrimp on the barbie is a classic, and you’ll love this tropical take. Stack your skewers at home and keep them on ice until ready to feast. Spicy Thai Shrimp and Curried Indian Shrimp are two of our other favorite ways to skewer up.

Of course this mess-free finger food screams "summer" -- it’s right there in the name! Pack your cooler with these and our Vegetarian Summer Rolls, and you’ll be the belle of the beach.

We love the cream cheese version pictured here, but peanut or almond butter makes a tasty refrigeration-free substitute. Just call it “crabs on some driftwood.”

A well-wrapped wrap falls prey to neither gritty innards nor soggy bread. We love the high-impact flavors in this one -- see a similar veggie option here.

This brown-bag standard was made to stand the test of time. You’ve eaten hundreds of PB&Js, but what about a PB&MFB (peanut butter, marshmallow fluff, blueberries)? Good luck going back once you give these fun combos a try.

Noodles aren’t just for slurping lazily on the couch. This soba salad’s hydrating crunch will cool the stickiest summer day.

Tomatoes and basil star in this seasonal frittata, like a Caprese salad you can devour by the slice. Stash this one in the cooler -- or this one in the shade.

Fruit salad, we know what glorious heights you can achieve! This tangy jumble of peak-season berries is a far cry from the sad, watery scene at the buffet.

If you’d prefer to take your fruit in a more civilized manner, a plate of fresh fruit sushi (frushi?) can make an everyday sandbar feel like St. Barth’s. This one belongs in your cooler as well.

These crumble-topped squares are a trade-up from the Snickers that used to lurk in your beach bag. Even better, you won’t catch these snacks melting in the heat (though you might want to keep them out of the sun's direct line of fire).