The perfect seaside meal is made up of foods that can last in the cooler all day.

The Game Plan

Make sturdy foods that are great served chilled: Spicy chicken and a bitter orange crostata (recipes, below) can stand up to the sand and the heat of waterside picnics. To round out the meal, buy:

A half gallon of lemonade

Guacamole and tortilla chips

Presliced watermelon

Recipes

Spicy Cold Chicken Recipe (shown, top right)

Bitter Orange Crostata Recipe

Tip: To avoid having to unpack every time someone is thirsty, stow food on one side of the cooler and water and juice on the other. Top it all with resealable plastic bags filled with ice. The bags will keep the cubes sand-free for drinks, and you can empty them out in the parking lot at the end of the day.