Summertime means pool time (or beach time!). There are a few important things to remember to pack for a successful pool day or trip to the beach, so I’m sharing my Summer Pool Bag Essentials and the easiest recipe for a one ingredient slushy. This post was created in partnership with Capri Sun.

Our neighborhood is pretty new still. We just moved in last Halloween after building our home. The great news is, our neighborhood pool and clubhouse were completed just in time for our first summer here. The kids have absolutely loved it.

We are going to the pool nearly every day, which means lots of pool bags are getting packed. Sometimes the kids will go up there together without me.

Our house is just a few houses down from the pool – which is so great, because if they are up there without me I can quickly walk up and check on them. Sometimes we go all together.

It’s funny though, they are so excited about the pool that sometimes there are even multiple trips within a day. Just the other day they spent a couple hours there in the afternoon, and then we all went up together after dinner.

No matter what is happening that day and who is going to the pool, we make sure to bring these pool bag essentials for a successful and fun pool day!

Sun Protection

Sunscreen

Our kids prefer stick sunscreen for their face and spray for their bodies. I like to use a sunscreen specifically formulated for face on myself so that I avoid any clogged pores since my skin can be prone to be oily.

Lip Balm with SPF

Sometimes I think we often forget that the lips are skin too, and are sensitive to the sun. I like to keep lip balm with SPF in my pool bag.

Sunglasses

My eyes are extremely sensitive to the bright sun. I always have sunglasses with me at the pool. Wearing sunglasses at the pool helps keep me from squinting.

Snacks

When we go to the pool, or the beach, we’re usually there for several hours. Kids, and adults, can get hungry. If you’re at a pool that has “adult swim,” having a healthy summer snack gives kids something to do while they wait for it to be kid swim again.

I try to pack things that don’t make a lot of mess and are easy to pack. Finger foods and fresh fruits are best. Try some of these snacks:

Pina Colada Energy Balls feature a mix of protein, healthy fats, and naturally sweet pineapple, dates and coconut. Pop these bite sized treats in your mouth for a quick snack and energy fix.

Frozen Grapes are a healthy, cold snack during summer. Bonus: pack them near your drinks or other items that taste better cool to help keep those items cold.

Other ideas include: watermelon, berries, cherries, or crackers, or granola bars.

Drinks

Water is always a great option, but sometimes kids want something with a little flavor. Capri Sun Juice Drinks are the perfect beverage to provide to thirsty kids. My kids love them, and better yet, it’s a juice drink approved by me because it has 35% less sugar than leading regular juice drinks.*

I love that they contain no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and no high fructose corn syrup. They come in 14 different flavors, so everyone is sure to be happy!

Did you know that you can make a quick juice slushy for a summertime pool treat using Capri Sun Juice Drinks? Just freeze the juice pouches ahead of time, let them thaw partially until they are icy but not frozen solid. Then, cut the tops off using scissors and eat with a spoon. This is a fun snack for the kids!

Hydration is so important when you’re outside in the heat. Check out some of my tips for How to Keep Kids Hydrated.

Towels

Towels are definitely an essential for a couple of reasons. Obviously, for drying off at the end of a swim day. For me, I also like to use a towel during my time at the pool: I like to lay a towel out on my lounge chair so my skin doesn’t stick to the plastic.

They’re also helpful when it is time to go for squeezing excess water out of my hair so it doesn’t drip all over in the car. And, of course if you are hopping in the car afterwards, towels are useful to sit on to keep the car seats dry.

Hair Care

The girls and I all have long hair, so I like to bring a wide comb and a bottle of spray conditioner along with hair ties or clips to the pool. That way, we can get our hair out of the way while we’re swimming. Afterwards, we can comb it and detangle it, especially if we are headed somewhere after the pool and won’t be going home to shower first.

Reading Material

My kids are old enough now that I can usually squeeze in a few minutes of reading time at the pool. Here are a few posts with summer book recommendations:

Check out these 5 Books for the Beach!
Want something fun and laid back? Try 5 Adult Books for Summer Reading.

What are your favorite summertime pool tips?

One Ingredient Slushies

Yield: 4 slushies

Prep Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours

You can make a quick one ingredient juice slushy for a simple summertime pool treat using Capri Sun Juice Drinks.

Ingredients

4 Capri Sun Juice Drinks

Tools:

4 Spoons
1 pair Scissors

Instructions

Place the Capri Sun Juice Drinks in the freezer for at least 6 hours. I usually like to put them in the night before I know the kids will want to eat them, and we often store several extras in the freezer just to have on hand.
After freezing, place them in the pool bag or cooler along with 4 spoons and a pair of scissors.
After about 15 - 30 minutes, depending on how hot it is outside and how liquid-y vs. solid you like your slushy, use the scissors to slice off the top.
Then, use the spoon to scoop out the frozen fruit juice. Enjoy!

Notes

We like to keep a variety of flavors in the freezer for use throughout the week during the summer months.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 145mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 0gSugar: 29gProtein: 0g

GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.

Thank you for supporting the brands that sponsor Good Life Eats. This is a sponsored conversation written in partnership with Capri Sun. The opinions and text are all mine.

*This product has 13g of sugar; leading regular juice drinks have 22g of sugar per 6 fl. Oz.