A trip to the beach is one of the highlights of summer; however, if you are planning a picnic, getting sand in your food is arguably the biggest downside of any seaside excursion. Fortunately, there are plenty of foolproof ways to keep the sand out your sandwiches.
It is normally dry sand blowing about that ends up in your food, so sit a little closer to the shore, where the sand is slightly wetter, more compact and less likely to blow around. The best time is after the tide has gone out, so check the tide times before venturing onto the beach.
The less wind you are exposed to, the less likely it is that sand will find its way into your food. Stick to a sheltered part of the beach for your picnic, or put up a beach umbrella or windbreak. Keep your food as far from the ground as possible by using a foldaway picnic table rather than a blanket.
Sticky foods are a magnet for sand, so keep them off your beach menu. Finger foods might seem like a good idea for the beach, but it is often sand on your fingers that ends up contaminating your snacks. Instead, use a toothpick, fork or skewer to pick up finger foods. If you have food in tubs, keep them covered up when you are eating. For a nifty way to easily access food in tubs, cover them with a shower cap.
If you get sand on your fingers, it might seem like a good idea to wash them off in the sea, but somehow the sand never quite disappears between your fingers and fingernails. Instead, bring water from home in a bottle to wash your hands, or use wet wipes, and dry them off with a towel. Some people swear by dabbing their fingers with talcum powder to banish the sand.
