Beyond the Dock

Boating Bites and Delights

by Bobbie Ames | Food and Entertainment Editor

Summer is the perfect time to head to the lake with family and friends. Safety comes first, but food is a close second! Here are some ideas to make your “floating picnic” one your guests will enjoy.

A Delicious & Fun Picnic on Board

Change it up. Surprise your guests with a delicious selection of cold, healthy and filling main course salads and a crusty French baguette. Salads are much more refreshing in the hot sun than a sandwich, and you don’t have to worry about the bread getting soggy.

Invest in some good quality, individually sized, stackable, reusable containers. These work great to portion out appetizers, a main course and even dessert.  Your guests can eat right from their own container, the food is protected from getting squished during packing, and you simply put the containers back into your cooler to return home—reducing the amount of trash you create.

Consider using mason jars for food and beverage storage and serving.  A variety of items can be layered in the jar for a cute look: cubed meat and cheeses, antipasto items, salads, fruit parfaits and drinks.  

Yeti or other reusable, insulated beverage containers are a brilliant idea for drinks as they eliminate the need to bring ice. Have each of your guests fill their own cup with their favorite beverage. Mark the bottom of each cup with initials or get cups in multiple designs so everyone will know their own special drink.  We don’t want Uncle Bill’s “lake juice” to get into the hands of little Eddie.

On-Board Dining Challenges & Solutions 

Depending on the day and lake traffic, a boat can be a wet, slippery, rocky place to eat. Food and drink containers with some weight to them will help you strike the right balance.

No matter how large your vessel, space on board is always at a premium—pack smart!

Wind, water and the heat can turn paper products into mush and create environmental eyesores—think reusable containers. Bonus points if your containers and coolers match the boat colors.

Strong canvas bags are great to pack up the non-perishable items.

Always keep plenty of fresh water on board—this is both a safety and a thirst issue.  To maximize your space, use frozen water bottles as ice packs.

Take a trash bag, paper towels and wet wipes for messes and sunscreen, lip balm and bug repellant for comfort.