250 Healthy Snack Ideas For Kids
As a mother of three, I know firsthand the struggle of finding filling and healthy snacks for kids.
It can be difficult to strike the balance between satisfying their hunger and providing them with nutritious options.
With so many snacks on the market filled with added sugars and preservatives, it can be overwhelming to navigate what options are truly healthy for our children.
However, the benefits of providing our kids with healthy snacks are vast, including improved energy levels, better concentration, and a decreased risk of chronic illnesses.
In this blog post, I will share some of my go-to healthy snack ideas for kids, as well as tips for making snack time fun and enjoyable for both parents and children.
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Criteria for choosing healthy snacks
When it comes to choosing healthy snacks for kids, there are a few key criteria to keep in mind. These criteria ensure that the snacks provide the necessary nutrients for growing bodies while also promoting a healthy lifestyle. Here are some important factors to consider when choosing healthy snacks for kids:
- Nutritious content: Look for snacks that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential for growth and development. Some examples include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources, and dairy products.
- Low sugar and salt: Avoid snacks that are high in added sugars and salt, as these can contribute to health problems like obesity and high blood pressure. Look for snacks with no added sugars or salt, or snacks that are low in these ingredients.
- Fiber and protein: Snacks that are high in fiber and protein will help kids feel full and satisfied for longer periods of time. This can help prevent overeating and promote a healthy weight.
By choosing snacks that meet these criteria, parents can ensure that their kids are getting the nutrients they need to grow and thrive, while also promoting healthy habits that will benefit them for a lifetime.
200+ Healthy snack ideas for kids
- Apple slices with almond butter
- Banana and peanut butter roll-ups
- Carrot sticks with hummus
- Greek yogurt topped with berries
- Whole grain crackers with cheese
- Air-popped popcorn
- Rice cakes with avocado
- Trail mix (nuts, seeds, dried fruit)
- Fresh fruit salad
- Veggie chips
- Homemade granola bars
- Cucumber slices with cream cheese
- Cherry tomatoes with mozzarella balls
- Roasted chickpeas
- Frozen grapes
- Celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins (ants on a log)
- Mini whole wheat pita pockets with turkey and lettuce
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Sliced peppers with ranch dip
- Baked sweet potato fries
- String cheese
- Homemade smoothies
- Sliced kiwi and strawberries
- Mixed nuts
- Oatmeal cookies
- Whole grain toast with avocado
- Blueberry muffins
- Sliced peaches with cottage cheese
- Edamame
- Baked apple chips
- Peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread
- Whole grain waffles with maple syrup
- Frozen yogurt popsicles
- Homemade fruit leather
- Watermelon cubes
- Zucchini bread
- Raisins
- Cheese quesadillas
- Banana muffins
- Sliced mango
- Almond flour pancakes
- Homemade trail mix (cereal, nuts, dried fruit)
- Pear slices with honey
- Brown rice cakes with nut butter
- Guacamole with whole grain chips
- Cottage cheese with pineapple
- Chia pudding
- Mini bell peppers filled with cream cheese
- Homemade veggie burger sliders
- Turkey and cheese roll-ups
- Baked kale chips
- Fruit kebabs
- Tuna salad on cucumber slices
- Whole grain pretzels
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Homemade oat bars
- Baked zucchini fries
- Caprese salad skewers (tomato, basil, mozzarella)
- Quinoa salad
- Stuffed dates with cream cheese
- Cheese and apple slices
- Pita chips with tzatziki sauce
- Baked potato wedges
- Sliced bananas with a sprinkle of cinnamon
- Yogurt parfait with granola and fruit
- Spinach and cheese stuffed mushrooms
- Baked fish sticks
- Fruit smoothie bowls
- Sliced cucumbers and tomatoes with feta cheese
- Whole grain bagel with cream cheese
- Homemade salsa with baked tortilla chips
- Berry yogurt bark
- Grilled cheese sandwich
- Homemade chicken tenders
- Veggie wraps
- Frozen banana bites dipped in chocolate
- Baked tortilla chips with bean dip
- Rice pudding
- Oatmeal with raisins and nuts
- Turkey and spinach mini meatballs
- Deviled eggs
- Broccoli and cheese bites
- Stuffed grape leaves
- Mini pizzas on whole wheat English muffins
- Cheese and veggie kabobs
- Multigrain cereal with milk
- Tofu nuggets
- Cauliflower bites
- Sliced apples with cheese
- Mixed berry salad
- Whole wheat pasta salad
- Sweet potato and black bean quesadillas
- Peanut butter banana smoothie
- Beet chips
- Homemade fish tacos
- Egg salad on whole grain bread
- Baked beans on toast
- Fruit and nut yogurt
- Mini frittatas with veggies and cheese
- Peach and yogurt popsicles
- Rice cakes topped with turkey slices
- Homemade banana bread
- Fresh pear slices with ricotta cheese
