To ask what goes in your beach day picnic?

[holtol]

Family day out to the beach is planned, not something we have done for years, 7 of us in total.

We park a short walk away from the beach and don't have a trailer to transport although think we may need one!

Beach towels, blanket, buckets and spades as well as camping chairs will be out little set up.

But I'm struggling with the picnic - do I freeze loads of bottled water and fill a cool bag with snacks or do we just go somewhere cheap for lunch? Trying to keep costs down!

Picnic ideas are welcomed, was thinking

Sausages in rolls
Fruit - what is easiest to eat - bananas?
Snacky things like soreen bars
Would carrot sticks work?

I feel a bit out of practice so what are the easy things to fill us up and last us the day?

Personally I would find somewhere cheap for lunch if you’re in a position to, and then just take a few snacks. I find picnics are the devils own work 🤣 because the kids know the stuff is there and just want to get stuck in as soon as we hit the beach/park….
Then there’s squabbling and somehow their appetites increase just coz they know the food is there.
If you have lunch out you might get away with an ice cream mid afternoon and some drinks. Your load will be lighter too

I live by the sea and often see very elaborate picnics!! Honestly being there will be such a treat do not worry too much. Make their favourite sandwiches, add in sausage rolls, cocktail sausages and nicer crisps and they will have a great day. Add in some sweet treats and have a great time!

I usually do cucumber and a big melon to keep them hydrated, then rolls, crisps and usual snacks.

In the past we've taken some nice sandwiches and got some chips from the chippy on the front to share, means one person can go get chips and you can stay on the beach. We always freeze bottled water as it's lovely to have nice cold drinks later in the day.

My sister is coming to stay soon and has asked can we go to the beach and take a cooked chicken ! This us because when mine were little id pack a chicken, some part baked bread and a home made cake, usually lemon drizzle or Nigellas lemon iced gingerbread 🤣 god I'm a poncey feeder aren't I !
Ive now realised we take a Cobb cooker and cook sausages , is that better or worse ..

Rotisserie chicken, french stick, box of cherry tomatoes, box of chopped cucumber & carrot sticks, hummus, butter, box of strawberries or water melon, everyone gets their own water bottle and then buy a 'nice' drink there.

Four pack of Stella, a bottle of Blossom Hill, and some Quavers.

😆

I know this is a joke but actually some pre mixed low alcohol cans may be a shout!

I live by the beach, too, and am fascinated by the paraphernalia some take with them. The traditional windbreak/toolbox/bucket and spade PLUS one or more small tents, several folded seats, inflatables, etc.. The other week, I saw one family with a big saucepan full of lovely smelling curry, a rice dish, proper plates and cutlery. Not too much further down, a man was barbecuing steaks on a proper mini barbecue, not one of those foil jobs. It wasn't gas, either.
Some people look like they've moved in for a week. You wonder how they fit it all in the car. I love it, it's great to see families enjoying the beach.

No wonder kids are so desperately fat and unhealthy in the UK.
Have you heard of vegetables, fruit, fish, real meat?

I would take some nice French bakery bread sticks, buttered, with fillings such as jam or cheese, tomato and lettuce or curried egg and some apples, grapes or mandarines.
I would drink water and bring cash to purchase coffee and something extra like fish and chips, if I stayed beaching for hours and if there were a shop.

Alternatively, you could bring packaged crisps, biscuits and apples and cash and trust that there would be a shop.

Sandwiches or rolls
Cut up melon
Crisps
Ice cream from the ice cream van

I hate food getting limp and warm so our picnics are now always hotdogs in a flask! So easy, add some crisps and fruit, and get an ice cream while you're there.
If we're heading to the beach though it has to be fish and chips.

Take a portable bbq and do sausages in finger rolls, lots of ketchup. Crisps. Slices of melon/watermelon/apple and some chocolate. Ice cream from a kiosk.

@Omlettes it is a rare treat visit to the beach so I think they can eat what they want. But add in strawberries and cut cucumber if you like!

I despise beach picnics. I’m a total beach-grinch. Sandy food is not fun. Sand isn’t fun. Sea water making my legs sting and itch isn’t fun.

But I go, and a grin and bear it for the kids. They need snacks so I usually pack a squeezy jelly, soreen bars, ham/cheese wraps and chopped fruit.

I do a bag of food each so you can just hand it out and not have to keep opening the cool bag and letting all the sand in! All bags go together in one big cool bag with a few little ice pack things. What are they called ??! Not too many cos they're heavy.

Each person gets:
Sandwich - size and flavour of choice
Crisps - as above
Something sweet (Kipplings apple pie or kit kat ect)
A drink.

I will often have a pack of mini sausage rolls or something to open and offer round too.

Take a rubbish bag to tie onto one of your camping chairs. Everyone can bung their rubbish in it as they go to stop it all blowing up the beach. They you can just tie the bag up and stick it in a bin or take it home without the cool bag getting all yucky.

I take a pack of wet wipes.

We also take a flask of hot water and some tea bags and milk and travel mugs for adults to have a cupper

Meal deals from tesco today 🤣

Absolutely nothing except kitchen roll, salt and vinegar and then we eat fish and chips on the beach sat in camping chairs. In my opinion it's criminal not to eat fish and chips at the beach. However, if you prefer a picnic and it's a warm day, yes I would freeze the drinks and use them to keep the picnic cold.

My mum is a cub leader for 40 yrs her picnic party piece is piping hot hotdogs in a flask. Buns and sauce. It always goes down well especially with some seaside chips 😋

I'd find a grassy spot by the car and eat there. Sand in your picnic is not nice and it saves having to carry everything.

I'm sure they can get all that at home. Picnics are supposed to be a treat, so treat food is entirely appropriate.

I don't think a picnic is necessarily supposed to be a treat, or it certainly wasn't when I was a child. The day at the beach is the treat, the picnic is just a means of not staving or spending a fortune while you're there.

My day out picnic is generally very similar to a school packed lunch.

Second this! We’ve started doing this for picnics - always goes down well