28 Healthy Snacks Your Kids Will Love (2024)

Growing kids often get hungry between meals.

However, many packaged snacks for kids are extremely unhealthy.
They’re often full of refined flour, added sugars, and artificial ingredients.

Snack time is a great opportunity to sneak some extra nutrients
into your child’s diet.

Instead of highly processed snack foods, fill your child’s tummy
with whole foods that will provide energy and nutrition.

Here is a list of kid-friendly snacks that are
both healthy and delicious.

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Yogurt is an
excellent snack for kids because it’s a good source of protein and calcium.
Calcium is especially important for kids’ developing bones (1).

Some yogurts also contain live bacteria, which benefit the
digestive system (2, 3).

Most yogurts marketed to kids are high in sugar. Instead, choose
plain, full-fat yogurt and sweeten it with fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey.

Still, make sure not to give honey to infants under 12 months
old, as they’re at a greater risk of a serious infection called botulism (4).

You may consider popcorn a junk
food, but it’s really a nutritious whole grain.

As long as you don’t drown it in unhealthy toppings, popcorn can
be a healthy snack for kids. Air-pop your own popcorn, drizzle it with a little
butter, and sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese on top.

However, use caution when offering popcorn to younger children,
as it can be a choking hazard.

Celery with peanutbutter and raisins, sometimes called “ants on a log,” is a
fun way to get your child to eat a vegetable.

Cut a stalk of celery into three or four pieces, spread peanut
butter inside the celery, and arrange a few raisins on top of the peanut
butter.

These three foods combined provide a good balance of carbs,
protein, and fat.

Just be sure to buy peanut butter without added sugar or
vegetable oils.

Nuts are
high in healthy fats, along with fiber and antioxidants. Dietary fat is
important for supporting growth in children (5, 6).

Doctors used to recommend withholding nuts from children due to
the risk of an allergic reaction, but more recent evidence suggests that
introducing nuts at an early age lowers this risk (7, 8, 9).

Nevertheless, nuts can be a choking hazard, so make sure your
child is able to handle the texture before giving nuts as a snack.

As long as your child is not allergic to nuts, trail mix is a
healthy snack for kids to eat on the go.

Most commercial trail mixes contain chocolate candies, which are
high in sugar, but
you can easily make your own at home.

For a healthier version, mix nuts, driedfruit, and a whole-grain cereal.

Pears are a sweet treat and easy for a little one to eat when
they’re cut into slices. Pears are high in fiber and
beneficial plant compounds (10, 11).

Spread each slice with ricotta cheese to add a yummy source of
protein and calcium to your child’s snack.

Cottagecheese is a fresh and creamy cheese that’s soft enough for even
infants to eat.

It’s rich in protein and a good source of selenium, vitamin B12,
and calcium. Vitamin B12 is important for proper growth and brain development
in children (12).

You can serve cottage cheese by itself, top it with fresh or
dried fruit, or use it as a creamy spread on whole-wheat toast.

Oatmeal is a
healthy breakfast for kids but also makes a great snack.

Oats are high in soluble fiber, which increases the number of
beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, along with other health benefits (13).

Skip flavored packets, which are high in sugar, and make your
oatmeal with whole, rolled oats. Add about 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon and some
diced apples for sweetness.

If you make the oatmeal with milk instead of water, it will add
some additional protein and calcium.

Cheese is mostly made up of protein and fat and is a good source
of calcium.

Studies show that eating cheese and other dairyproducts is linked to better overall diet quality.

Full-fat dairy foods significantly contribute to a child’s
nutritional requirements for calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A and D (14, 15, 16, 17).

Cheese
provides children with high-quality protein, which is needed for proper growth.
Protein will also help them feel full between meals (18, 19).

What’s more, some studies note that children who eat cheese are
less likely to get cavities (20, 21).

Some parents think it’s hard to get their kids to eat
vegetables. But if you make itfun for them, they’re more likely to try the veggies.

Spread some hummus in a whole-wheat pita pocket and slice up raw
veggies, such as carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, and bell peppers. Let your child
pick a few veggies and fill the pita.

Veggies are loaded with important vitamins and minerals, and
many kids don’t eat enough of them (22).

A fruit smoothie is a good way to pack a lot of nutrients into a
small snack.

You can also add veggies to a smoothie. With the sweetness of
the fruit, your kid may not even realize they’re in there.

Use whole, fresh ingredients and avoid fruit juice, which
is high in sugar.

There are countless combinations you can try, but here is one
smoothie recipe to get you started:

Berry smoothie

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 2 cups (60 grams) of fresh spinach
• 2 cups (300 grams) of frozen berries
• 1 cup (240 ml) of plain yogurt
• 1 cup (240 ml) of whole milk or almond milk
• 1
  tablespoon (20 grams) of honey

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.

Keep hard-boiledeggs in the refrigerator for a quick, high-protein treat.

Eggs are highlynutritious and an excellent snack for kids. They provide high-quality
protein and several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, riboflavin,
and selenium (23, 24).

They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that
are beneficial for eye health (25).

Furthermore, they’re one of the best food sources of choline, a
vitamin that’s necessary for proper brain development (26, 27).

Homemade banana cookies are a healthy snack for kids that tastes
like a treat.

These cookies get their sweetness from mashed bananas rather
than refined sugar.

