Beach food

So my lab and I head to Sandbanks once a year in the summer to escape science for a few hours and make sandcastles. I was good at reapplying sunscreen this year (last year I cooked to within an inch of my life and called in sick the next day due to heat exhaustion). I was good at not losing my bikini bottoms to the crashing waves. I was really good at absorbing sunlight and taking a snooze on the hot sand.

What I was NOT good at, to my horror, was packing food for this trip. I normally try to pack a balance...veg, salty snacks, lots to drink, and something to have for lunch. Craig packs a Coleman stove and a cooler every year, so most people bring some meat to grill, bags of chips, etc.

Here's what I brought:

- 3 italian sausages left over from a casserole I made last week, stored (get this) in 2 successive Ziploc bags, and then stuffed into a Thermos
- half a bag of baby carrots that nobody touched
- half a bag of Tostitos that nobody touched
- a Diet Coke (thanks Lisa...I'm officially addicted)
- a Fischer Scientific canister (HA!) of strawberry kiwi Crystal Light

Looking around at other people at the beach, and at what my co-workers brought, I realized I failed miserably on the following notes:

- Did I bring any buns for the sausage? No.
- Did I bring condiments for the sausage? No.
- Did I bring utensils of any kind? No.
- Did I bring any fresh fruit or veg? Yes...but I didn't eat them. Fail.
- Maybe most importantly, did I bring water? No.

Eating a decent meal when every surface around you, including every exposed patch of skin (and some not exposed..), is covered in dusty sand, is really difficult. I don't own a cooler, and I'm on a tight budget. Next time, I'll think to bring water so I don't dehydrate, sandwiches packed with crispy fresh healthy stuff, and tons of juicy fruit. I felt like a tool today, and now since I spend the entire day outside in the sun and am the colour of the watermelon Janine was smart enough to bring, I kind of look like one too.