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Sand is inevitable, but these snacks can handle it.
Key Takeaways
- Pack snacks that can handle the heat, sand, and a few hours in your beach bag or cooler.
- Individually packaged trail mix and fruit pouches make sandy hands less of a problem.
- Sweet, salty, fruity, and spicy picks cover just about every beach-day craving.
Beach season is here! We know every beach day takes a little planning, but between checking for expired sunscreen and making sure everyone’s bathing suit still fits, the snack menu isn’t always top of mind. Don’t worry, though, because Trader Joe’s has so many new and returning options to keep everyone happy.
To make your job a little easier, we rounded up the best beach-ready snacks that are easy to pack, simple to eat, and, most importantly, feel like summer. Whether it’s the individually packaged trail mix or dried apricots that can spend the entire afternoon in your beach bag, you’re sure to find something to make these sunny outings just a little bit more festive. So, without further ado, here’s what we’re making room for under the umbrella.
01 of 09
Mango Cream Bars
If you’re bringing a well-stocked cooler, make a little room for a box of these limited-time Mango Cream Bars. Each one features rich vanilla ice cream with a bright mango sorbet shell that won’t melt as quickly as some chocolate-shelled bars. We’re told these are made with two varieties of mango purée, creating a sweet-tart, creamy combination that sweat-soaked TJ’s shoppers love. The bars are already portioned and easy to hand out—no scooping or bowls required—and a box costs just $3.79. Just be sure to eat them before they melt; this find is best enjoyed ice cold.
02 of 09
BBQ Flavored Potato Chips
Little else is quite as satisfying as a salty, crunchy snack after a few hours playing beach volleyball, and these BBQ Flavored Potato Chips are up for the job. (There’s always room for BBQ at the beach.) These chips are flavored with molasses, onion, garlic, and a few other warming spices, which make the barbecue taste, well, bold. They’re sturdy enough for dunking into your favorite dip, and pair well with just about any sandwich you pack. You may even be tempted to add a layer to the top of your turkey club. Best of all, a 10-ounce bag costs only $2.99—an easy crowd-pleaser for your next beach day.
03 of 09
Melon Trio
Fresh fruit is a beach-day classic, but cutting up a whole melon before you leave? Not so much. This convenient Melon Trio takes care of the prep with a ready-to-eat mix of Hami, Lemon Drop, and Dewlicious melons, each bringing a slightly different level of sweetness and crunch. The fruit comes in a resealable 16-ounce container that slips easily into a cooler and costs $4.99. Between the crisp texture and refreshing flavor, this is one snack you’ll be glad to have waiting after a dip in the water.
04 of 09
Just a Handful of Rainbow’s End Trail Mix
This Just a Handful of Rainbow’s End Trail Mix comes in individual 1.5-ounce bags filled with raisins, peanuts, almonds, and colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces for a little salty-sweet treat in every pack. In general, individually packaged snacks earn extra points at the beach, especially when sand and kids are involved. There’s no need to pass around an open bag or dig in with sandy hands. Another bonus: Each serving has 5 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. At $5.99 for 10 bags, it’s an easy way to keep everyone’s snack stash separate.
05 of 09
Extra Choice California Apricots
If you’re short on cooler space but still want something sweet, these Extra Choice California Apricots are dried and pitted, so they can hang out in your beach bag all afternoon. Since they’re harvested earlier in the season, Trader Joe’s says they have a more balanced sweet-tart flavor rather than the intensely sugary, sticky texture of their Slab Apricots. That also makes them a little less messy to snack on after building sand castles. One 8-ounce bag costs $4.99, which seems reasonable when you compare it to what you’d pay for a snack at the boardwalk.
06 of 09
Organic Apple Strawberry Fruit Sauce Crushers
Fruit sauce pouches may be a back-to-school staple, but their mess-free packaging makes just as much sense for a day at the beach. The Organic Apple Strawberry Fruit Sauce Crushers blend apple and strawberry purées into a smooth, fruity snack you can eat straight from the pouch. Kids will love the sweet fruit flavor, and they’re especially handy when you’re parked on a beach towel with nowhere to rinse off your sandy hands. At $2.99 for a 4-pouch box, they’re an affordable grab-and-go option for the whole family—but no judgment here if you grab a few boxes even when there are no kids in sight.
07 of 09
Beach Day Gummy Candy
Few Trader Joe’s snacks commit to the beach theme quite like Beach Day Gummy Candy. The fruit-flavored gummies come in shapes like palm trees, starfish, shells, crabs, and sunglasses, with colorful swirls made without synthetic food dyes. They’re also made without animal gelatin, making them a vegetarian-friendly sweet. The $2.29 bag is compact enough to tuck into an already-packed beach tote, and the playful shapes alone are bound to win over the whole crew. Lastly, the chewy texture and fruity flavor are more than enough reason to finish the entire bag in one outing.
08 of 09
Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snack
Chips aren’t the only way to get your salty fix by the water. This Spicy Tempura Seaweed Snack starts with sheets of nori, adds a crisp tempura coating, and finishes each piece with a fiery seasoning inspired by Japanese togarashi. The result is light but seriously savory, with enough heat to help you sweat more and cool down. At $3.49 for a compact 2.1-ounce bag, it takes up practically no room in your beach tote and gives spice-loving guests a welcome break from the usual potato chips.
09 of 09
Red White & Blue Cookie Bites
The Fourth of July may be behind us, but Trader Joe’s Red White & Blue Cookie Bites are still worth grabbing for your next patriotic beach day. The bite-sized vanilla cookie pieces come coated in cherry, lemon, and raspberry-flavored candy shells, which make them a little more resilient than a crumbly cookie. At $4.99 for a 10-ounce plastic container, they’re an easy sweet to toss in your beach bag and share with the group. Plus, the colorful coating makes them a little more fun than your standard dessert.
Read the original article on Real Simple
