How to stay on track during a beach day

Your beach bag is packed with all the supplies you need for a day on the water: sunscreen, a big towel, more sunscreen, portable speakers, an umbrella, even more sunscreen. You know you want to skip the boardwalk bottomless fries for lunch, but maybe you're not sure what to pack to eat that will be tasty, not soggy, filling, and help you stay within your Points® Budget. We’ve got you! Read on for our best tips for staying on track during your entire beach day.

When you throw one party-size bag of chips into your beach bag, it’s easy to end up over-snacking. Pack portion-controlled pouches instead, likeWeightWatchers® barbecue potato crispsorsea salt tortilla chips. Or take your portion from the large bag and put it in a smaller bag;leave the rest of the big bag at home.

Throw a bunch of washed grapes, a container of rinsed blueberries, or a tub of cut pineapple in your freezer the night before your beach day and put the frozen fruit in your cooler the next day. Fruit is delicious and refreshing frozen, but will still be cool and sweet even if it defrosts a bit in the sand.

The night before, assemble a pitcher of homemade flavored water in the fridge. Great combos include watermelon and basil, lemon and ginger, and cucumber and mint. Pour some water into a large reusable water bottle with some ice, or keep your beverage chilled with aninsulated drink tumbler. Consider also bringing some cut fresh watermelon or cantaloupe to the beach, both of which are about 90 percent water.

Figure out what you’ll have for breakfast the night before so you don’t end up running out of time to eat in the morning (and then find yourself on the road, hungry, and looking for your snacks before you even hit the highway). Think about making yourself aportable breakfastor have something ready to go in the fridge such asovernight oats.Pre-trackingit means you won’t need to stop and take out your phone either (except for directions to the waves).

Give your beach sandwiches a protein-and-fiber boost with store-bought or homemadeblack bean spread,white bean spread, orcreamy hummus. Other tasty options include mashed, seasoned canned beans, or a few slices of high-fiber, heart-healthy avocado. Then pile the bread high with fresh or grilled veggies!

All you need is areusable lunch tote, a few ice packs, and some tasty fridge finds. Choose things that taste great eaten chilled, such assesame noodles,steak salad, or aBBQ chicken bowl. Tote your lunch to the beach in a reusable food container that has a separate compartment for condiments or sides to avoid sogging.

Food on sticks makes for simple, no-fork-required, one-handed beach eating. Tryantipasto skewers,turkey club skewers, orGreek salad kebabs. Then finish off your meal withrefreshing fresh fruit skewers. Just pack all the dressings and sauces in separate small containers for dipping.

Make your own healthiertuna salad, egg salad, or chicken saladwith swaps like nonfat yogurt or pureed silken tofu for mayo, or opting for a light vinaigrette instead. Enjoy them over salad, sandwiched between your favorite bread, or turn them into lettuce wraps. And if you have fresh cabbage at home, you might really like theseReuben wraps.

Munching on fresh fruit and veggies at the beach is great, but to give your between-meal snacks more staying power, combine them with some protein and/or healthy fats. Easy options include hummus, sliced turkey breast, hard-boiled eggs,light string cheese, olives, walnuts, or almonds. Looking for specific combo ideas? Here’s a well-balancedsnack for one, or asnack platterfor a few of you.