FAMILY MATTERS

Our food director and mum of two Cassie Best shares advice for planning day trips to the seaside, plus a rocky road recipe for kids

Advice for planning seaside trips, plus a fun sweet treat for the kids to help make

LET’S GET OUTSIDE

The UK’S beaches offer the perfect escape for a fun day out with the kids. Look out for Blue Flag accreditation, which signifies excellent water quality and environmental education programmes.

Avoid the crowds

Plan to arrive early with breakfast packed for the journey and secure the best spot on the beach, or go late in the afternoon to avoid peak UV levels. Either way, you’re less likely to get stuck in traffic.

Take some shade

To avoid burn-outs and scorched skin, pack umbrellas, tents and windbreaks. A small garden play tent is ideal for the beach – you can fill it with toys or beach-themed colouring books to give the kids a break from the sun, or just for some downtime.

Splash in safety

If your little ones love the water but you want to keep them out of the sun, pack a small paddling pool. Fill it with with buckets of seawater and bath toys under a big umbrella. They can splash happily while you relax.

Stay hydrated

Keep water on hand all day – there’s nothing like the salty sea air to make you feel parched. Leave frozen bottles of water in the car, so when you return you’ll have cold water ready for the drive home, and won’t be tempted to buy single-use plastic.

Finally…don’t forget spare change for ice creams!