Top Boat Snacks for Summer

If you’re planning a trip to the lake this summer, make sure to pack snacks for the boat to keep you going all day long. 

Whether you plan to waterski, wakeboard, or just relax in the lake, the boat snack ideas below can set you up for hours of fun in the sun.

Planning Boat Snacks

As you prepare snacks for a day on the lake think beyond the typical snack aisle at the grocery store. 

Instead, aim to plan for balanced snacks that can serve as mini-meals and easily be enjoyed on the boat.

You can create a balanced snack by combining a food providing a lean source of protein with a food from another food group.

Items to include in your snack plans:

• Lean Proteins – String cheese, hummus, deli meat, tuna fish, beef or turkey jerky
• Whole Grain Carbohydrates – Snack crackers, bread, bagels, wraps
• Fruits – Fresh, dried, canned in natural juices, applesauce
• Veggies – Baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, mini peppers, sugar snap peas
• Healthy Fats – Nuts, nut butter, seeds, guacamole

Easy Snack Ideas for the Boat

When packing your boat snacks, it is important to consider which snacks you can throw into your bag and which should be packed into a cooler.

Boat Snacks to Throw in Your Bag

Non-perishable snacks, that do not need to be held cold, can be thrown into your bag on the way out the door. 

Stock-up on the healthy snack items below to have ready for your next boat trip.

• Pretzels, pita chips, baked chips
• Snack crackers, graham crackers, animal crackers
• Whole grain sandwich bread or wraps
• Air-popped popcorn
• Granola bars, fig bars
• Beef or turkey jerky
• Nuts, seeds, trail mix
• Individual containers of nut butter
• Raisins and dried fruit
• Whole fruit – bananas, apples, oranges

As you pack your snacks, be mindful of foods that will melt in the summer heat. Items such as chocolate chips in a granola bar or trail mix will melt and make a mess.

Easy Boat Snack Idea: Build Your Own Trail Mix

You can easily build your own trail mix to enjoy on the boat. Simply toss together your favorite whole grain crackers, dry cereal, pretzels, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. 

Then pack the trail mix into individual serving size bags and enjoy on the boat!

Boat Snacks to Pack in Your Cooler

When filling your cooler with drinks for the day, don’t forget to save room for snack items that need to be held cold. 

Below are items you will want to ensure go into your ice chest:

• String cheese / cheese sticks
• Individual containers of hummus or guacamole
• Premade sandwiches – cut in half and packaged individually so you can grab half a sandwich at a time.
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (will maintain quality better when held cold)
• Fruit – Apple slices, grapes, orange wedges, pineapple, cut melon*
• Veggies – Celery, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, celery sticks

*Once fresh produce is cut, it should be stored cold.

Remember to Hydrate

It is important to stay hydrated when you are spending time outdoors in the sun. If you are participating in water activities, such as water skiing, wakeboarding, or wakesurfing, pay particular attention to your hydration needs. 

Even though you are in the water, your body still sweats and you need to replace fluid and electrolyte losses. 

Tips to ensure you stay hydrated on the boat include:

• Make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Pack extra water bottles in your cooler to ensure you have plenty of fluid to last the full day on the lake.
• When you sweat your body loses both fluid and electrolytes. If you will be spending a long period of time outdoors, consider drinking a sports drink to help replace the electrolytes lost in sweat.
• Enjoy fruits and vegetables that contain a high-water content to help you stay hydrated. Foods such as watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, oranges, celery, and cucumbers all have a high-water content and are great snacks for days on the boat. 

*Note: Talk with your doctor sports dietitian nutritionist about staying hydrated in the heat if you are on a low-sodium diet or are required to limit your fluid intake.

Energy Drinks

I suggest avoiding energy drinks when you are spending a day in the sun. 

Energy drinks contain caffeine along with a proprietary blend of ingredients claiming to increase energy levels. These energy blends may include ingredients such as: taurine, B Vitamins, guarana, carnitine, ginseng, and yerba mate (1, 2). 

The combination of ingredients in the drink could potentially have a synergistic effect in the body and lead to health concerns.

If you need extra energy while you are out on the boat, consider eating a carbohydrate-rich snack, such as a piece of fruit or granola bar. Foods that are high in carbohydrates provide the body with energy and can give you the boost you need.

Alcohol

Be mindful about the consumption of alcohol when you are spending a day out on the boat. 

Alcohol has a diuretic effect on the body, which can increase your risk of dehydration. In addition, consuming alcohol can impair judgement and reduce coordination. 

For these reasons, avoid alcohol if you will be driving the boat or participating in water sports.

If you do drink, make sure to drink responsibly and in moderation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines moderate drinking as (3):

• 2 drinks or less per day for men
• 1 drink or less per day for women 

Keep in mind, there are plenty of ways to have fun on the water this summer that do not involve drinking alcohol in excess.

Don’t Neglect Food Safety on the Boat

Taking steps to minimize the risk of foodborne illness is important. Keep food safety in mind as you prepare your snacks and as you enjoy them on the boat.

As you pack your snacks, make sure to follow food safety precautions. Washing your hands, cleaning fresh produce, and avoiding cross-contamination in the kitchen are important steps you can take to minimize food safety risks. 

Once you are on the boat, keep the food safety tips below in mind.

Sanitize Your Hands

The first step to food safety is washing your hands.  On a boat you may not have access to a sink with running water. 

When soap and water are not available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

Choose a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. To apply the hand sanitizer, rub the gel all over your hands and fingers. Continue rubbing your hands together until they are dry. 

Make sure to remind your kids to sanitize their hands before eating as well.

Maintain Temperature Control for Boat Snacks

An important rule for food safety is temperature control. On a boat, making sure cold foods are held cold is paramount. 

Perishable foods, such as meat, cheese, and cut fruit, should not be left out of the cooler for more than 2 hours. This time frame decreases to 1 hour If the temperature exceeds 90 °F (4). 

If food is left out over these time limits, throw it away – it is not worth the risk of getting a foodborne illness.

Use extra caution with maintaining temperature control for the following foods:

• Deli meat, salami, and hot dogs
• Cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products
• Eggs (hard-boiled eggs, egg salad)
• Mayonnaise or products containing mayonnaise (tuna or chicken salad)
• Sliced fruits and vegetables
  • Especially cut melon – toss the melon out if it is left in the heat for over an hour.

To reduce the amount of time food is out of the cooler, pack individual servings of items rather than one large container. This way you can grab a small container of watermelon to snack on without exposing the rest of the cut melon to the heat.

In addition, make sure to store your cooler in a shaded location on the boat that is out of direct sunlight.

Top Boat Snacks for Summer

You are now equipped with boat snack ideas for your next trip to the lake. 

Remember to plan your snacks as mini-meals, include foods from a variety of food groups, stay hydrated, and practice food safety. Enjoy your next day on the boat!

For additional nutrition tips, check out my blog on making healthy choices at fast food restaurants.

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About the Author

Mandy Tyler is a Sports Dietitian Nutritionist in the San Antonio, TX area. She is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, a Licensed Athletic Trainer, and is a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine.  Mandy has experience working with athletes at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. She believes the key to reaching one’s full potential, both in everyday life and in sports performance, relies on a healthy nutritional foundation.