23 Quick Healthy Snacks For Kids
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Classic Combo: Apple Slices with Peanut Butter
Apple slices with peanut butter make for a delicious snack pairing the sweet crunchy freshness of apple slices with the creamy nutty protein punch of peanut butter. Kids love dipping the apples and getting that perfect combo of flavors. Peanut butter also adds some healthy fats and protein to keep kids full and satisfied. Slice apples and serve with peanut butter for dipping, or try spreading peanut butter between apple slices for an apple sandwich twist.
Ingredients:
- Apples
- Peanut butter
Recipe
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Chocolatey Treat: Banana Slices with Nutella
What kid doesn’t love the chocolate-hazelnut delight of Nutella? Spread on banana slices, the potassium and fiber in the banana pairs perfectly with the creamy chocolate-hazelnut spread for a tasty sweet treat. Just a small amount of Nutella goes a long way, so it satisfies their craving while keeping portions in check. The contrast of the firm banana and smooth Nutella makes this snack irresistible.
Ingredients:
- Bananas
- Nutella
Recipe
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Creamy Scooping: Celery Sticks with Cream Cheese or Peanut Butter
Celery sticks make for a super low-calorie vessel for spreads like cream cheese or peanut butter, which kids will love scooping and dipping with these veggie “boats.” The combo of the satisfying crunch from the celery paired with the smooth, creamy dip is very satisfying. Peanut butter adds protein while cream cheese adds calcium and vitamin A.
Ingredients:
- Celery sticks
- Cream cheese or peanut butter
Recipe
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Yes, Please! Carrot Sticks with Ranch Dressing
Most kids love ranch dressing, so pairing it with crunchy carrot sticks encourages them to eat their veggies while dipping in the cool, creamy dressing they crave. The carrots provide important vitamin A and fiber, while lighter ranch options keep this snack healthy. Mix up ranch flavors like garlic Parmesan or add a dash of hot sauce to keep things interesting.
Ingredients:
- Carrot sticks
- Ranch dressing
Recipe
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Protein-Packed: Cucumber Slices with Hummus
Hummus is packed with plant-based protein and fiber, making it far healthier than many other dips. Kids will love dipping crisp, refreshing cucumber slices in the smooth, creamy hummus. The combo provides delicious flavors and textures along with important vitamins and minerals from the chickpeas and tahini. Keep things interesting by trying roasted red pepper or garlic hummus varieties.
Ingredients:
- Cucumber slices
- Hummus
Recipe
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Garden Snackers: Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
Sweet, bright red cherry tomatoes make for a fun finger food snack kids can quickly pop right in their mouths. Bursting with juicy flavor, they provide vitamin C, potassium and antioxidants without any prep work needed. Just wash and grab straight from the fridge whenever kids want something refreshing and satisfying. Keep a container of these bite-sized beauties handy for an easy anytime snack.
Ingredients:
- Cherry tomatoes
Recipe
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Cheese Please: String Cheese or Cheese Cubes
String cheese or cheese cut into fun shaped cubes make for an easy protein-packed snack kids adore. Convenient individually wrapped string cheese portions control serving size while cubed cheese can be made fun with cookie cutter shapes. Pair it with whole grain crackers for a tasty balanced snack. Cheese provides calcium for growing bones and protein to keep kids full.
Ingredients:
- String cheese or cheese cubes
Recipe
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Yogurt Parfait: Greek Yogurt with Berries
Greek yogurt’s high protein and calcium paired with antioxidant vitamin-packed berries makes for a delicious parfait-style snack bursting with nutrients and flavor. The sweet berries complement the creamy, tangy yogurt wonderfully. Use fresh or frozen berries – raspberries, blueberries, strawberries all work beautifully. Top with a sprinkling of granola for some crunch too!
Ingredients:
- Greek yogurt
- Berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries)
- Granola (optional)
Recipe
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Fruity Cottage Cheese
On its own, cottage cheese makes for a great high-protein snack, and when you mix in juicy fresh fruit, it becomes even more delicious. The sweetness balances the creamy, mild saltiness of the cottage cheese. Try tropical fruits like pineapple, peaches or mangoes or go for berry-packed favorites like strawberries and blueberries. However you mix it, this snack packs a nutritious punch kids will devour.
Ingredients:
- Cottage cheese
- Fruit (pineapple, peaches, mangoes, berries)
Recipe
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Protein Pick-Me-Up: Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs are the perfect easy high-protein snack, ready to grab-and-go from the fridge any time kids are hungry. Just boil up a batch at the beginning of the week and you’ve got a snack you can peel and eat in minutes with 6 grams of protein and healthy fats to curb appetites. Salt and pepper or a dash of hot sauce can add flavor.
Ingredients:
- Hard boiled eggs
- Salt and pepper (optional)
- Hot sauce (optional)
Recipe
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Trendy Toast: Avocado Toast
Avocado toast has become a hugely popular snack, and for good reason! Nutrient-dense avocado provides healthy fats and vitamins that growing kids need, and toast provides satisfying carbs and fiber. The creaminess of the avocado contrasts wonderfully with the crunch of the toast. Add just a pinch of sea salt and kids & adults alike will be coming back for this snack again and again.
