The seaside menu that accompanies a classic British beach holiday has rarely changed in decades – and the old-fashioned foodie treats served close to the shore come with a side-portion of nostalgia.Whether you prefer fish and chips, a cloud of candy floss or a pint of prawns, it’s unlikely we gave the nutritional value of such treats a thought way back when.Now though, we might contemplate whether enjoying yesteryear’s treats is worth the waistline hit.So, just how unhealthy are our favourite nostalgic seaside holiday foods? And are any of them actually fine for the health-conscious tourist to enjoy? From ’99’ cones with a flake to cockles and mussels, nutrition and health experts weigh in on the health reality of each treat… ’99’ ice creams Stay cool: Nothing beats a 99 ice cream in the UK on a summer dayFew treats scream ‘summer holiday’ like an cone of vanilla with a flake stuck in it, aka the ’99’ flake, preferably enjoyed with the sea in view. The ice cream got its name from Italian royalty – allegedly, the monarchy had a guard made up of 99 soldiers, so anything special was referred to as a ’99.’And special this is – but is it any good for you? THE EXPERT VERDICT Nutritionist Sarah Otto weighs in on the best and worst foods you can eatNutritionist Sarah Otto, founder of gut health supplement company Goodness Lover, told the Daily Mail: ‘A 99 is pure nostalgia, I get that but from a nutritional standpoint, soft-serve ice cream is one of those foods that looks simple and really isn’t. ‘Beyond the sugar (and there’s plenty of it), most soft-serve contains emulsifiers and stabilisers that research suggests can disrupt your gut lining and disturb the balance of your gut microbiome.’For many people, that post-ice-cream bloating or stomach cramps isn’t just “a bit of discomfort.” It’s your gut telling you something. ‘Add the Flake on top and you’re layering in more sugar, more dairy, and more ultra-processed ingredients. ‘If you’re going to have a frozen treat on a hot day, a fruit-based sorbet or a coconut milk ice cream would be far kinder to your gut.’Fish and chips Oh my cod! Fish and chips are part of our culinary fabric…but should the health conscious amongst us ditch them? Coco Pierrel, certified integrative nutritionist and founder of Eat Shed Glow, adds her two centsNowhere in the world does fish and chips quite like we do. But what’s the health hit? THE EXPERT VERDICTCoco Pierrel, certified integrative nutritionist and founder of Eat Shed Glow diet coaching, told the Daily Mail: ‘The fish is the healthy half of this plate, and it earns its place. Cod and haddock are lean protein, rich in vitamin B12, iodine, and selenium, the nutrients that support your thyroid and metabolism. ‘The batter and chips are a different story, a big hit of refined carbohydrate that spikes your blood sugar and drops it just as fast, leaving you hungry again an hour later. ‘A trick I give my clients: peel off the thick battered ends, because that’s where most of the frying oil and calories sit, and enjoy the fish inside. ‘And that splash of malt vinegar isn’t only tradition, the acid slows how fast the meal hits your bloodstream and softens the spike, so be generous with it and let the fish do the heavy lifting.’Stick of rock Rock and roll: Rock candy is popular across many UK seaside resort townsAs sweet treats have fallen out of favour with healthier tourists, their kids are more likely to nibble on Nature Valley bars and apples than pure candy these days.But you can still pick up a stick of rock from around 50p to £1 in 2026 – although it might be more of a nostalgia buy than a genuinely delicious snack. THE EXPERT VERDICTSarah says: ‘Rock candy is essentially pure sugar in solid form. There’s virtually no nutritional value whatsoever. What concerns me most is the sheer concentration of sugar. ‘A standard stick of rock can pack 35 to 40 grams of sugar, which is already at or above the recommended daily limit for an adult, in what most people think of as a harmless seaside souvenir.’Cornish pasty My butter half: A Cornish pasty is a traditional British food particularly associated with Cornwall and Devon’If Cornwall were its own country – which many inhabitants claim it should be – the pasty would be its national dish,’ it was revealed in the Daily Mail.Traditionally containing beef, diced potato, turnip and onion, they are a must-have whenever you’re in the south-west region.A lunchtime staple, are they any good for you? THE EXPERT VERDICTCoco says: ‘A Cornish pasty is a whole meal in disguise, which is exactly how it was designed. It was invented as a hearty, self-contained lunch for tin miners, sturdy enough to carry underground and eat by hand. ‘The beef gives you protein and the vegetables add a little fibre, but the pastry quietly carries most of the calories and nearly all the saturated fat.’It isn’t a bad food, it’s simply more packed than it looks, so enjoy it as an occasional treat and a meal in its own right, not the thing you nibble alongside a portion of chips.’Pint of prawns Prawns are another typical seaside snack – but their health value depends on how you enjoy themNot for everyone – but popular among plenty of holidaymakers. It’s a classic pub tradition, where a pint glass or tankard is filled right to the top with chilled but cooked prawns.Serve with a wedge of lemon and a dip for a throwback to the past. THE EXPERT VERDICT Coco says: ‘A pint of prawns is a proper British seaside classic, cooked, cooled and low in fat, rich in