July 4th is just around the corner and while this holiday is certainly about fireworks and friends, it's most definitely about food. Check out some great entertaining tips in our July 4th Favorites video like how to add extra zing to burger meat and how to easily throw together homemade barbecue sauce.

But then, what about the rest of the weekend? July 4th is also synonymous with the beach! Some foods bode better than others in sandy spaces, though it’s no secret that lunch on the beach can be a bit of a hassle. After growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and spending what amounts to months on the beach, I can safely say that eating on the sand is a bit more of a hassle than one would think.  There’s the heat, the sand, the pelicans, the sunburns... Anyway, eating on the beach is hinged on simplicity and necessity: bring as little as possible to enjoy your food as much as possible. So, no utensils or plates, just delightful, self-contained meals and treats.

Much of my beach time is spent on Hollywood Beach in Florida which is crowded with Greek and Mediterranean restaurants.  Here is a quick, light alternative to the gyros and pitas found at these seaside restaurants. The hummus is hearty and gives some weight to the vegetables while the black olives and feta cheese add a bit of salt and moisture, as well as the cheese adding a bit of creaminess to the wrap.

Quick Hummus Wrap

1 large whole-wheat tortilla
3 tbs hummus
1 small tomato, sliced
3 slices of Vidalia onion
2 leaves of Boston lettuce
6 pitted black olives, quartered lengthwise

Place the tortilla on a flat surface and spread the hummus in the center, leaving about an inch free on the ends.  Place the lettuce leaves on top of the hummus, then the tomato and onion slice. Place the olives on top and crumble the feta cheese over the hummus and vegetables. Wrap the tortilla, folding the sides in toward the middle and folding the bottom portion up toward the center. With the bottom portion of the tortilla folded toward the center, push the bottom edge of the tortilla toward the top and flip it twice, so the tortilla is fully wrapped. Wrap in foil and keep cool in a cooler or a cold bag until ready to eat at the beach.

Of course, drinks are always popular on the hot sands of the beach.  I personally love a refreshing Arnold Palmer, which is a mix of lemonade and iced tea. I recommend making your own iced tea, but you can easily substitute your favorite brand.

Arnold Palmer
1 part lemonade
1 part Southern Iced Tea
Mix the tea and lemonade in equal portions to quantity desired. Chill until ready to serve.

Southern Iced Tea
 2 family-sized tea bags
½.to ¾ cup of sugar, to taste
Place the two tea bags in the bottom of a glass pitcher.

Soak two family-sized tea bags in enough boiling water to cover them. Let the tea steep at least 30 minutes, remove the tea bags, and fill the pitcher the rest of the way with cool water. When removing tea bags, do not squeeze them or add ice cold water, as this will sometimes make the tea cloudy. For sweet tea, add ½ to ¾ cup of sugar for approximately 2 quarts of tea.

In my Arnold Palmers, I usually use premade lemonade, such as Simply Lemonade. It is tart enough to balance the sweetness of the tea and not overwhelm you with sugar. If you are making your own lemonade, be careful that when you combine it with the tea (if it is sweetened) that there isn’t a sugar overload.

Fresh fruit is always a good treat on the beach. Watermelon slices are sweet, watery, and easy to handle. Greatest of all, you don’t have to worry about potentially sandy hands covering your dessert with gritty sand, since you only handle the inedible rind of the fruit. For more variety, create a simple fruit salad with sliced kiwi, pineapple, blueberries, and strawberries. If you are concerned about getting sand in your fruit salad, bring a few forks but don’t forget them on the beach.

Each of these dishes is easy to make at home and easy to eat on the shore. Just quickly prepare these recipes at home and enjoy your time at the beach!