I have been reading the latest food blogs and looking for the perfect food for the boat for your next cruise on the waters.
You might be asking, "What types of food should I bring boating?" Well, we suggest bringing food like dry snacks, pasta, fruit, and vegetables. Basically, food that is not too heavy or that needs to stay hot. Keep it light and chilled.
When you're on the boat, you don't have access to a full kitchen, unless your super lucky and on a mega yacht. Otherwise, you'll need to plan ahead for the food that you bring with you and think about what kind of meals are easy to prepare. You'll also want to think about how much preparation space there is and how much prep work can be done in advance before your trip begins.
I really suggest preparing your boating recipes prior to leaving the dock, especially if you are going on a one-day boating trip. Nobody wants to spend their time chopping, dicing, and mixing when you should be enjoying the amazing views from the water!
Sandwiches
Sandwiches are a favorite for any meal, but they're especially useful when you're on the water and you need more substantial food for the boat.
Sandwiches can be made with many ingredients and can be eaten at any time of day, making them a great option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Sandwiches are also easy to store and keep fresh too. Plus they travel well in your boat's cooler!
You can make sandwiches with meat or vegetarian options; each one will taste great either way!
Cold Salads
Salads are a great option for boaters because they're quick and easy to prepare, and they last well in hot weather. The ingredients can be stored in your cooler, making them perfect for packing into a cooler before heading out on the water.
Salad dressing can also be prepared ahead of time and stored in a separate container from the salad itself. This way, when you're ready to eat your salad, all you have to do is add dressing and toss it together! This is one of my top favorite food for the boat when we go out on the water.
Dry Snacks
Consider bringing along a few of your favorite chips and crackers for your boating day. Dry snacks are the perfect food for the boat items for when you are anchored on the boat. Dry snacks are easily transported and easy to pack since they don't require refrigeration.
I always keep our dry snacks in my beach bag and have it easily accessible on when we are out on the boat. You never know when your littles will become hungry. Well, I take that back since it's basically all the time.
Fruit and Vegetables
Precut fruit and vegetables are also a great option for a snacking food for the boat. Easy fruits to prepare are grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. There are so many vegetable choices that would be great food for boating like celery and carrot sticks, cut-up squash, cucumber, and bell peppers.
Chicken Tenders
If you are vegetarian, then please read to the next section, but I have to mention this since we have had success with bringing this food for the boat option with our family. I had a friend tell me that she brings along fried chicken tenders that she picks up from the grocery store the morning of their boating day.
So I gave it a try one day, and it was a hit. I stopped by our local grocery store and picked up a package of their fried chicken tenders from the deli section. We then stored the chicken tenders in a dry storage bag and then ate it a few hours later while we were anchored. It was a big hit with the kids and a welcoming change from the sandwiches that we normally bring for food for the boat.
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Think about the containers for keeping your food for the boat in when you are preparing the galley food ahead of time. We always have several of these party platters on hand when going on a boating trip. It's great for keeping food and dips separated during transport because nobody enjoys soggy chips with their dip.
If you want to get fancy with your make-ahead boating recipes, then we suggest these sturdy party trays to display your food on. We enjoy having these trays around because they are lightweight and won't shatter. Plus they are stackable for easy boat storage.
Now that you know the types of food for the boat you should bring, food storage ideas, and party tray ideas, let's review the best boating recipes for summertime!
10 Easy Boating Recipes
Out of This World Corn Dip by Inspired by Charm
Cowboy Cavier by Culinary Hill
7 Layer Lebanese Hummus Dip by The Lemon Bowl
Orzo Pasta Salad by Chelsea's Messy Apron
The Best Chicken Salad by The Daring Gourmet
Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avacado Salad by Skinny Taste
Greek Salad Skewers by The Lazy Dish
BLT Wraps by Center Cut Cook
Quinoa Salad by Cookie and Kate
Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing by Cooking Classy
Remember to keep your boating recipes simple, easy to manage, and light. Also, making snacks and galley food before you leave the shore may be easier than preparing it on the boat.
Bring along pita and tortilla chips to round out our top list of boating recipes.
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Hello! I'm Tiffany, a creative travel writer, mother to three awesome kids, and Floridian. We like to visit beautiful Florida resorts and beaches, Florida State Parks, and explore destinations by boat. I like to write about our travel adventures and provide tips to other families traveling or relocating to the Sunshine State.