iodine, selenium and astaxanthin, the natural antioxidant pigment that gives them their pink blush. ‘The catch is never the prawns, it’s what you dip them in. A heavy pour of mayonnaise or Marie Rose can carry more calories than the prawns themselves, so go easy on the sauce, add a squeeze of lemon, and let the seafood be the star.’Candy floss Don’t sugar coat it: Candy floss is a popular children’s snack, especially at a beach or fairgroundCandy floss is synonymous with a great funfair day out – and no one’s snacking on it because of its nutritional value. THE EXPERT VERDICTSarah adds: ‘Candy floss might actually be the most honest junk food on this list, because it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is: spun sugar and air. ‘A typical serving is lighter than it looks, around 25 to 30 grams of sugar, but it’s 100 per cent simple sugar with zero fibre, zero nutrients, and nothing for your body to actually work with. ‘The artificial colours are worth noting too. If it’s blue or pink, those colours come from synthetic dyes that your body has to process and eliminate. For something that vanishes in seconds, it leaves quite a mark on your system.’Deep-fried ring donuts Donut go breaking my heart: Nothing beats a traditional fried donutTraditional hot fried donuts are not your average jam donut – they’re very much a British seaside treat, with more of a cakey batter.Made using a vat of hot fat and an old-fashioned machine that drops circles of batter into it, they’re crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and sprinkled with sugar. Perfection. But for your health? Not so much. THE EXPERT VERDICTSarah explains: ‘These are one of the more concerning foods on this list from a gut health perspective. You’ve got refined white flour, which has been stripped of its fibre and nutrients, combined with sugar, then submerged in oil that’s often been heated repeatedly. When oils are reheated to high temperatures again and again, they oxidise, and oxidised fats are strongly linked to inflammation in the body.’If someone struggles with bloating, reflux, or digestive discomfort, deep fried foods like these are often one of the first things worth reducing.’Slush Puppy Frozen: A slushie drink is a favourite among children but make it a rare treatThe colour of a slush puppy, whether you opt for blue or red, is enough to lure you in.Unfortunately, it’s exactly that artificial, vibrant appeal that causes the problem. THE EXPERT VERDICTSarah warns: ‘This one really concerns me. A Slush Puppy might look like a fun, harmless drink, but when you look at what’s actually in it, it’s a cocktail of sugar, artificial colours, artificial flavours, and very little else. ‘Liquid sugar is also absorbed more rapidly than sugar in solid food, so the blood sugar spike is faster and more dramatic. ‘Of all the items on this list, this is probably the one I’d most encourage people to swap for something else. Even a homemade fruit smoothie blended with ice gives you that cold, refreshing feeling with actual vitamins, fibre, and something your gut can genuinely use.’Fudge What the fudge! Traditional British Fudge on sale at confectionary stalls is nostalgicA fudge shop will spark joy in the heart of even the most grumpy of holidaymakers. Whether your flavour of choice is simple clotted cream or you prefer to opt for rum and raisin, sharing a bag won’t take very long… THE EXPERT VERDICTSarah concludes: ‘Traditional fudge is sugar, butter, and condensed milk, cooked together until it sets. So you’re looking at concentrated sugar and dairy fat in every bite. ‘Fudge feels like a “small” treat, but the portion density is deceptive. A small piece packs a significant amount of sugar and fat into a very compact form. ‘If you love that rich, sweet flavour, there are lovely alternatives using dates, nut butters, and cacao that genuinely satisfy that craving while giving your gut something to work with rather than against.’ The other surprisingly healthy choices… Oysters are an upmarket – and surprisingly healthy – seaside choiceCoco says there are some foods that are more than just an indulgent snack…COCKLES ‘Cockles might be the most underrated food at the entire seaside,’ she says. ‘Traditionally served in a pot with malt vinegar and a shake of white pepper, they’re low in fat, high in protein, and a single serving can cover your daily iron, alongside vitamin B12 levels almost nothing else on the menu can touch. That’s the kind of nutrition people chase in expensive capsules, sitting quietly in a paper cup by the sea.’WHELKSCoco adds: ‘Whelks are proof that the healthiest foods aren’t always the trendiest. Served the traditional way with vinegar and white pepper, they’re wonderfully lean, rich in protein, and stacked with iron, magnesium, and selenium, all without the saturated fat you’d get from a lot of processed meats. They’ll never be fashionable, and that’s exactly the point. Your body doesn’t chase trends, it runs on nutrients, and whelks deliver.’OYSTERSFinally, she says: ‘Oysters have earned every bit of their reputation. They’re one of the richest natural sources of zinc on the planet, the mineral your immune system leans on, alongside vitamin B12, iron and omega-3s. The classic dressings do them justice too: a squeeze of lemon, or a mignonette, the little vinegar-and-shallot dressing, lifts the oyster without burying it. The one to go easy on is the red cocktail sauce, which is mostly ketchup and loaded with sugar, so keep it light and let the oyster shine.’