Plan the gaps around your sessions
Before leaving, think about breakfast, the drive, the break between sessions and the journey home. If one of those gaps covers a normal mealtime, bring a meal or decide where you will get one. A single bar is a useful backup, but it is not a plan for a full day.
Write a short checklist you can reuse: water, food for the first gap, lunch if needed, and something for the drive back. That removes one decision when you are trying to leave early.
Choose food you will want to eat outside
Pack foods you already enjoy and know how to store. Sandwiches, fruit and a wrapped bar can serve different roles in the same bag. Use appropriate cooling for perishable foods and follow the storage directions on packaged items.
Consider sandy hands, limited seating and the absence of cutlery. Simple packaging and portions that are easy to handle make a difference. Bring a bag for empty wrappers so everything comes home with you.
Keep water separate from the snack decision
A protein bar does not replace a drink. Bring water and think ahead about whether you can refill your bottle. The right amount to pack depends on conditions, time away and your own needs; a fixed number for every surf day would be misleading.
Avoid testing unfamiliar food immediately before an important or demanding session. Your own experience of what feels comfortable is useful when planning the next outing.
Build a routine, then adapt it
Keep non-perishable essentials together, but check the bag before each trip. Yesterday’s plan may not fit a longer drive or warmer weather. After a few outings, you will know which foods you actually eat and which only take up space.
Henry began with the idea of a bar for a surf bag. That is still a helpful way to think about it: compact food for one part of the day, alongside water, other food and a little planning.