When you want to hit the water but you don’t want to always be eating out, it’s important to have a few recipes up your sleeve that are boat-friendly. It’s great to have a few snacks on hand, such as a fruit and veggie platter, chips and dip, or just some refreshing beverages, but what about those times when you need something a little more filling but aren’t near a restaurant?

When you want to have an epic boating weekend, plan ahead by bringing some of these boat-friendly recipes with you to keep the gang feeling energized and to avoid interruptions to the fun. Here are your five best options.

Grilled chicken or smoked tuna

An easy meal to feed your crew at lunch or dinner is to grill some chicken or bring some smoked tuna to eat solo or in a sandwich. This is perfect if you have an electric grill on board and can add your favorite seasonings or sauce. This is the perfect lunch with a side of some of that delicious fruit you packed and a bag of chips.

Kebabs

If you have a vegetarian on board, you’ll love grilling up some kebabs for the family knowing that you can easily make one without any meat. This could be a great dinner or you can add it to the side of another dish. Grill up some veggies and your favorite meat to make a delicious meal on a stick.

Simply add your favorite spices, olive oil, and then wrap it in aluminum foil before grilling it on your grill sheet. This is a great way to get some protein into the day when you’ve been get exercise in the water or need something after a day of drinking by the water.

Oatmeal

If you’ve just woken up from a beautiful night under the moonlight, you’ll be ready for some breakfast to start the day. The perfect boat-friendly morning meal is oatmeal with a variety of dried fruits and nuts to get the day started right. Each passenger can create their favorite oatmeal dish when you provide the perfect oatmeal bar with nuts, fruits, and other favorite toppings. Just heat up some water on the grill or the microwave to pour on top.

 Soups and stews

Another easy route to keep everyone fed is to prepare your favorite soup or stew recipe, and add a side of garlic bread and a salad. Your boat will feel like its own restaurant when you prepare a Salsa Verde Stew with beans, rotisserie chicken, chicken broth, cumin, and cilantro that you can top with tortilla chips, and sour cream.

Try a classic soup recipe like the Tuxedo Soup featuring black and white beans for protein, chicken, veggies, and spices. Having a griddle on board will allow you to make favorites like chili’s, chowders, and more.

Make a boat buffet

One of the easiest ways to bring food onto the boat is to set things like up in a buffet style. Feature things you’d see at a buffet on the boat so that everyone stays fed with easy recipes that are ready to go and with a few options that can be personalized.

Bring things like scrambled eggs in which you can choose your own ingredients, a skillet bar featuring meats for burritos, or a sandwich station to add your favorite toppings. Feature sides like pasta salad, raw fruits and veggies, and dinner rolls that everyone can enjoy to stay full during a long day in the sun. This is a great way to give everyone options when there are different health restrictions or food allergies with passengers on board.

It’s always a great idea to have some meals on board for a boating weekend. Just make sure you’ve planned ahead for supplies to cook and eat from, fuel or charcoal for the grill, and a few meals made ahead of time in case there’s any issues cooking on the water. Make this weekend a great one by bringing some popular, family-friendly recipes aboard.