- Snap peas with hummus
- Mixed nuts and dried cranberries
- Mini rice paper rolls with veggies
- Cottage cheese and fruit parfait
- Whole grain toast with mashed avocado and tomato
- Melon balls
- Baked oatmeal cups
- Mini vegetable quiches
- Frozen berry skewers
- Almond butter and apple sandwiches
- Cheese and whole grain crackers
- Sliced bell peppers with hummus
- Baked potato skins with cheese and broccoli
- Natural yogurt with honey and almonds
- Roasted seaweed snacks
- Frozen yogurt-covered blueberries
- Fruit salsa with cinnamon chips
- Mini caprese salad bites
- Whole grain English muffin pizzas
- Spinach and banana smoothie
- Sweet potato and lentil patties
- Apple and cheese quesadillas
- Veggie sticks with yogurt dip
- Homemade fruit and nut bars
- Turkey and cucumber roll-ups
- Baked apple with cinnamon and raisins
- Whole wheat pancakes
- Veggie and cheese omelette
- Pineapple and cottage cheese
- Oatmeal raisin cookies
- Kiwi and strawberry skewers
- Homemade zucchini muffins
- Avocado and egg salad sandwich
- Cereal and milk bars
- Cherry tomatoes stuffed with tuna salad
- Roasted pumpkin seeds
- Mini cheese and spinach pies
- Peanut butter and honey on whole grain bread
- Baked sweet potato wedges
- Frozen fruit popsicles
- Homemade fruit smoothies
- Whole grain bagels with peanut butter
- Turkey lettuce wraps
- Baked cauliflower tots
- Frozen banana and peanut butter bites
- Cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches
- Grilled vegetable skewers
- Whole grain muffins
- Sliced apples with caramel dip
- Baked beans on whole grain toast
- Fruit and yogurt granola cups
- Mini lentil and cheese sliders
- Tuna and avocado sandwich
- Whole grain pita chips with guacamole
- Baked cod fingers
- Peanut butter and banana quesadillas
- Roasted carrots with honey glaze
- Cheese and fruit bento box
- Homemade chicken nuggets
- Veggie and cheese flatbread pizza
- Greek yogurt with mixed nuts
- Egg and spinach mini muffins
- Carrot and raisin salad
- Baked chicken and veggie rolls
- Whole grain cereal with almond milk
- Homemade guacamole with vegetable sticks
- Oat and honey granola bars
- Sliced oranges with a sprinkle of cinnamon
- Cream cheese and cucumber bagel
- Chickpea and veggie salad
- Turkey and cheese mini bagels
- Baked apple and oat clusters
- Fruit yogurt with granola topping
- Chocolate-dipped strawberries
- Cheese-stuffed dates
- Nut butter and celery sticks
- Homemade vegetable soup
- Whole grain tortillas with beans and cheese
- Grilled chicken strips
- Berry and cream cheese sandwich
- Veggie and hummus pinwheels
- Baked pita and spinach dip
- Sliced kiwi and oranges
- Almond and raisin mix
- Apple and oat muffins
- Creamy banana and berry oatmeal
- Homemade potato and pea samosas
- Chocolate avocado pudding
- Veggie burger sliders
- Steamed edamame
- Whole grain pasta with cheese
- Roasted beetroot chips
- Pear and cheese slices
- Homemade granola with yogurt
- Baked tofu sticks
- Chilled cucumber soup
- Mango and yogurt parfaits
- Baked cinnamon apple slices
- Mini vegetable frittatas
- Whole grain crackers with tuna salad
- Frozen peanut butter banana bites
- Homemade veggie chips (like kale or sweet potato)
- Greek yogurt with honey and walnuts
- Whole grain toast with ricotta and berries
- Guacamole stuffed eggs
- Cottage cheese with sliced peaches
- Sliced avocado with a sprinkle of salt and lemon
- Roasted chickpea and avocado salad
- Berry and spinach smoothie
- Whole grain cereal with milk and sliced bananas
- Homemade chicken and vegetable skewers
- Baked parsnip fries
- Rice cake with cottage cheese and cucumber
- Sliced pears with cheese
- Carrot and cucumber sticks with bean dip
- Mini peanut butter and apple sandwiches
- Baked sweet potato rounds
- Quinoa and cheese stuffed mushrooms
- Frozen melon balls
- Roasted butternut squash cubes
- Whole grain pita bread with hummus
- Almond butter and jelly on whole wheat bread
- Fruit kabobs with yogurt dipping sauce
- Baked oatmeal squares
- Chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce
- Mini turkey and cheese wraps
- Homemade baked beans on toast
- Frozen fruit salad cups
- Cucumber and tomato salad with feta
- Whole grain English muffin with avocado and tomato
- Mini corn and cheese muffins
- Bell pepper slices with ranch dip
- Sliced apples with a sprinkle of cheese
- Homemade fruit and seed bars
- Baked polenta fries
- Cream cheese and strawberry whole wheat wrap
- Baked fish fingers with tartar sauce
- Sliced kiwi and apple salad
- Chia seed pudding with fresh berries
- Roasted sunflower seeds
- Whole grain pasta with pesto and peas
- Veggie sushi rolls
- Mini chicken quesadillas
- Yogurt with granola and dried fruit
- Cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls on skewers
- Homemade smoothie with spinach, banana, and almond milk
By incorporating these healthy snack options into your child’s diet, you can help promote healthy habits and ensure that they are getting the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.
