Packing for snacking at the beach

Torus Tammer

It’s summertime, and you’re off to the beach. Swimming, volleyball,

playing with the dog or just soaking up some rays are activities that can

make you hungry. So what should you eat?

Don’t fret. We asked local beachgoers and food experts to recommend what

kind of snacks to take to the beach this summer.Most surfers, or people

expending a lot of energy, want healthful foods in order to be able to

refuel and maintain a good energy level throughout the day, said Mo

George, a vice president at Mother’s Market in Huntington Beach. Obvious

choices -- fresh produce, dried fruits, nuts and deli sandwiches -- are

what most beachgoers snack on, George said..

“A lot of people who are on the go come in and just want something

healthy and quick,” George said.

For those preparing for a long family outing, the day doesn’t have to be

burdened with a lot of early preparation. According to George, all that

is needed is a cooler and foods that won’t spoil quickly.

“People usually take a variety of things like fresh fruit salad, trail

mix, natural potato chips, deli sandwiches ... of course there are the

musts, like bottled water and bottled herbal tea. They tend to stay away

from dairy, which doesn’t do well in the heat,” he said.

Of course, there are those people who don’t want to bother with preparing

food themselves, believing it is easier to buy food from concession

stands.

Two of the favorite concession stands on the beach are Dwight’s and

Zacks, which serve up regulation fast-food fare. Hot dogs, fries, burgers

and shakes are all offered at reasonable prices. For some beachgoers,

there is nothing like grabbing some appetizing fast food when hunger

strikes.

“After surfing all day, I don’t want to come back to soggy food. So I

grab a Hollenbeck burrito, and I’m good to go again,” said Hector Rivera

of Huntington Beach.

Brenda Ellis, a clinical dietitian at Huntington Beach Hospital, said

fruits and vegetables are the best for the beach because they withstand

heat pretty well and replenish you with the vitamins and minerals lost

from sweating.

Ellis adds, “If you bring your own food, use a cooler and try to bring

things that are not perishable.”

Gina Apodaca lives a few blocks from the beach and hangs out there. She

said the tastiest snacks are the easiest to prepare.

“It’s very simple ... I just grab a backpack and throw some water in

there along with veggies and fruit,” Apodaca said. “It keeps me going all

day.”

No matter what you snack on this summer, one thing that health experts

recommend is to stay hydrated through out the day by sipping water

regularly.

“Basically, whether you’re going to eat fast food or health food, make

sure that you drink a lot of water throughout the day,” Ellis said.