Ingredients:
- Avocado
- Bread or toast
- Sea salt
Recipe
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Make Your Own: Homemade Trail Mix
Make your own trail mix with your kids’ favorite nuts, seeds, dried fruits, pretzels and cereal for the perfect portable snack. Mix up the combinations and portion into cups or bags. With protein, healthy fats, fiber and complex carbs, trail mix provides lasting energy. Sweet and salty flavors will make this homemade snack mix hard to resist!
Ingredients:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Dried fruit
- Pretzels
- Cereal
Recipe
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Grab-and-Go: Granola Bars
Granola bars make a quick, easy packaged snack to have on hand in the pantry. Look for options under 7 grams of sugar and at least 3 grams of protein and fiber to keep kids full. Chewy oats and honey or nut-filled granola bars can satisfy a crunchy sweet craving in a healthier way than candy when you read labels to avoid unhealthy additives.
Ingredients:
- Granola bar (look for oats, nuts, dried fruit, & under 7g sugar)
Recipe
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Sip Your Snack: Fruit and Yogurt Smoothies
Blending up fresh or frozen fruit into a cold smoothie makes for a deliciously sweet antioxidant-packed beverage that goes down easy. Kids will happily sip their snacks through a straw. Add spinach or kale for green nutrient boosts and milk, yogurt or nut butters for protein and healthy fats. Let kids pick their own fruit combos and they’ll slurp up this snack.
Ingredients:
- Fruit (fresh or frozen)
- Yogurt or milk
- Spinach or kale (optional)
Recipe
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Nutritious “Popsicles”: Frozen Yogurt Berry Pops
Make homemade “popsicles” by freezing Greek yogurt mixed with a little honey and fresh berries or other fruit in popsicle molds. Kids will love this creamy, naturally sweet frozen treat that hydrates on a hot day. The probiotics in yogurt aid digestion while the berries provide important antioxidants, making this a nutritious choice over store-bought sugar-laden pops.
Ingredients:
- Greek yogurt
- Berries
- Honey
Recipe
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Freeze Them Up: Frozen Grapes
Keeping a grab-and-go bag of grapes in the freezer makes for a sweet, icy snack kids adore. The frozen grapes provide a nice cold crunch and cooling sensation that’s super refreshing straight from the freezer on hot days. Just be sure to wash and dry grapes thoroughly before freezing so they don’t stick together for easy anytime snacking.
Ingredients:
- Grapes
Recipe
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Tummy Soother: Applesauce
Applesauce is a classic snack that works great when kids need something gentle for upset tummies. Look for unsweetened varieties to avoid excess sugar and fill up on the fiber and vitamin C in the apples. It provides a sweetness kids crave without all the added sugar found in many squeezable applesauce pouches. Buy it in bulk or make your own for a healthy snack.
Ingredients:
- Unsweetened applesauce
Recipe
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Crispy Combo: Rice Cakes with Nut Butter
Nut butter delivers protein and rice cakes offer a gluten free, carb-filled base when combined together for a tasty snack. The contrast of the crispy light rice cake with the creamy nutty almond or peanut butter makes this open-faced sandwich a hand-held favorite. Use lightly salted rice cakes to let the nutty flavor shine or try brown rice cakes for extra nutrients.
Ingredients:
- Rice cakes
- Nut butter (peanut, almond, etc.)
Recipe
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Classic Afternoon Snack: Crackers and Cheese
Whole grain or seed crackers paired with cheese makes for a satisfying portable snack with carbs and protein. Look for crackers with less than 150 mg sodium per serving. Pair with part-skim mozzarella, cheddar, laughing cow wedges or any type of cheese your kid enjoys. The variety of crackers and cheese means endless tasty, healthy snack combinations to try.
Ingredients:
- Whole grain crackers
- Cheese (mozzarella, cheddar, etc.)
Recipe
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Crunchy Green Chips: Baked Kale Chips
Making crispy kale chips at home lets you control the ingredients. Kids will love these salty, crunchy chips even if they balk at eating salad. Toss torn kale with oil, salt and any other seasonings, bake until crisp, and kids will happily snack on these nutrient-packed green chips instead of greasy potato chips from a bag.
Ingredients:
- Kale
- Oil
- Salt and seasonings
Recipe
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Popcorn Party
Air-popped or old-fashioned stovetop popcorn makes a whole grain snack kids love munching on by the handful. Drizzle with just a touch of olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese or a dash of chili powder for flavor without unhealthy additives. Avoid the artery-clogging butter and sodium in microwave popcorn bags and make this classic snack a little healthier at home.
Ingredients:
- Popcorn
- Olive oil (optional)
- Parmesan cheese or chili powder (optional)
Recipe
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Crunchy Chickpeas: Roasted Chickpeas
Roasted chickpeas satisfy that craving for crunchy, salty snacks with a protein and fiber-packed legume that gets crispy when roasted. Drain and rinse canned chickpeas, toss with oil and desired seasonings, and roast until golden and crisp. Kids will keep popping these right from the baking sheet for a snack that’s surprisingly delicious and satisfies snack time cravings for something salty and crunchy.
Ingredients:
- Chickpeas
- Oil
- Seasonings
Recipe
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Sweet Treat: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
For a sweet treat, bake healthy oatmeal cookies at home with your kids. Swap in bananas, applesauce and date paste to cut down on the sugar. Add raisins or chocolate chips and kids will happily nibble on these yummy homemade snacks packed with whole grains and natural sweetness. Getting kids involved in baking makes them excited to try these healthier cookies.
Ingredients:
- Oats
- Bananas, applesauce, dates
- Raisins or chocolate chips
