Most dried fruit will include double to even triple the sugar content of fresh fruit. In reality it should be treated as candy and popped about as often as, say, M&Ms. Another dangerous aspect of dried fruit is that it contains fructose which is an ingredient that doesn't signal your brain to stop eating.

Sure, you can toss a few snacks into your beach bag, but for a full day at the beach these are my cooler must-haves to keep you going. Pack a few light cheese options like low-fat string cheese (Trader Joes has a new fresh mozzarella cheese stick -- yum!),Laughing Cow wedges or Baby-Bel minis. They're perfect for pairing with a piece of fruit.

It’s piled high with savory marinated tempeh, fresh veggies, avocado, and two flavorful spreads. Here’s a rare sandwich that actually improves as it sits. Make it in the morning on the day of your picnic, or even the night before, so that the tomato and artichoke juices have time to mingle before you eat. Fill it with something smooth and creamy like peanut butter or cream cheese. This lunch is perfect is your trying to be healthy. You can pair hummus with almost any vegetable and be satisfied.

I like to bring granola bars and of course Stonyfield yogurt pouches. I find the best options to be dried apples, apricots, bananas, pineapple rings and pears. Things like gooey raisins, mango or some of the other will have sand sticking to them. You can make these at home or buy them pre-packaged, but the best part of the granola bar is that it’s self-contained. Along with the Stonyfield Yogurt Pouches, granola bars are also one of the snacks my kids are most likely to eat when they want a quick fix.

My kids were always excited whenever we broke out the snacks! We always found that crackers, yogurt, and fruit made a great combination. You won’t see my suggesting a lot of sandwiches on here (unlike the other lists I’ve seen). Honestly, if you’re sitting in the sand, feeding your kids a sandwich is impractical. When we head out to hit the beach, we always go armed with snacks meandmyfam to help us enjoy a full day there—without the need to leave to find food.

Skip the chicken salad, and make chickPEA salad instead! This creamy vegan sandwich filling contrasts perfectly with crisp veggies and soft baguette. This cheese is stored tightly in wax, so it should last for a while in the sun.

Popcorn is an easy snack to make at home before the beach or you can buy Skinny Pop popcorn at about any store. It's cheap, easy, and healthier than a bag of potato chips. Jocelyn Hsu Bananas are high in potassium and are perfect for throwing into your beach bag. One of my favourite things to do is dip bananas in peanut butter. Whatever you do, don't forget a banana at the bottom of your bag, or else it'll become really soft. Granola bars can be healthy if you choose the right ones.

We couldn't forget this classic sandwich spread you can make ahead and snack on all week. This classic Louisiana dish makes the most of all of the summer veggies like corn, okra, and tomatoes. Get creative and healthy ways to dress up your hot dog. Packing a meal for the beach or a picnic doesn't have to be stressful. Water bottles and electrolyte drinks like Gatorade are of course a must for time spent at the beach. I grew up going to the beach on Saturdays and Sundays for nearly 6 months out of the year.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor. Such a delicious and quick recipe list for picnic. I would love to make few recipes if I out for a picnic.