Creative ways to make healthy snacks fun
It’s important to make healthy snacks fun and enjoyable for kids so that they are more likely to want to eat them. Here are some creative ways to make healthy snacks fun for kids:
- Cut fruits and vegetables into fun shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut fruits and vegetables into fun shapes like stars, hearts, and circles. Kids will love the novelty of eating food that looks like their favorite shapes.
- Create a rainbow snack plate: Arrange a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables on a plate to create a rainbow effect. This is a great way to get kids excited about eating healthy foods.
- Use cookie cutters to make shapes out of cheese or whole grain bread: Use cookie cutters to cut cheese or whole grain bread into fun shapes like animals or flowers. This is a fun way to add some variety to snack time.
- Create fun dips like guacamole or tzatziki: Make snack time more exciting by serving up some fun dips like guacamole or tzatziki. These dips are packed with flavor and nutrition and can be served with a variety of veggies or whole grain crackers.
- Make fruit kabobs: Skewer a variety of fresh fruits onto a wooden skewer to create a fun and nutritious snack. Kids will love the novelty of eating food off of a stick.
- Serve up smoothie bowls: Blend up some fresh fruit and Greek yogurt to create a delicious and nutritious smoothie. Serve it up in a bowl and let kids add their favorite toppings like granola, sliced fruit, or nuts.
Tips for incorporating healthy snacks into a child’s routine
Incorporating healthy snacks into a child’s routine can help promote healthy habits and ensure that they are getting the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Here are some tips for incorporating healthy snacks into your child’s routine:
- Plan ahead: Take some time each week to plan out your child’s snacks. Make a list of healthy snack options that you can rotate throughout the week, and make sure that you have all of the necessary ingredients on hand.
- Make snacks easily accessible: Store healthy snacks in a visible and easily accessible location, like a fruit bowl on the counter or a designated shelf in the fridge. This makes it more likely that your child will choose a healthy snack over an unhealthy option.
- Get kids involved: Encourage your child to help choose and prepare their snacks. Let them pick out a new fruit or vegetable to try at the grocery store, or have them help chop up veggies for a snack plate.
- Use snack time as an opportunity to teach healthy habits: Use snack time as an opportunity to teach your child about healthy eating habits. Talk to them about the importance of choosing nutritious snacks and the benefits of eating a balanced diet.
- Be a role model: Set a good example for your child by choosing healthy snacks for yourself. When your child sees you making healthy choices, they are more likely to follow your lead.
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References
- A study found that school snacks containing animal source foods significantly improved the dietary quality for children in rural Kenya. The snacks provided essential nutrients like vitamin B-12, riboflavin, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and zinc, which are crucial for children’s health and development (Murphy et al., 2003).
- Another study analyzed the contribution of snacks to the dietary intakes of young children in the United States. It found that snacks accounted for a significant portion of children’s daily calories, emphasizing the need for nutritious snack options to improve children’s overall diet quality (Shriver et al., 2018).
- Research also highlighted that daily snacking occasions, snack size, and snack energy density can predict diet quality among US children aged 2 to 5 years. More frequent, smaller, and less energy-dense snacks were associated with higher diet quality, suggesting the benefits of carefully chosen snacks (Kachurak et al., 2019).