SATURDAY SCOOPS
Picnic prepping
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The Vinci family of Kaimuki are avid beachgoers, often spending up to six hours at least twice a week enjoying Hawai'i's alluring surf and sand.
Bahiyyih Vinci, 38, helps her family get through an active day of surfing and bodyboarding by making sure to pack enough food and drinks to keep them fueled.
The Vincis stick to healthy fare: oranges, grapes, cheese sticks, wheat crackers, dried fruits and nuts, as well as fruit juices and frozen bottles of water, which also help chill their cooler.
"We're just trying to do what we know is right," said Vinci, a flight attendant and mother of three kids, ages 3 to 13.
The beach picnic can be healthful, as well as fun, said Ronni Litz Julien, a mother, nutritionist and author of "What Should I Feed My Kids?"
"We usually pack some great snacks and a meal to keep our energies pumping all day in the sun," e-mailed Julien, who's based in Miami. Below are a few of Julien's tips for packing the perfect beach picnic.
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| WHAT SHOULD YOU PACK FOR A BEACH PICNIC? |
 Watch the salt: Beware of salty snacks, such as baked chips, pretzels and popcorn. Salt will add to dehydration. Snack on healthy goodies, such as 100-calorie packs of Nabisco Oreo Crisps and Goldfish Grahams, and graham and animal crackers. |
 Stay hydrated: Don't forget that the most important item is fluid, so bring plenty of water bottles, Gatorade or Crystal Lite (for the teens). |
 Keep it cool: If you want to pack cold cuts and low-fat cheese (to go with crackers), remember to take them in an insulated cooler, packed with lots of ice. |
 Durable food: Consider peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, which are ideal because they don't require refrigeration. |
 Juicy fruits & and veggies: Bring along water-packed fruits and vegetables, including celery, carrots, watermelon, oranges and grapes. |
Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.