Refined sugars are associated with health problems in children,
such as an increased risk of heart disease, childhood obesity, and type 2
diabetes (28, 29, 30).

Banana oat cookies

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/3 cup (80 ml) of coconut oil
• 2 cups (160 grams) of rolled oats
• 1/2 cup (80–90 grams) of mini chocolate chips or dried fruit
• 1
  teaspoon (5 ml) of vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place spoonfuls of the cookie
mixture onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15–20 minutes at 350°F
(175°C).

Raisins are
dried grapes. They have nearly all of the nutrients found in fresh grapes — but
in a smaller package.

Raisins contain a decent amount of iron, a nutrient that many children
don’t get enough of, and which is needed to transport oxygen throughout your
body (31, 32).

Moreover, raisins pack plant compounds, including oleanolic
acid, which may protect your child’s teeth from cavities by preventing bacteria
from adhering to them (33, 34).

Raisin snack packs are an easy grab-and-go snack that’s much
healthier than most convenience foods.

A turkey and avocado roll-up is an easy-to-eat, healthy snack.

Turkey is a good source of protein, which
is responsible for building and repairing tissues in your body. It’s also very
filling, which can help kids feel satisfied between meals (19).

Avocados are
full of heart-healthy fats, along with fiber, folate, pantothenic acid,
potassium, several antioxidants, and vitamins C and K (35).

To make a turkey and avocado roll-up, first peel and slice an
avocado. Gently toss the slices in lime juice to prevent browning. Wrap one
piece of turkey around each avocado slice.

Sweet potatoes are one of the richest sources of beta-carotene,
a nutrient that can be converted into vitamin A by your body. It contributes to
healthy eyes and skin (36).

Homemade, baked sweetpotato fries are a nutritious alternative to french fries.

Sweet potato fries

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh sweet potato
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil
• Sea
  salt

Peel and slice the sweet potato. Toss the potato in olive oil
and sprinkle it with sea salt. Bake on a cookie sheet at 425°F (220°C) for 20
minutes.

Pickles are cucumbers that have been fermented in salt and
water.

They’re a good source of vitamin K, and some products also
contain probiotic
bacteria, which are good for the digestive system (2, 3, 37).

Pickles that contain vinegar don’t contain probiotics, so look
in the refrigerated section of the grocery store for pickles with live
cultures.

Avoid sweet pickles, which are high in added sugars.

Kale is
considered a superfood, as it’s packed with nutrients but low in calories. In
fact, children can get all the vitamin A, C, and K they need in a day in just 1
cup (65 grams) of kale (38).

Though most kids won’t jump at the chance to eat this leafy
green raw, kale chips are a tasty snack that might change your child’s mind.

Kale chips

Ingredients:

• 1 small bunch of kale
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1/4
  teaspoon of salt

Tear the kale into pieces, then wash and thoroughly dry it. Toss
it in the olive oil and seasonings. Spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake it
at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes. Watch the oven carefully, as the kale can
quickly burn.

Most kids love dip, and providing them with a healthy dip is a
great way to get them to eat their veggies.

Hummus is one
option. It’s a thick, creamy spread made from chickpeas, which contain fiber,
folate, and plenty of antioxidants.

Hummus tastes yummy with carrot sticks or other raw vegetables.

Energy balls taste like cookie dough but are made with
nutritious whole ingredients.

You can make these snacks with either ground flax or whole chiaseeds — both source of fiber, protein, and antioxidants.

They’re a healthier alternative to commercial granola bars,
which are usually high in sugar and artificial ingredients.

Energy balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (80 grams) of oats
• 1/3 cup (115 grams) of unfiltered honey
• 1/2 cup (125 grams) of almond butter
• 1/2 cup of ground flax seeds (55 grams) or whole chia seeds (110
  grams)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vanilla
• 1/2 cup
  (80 grams) of dried fruit

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Roll the mixture into
small balls and refrigerate. For a treat, replace the dried fruit with chopped darkchocolate chips.

Bell peppers are naturally sweet and highly nutritious. They
provide a good source of fiber, vitaminC, and carotenoids (39).

Carotenoids are plant compounds with multiple health benefits,
including supporting eye health (25).

Bell peppers taste delicious dipped in guacamole, a creamy
spread made from mashed avocados.

You can make your own sandwich crackers by spreading a little
nut butter, such as almond butter, on whole-grain crackers. This snack has a
good balance of protein, carbs, and fat.

However, choose crackers for your kids carefully. Many crackers
are full of refined flour, hydrogenated oils, and even sugar.

Instead, choose crackers made with 100% wholegrains and seeds.

A piece of fruit is a
convenient and healthy snack for kids.

Most fruits contain fiber and important nutrients like potassium
and vitamins A and C (40).

Bananas, apples, pears, grapes, peaches, and plums are examples
of fruits that can be used for grab-and-go snacks.

Cut fruits like pineapple, cantaloupe, and mango into
bite-size pieces and store in small containers for convenient snacks.

A quesadilla made with peanut butter and banana is healthy and
tasty.

Peanut butter is a great way to give your child a source of
healthy fats and some protein.

Bananas are a good source of potassium,
vitamin B6, and fiber (41).

This simple recipe combines peanut butter and bananas in a yummy
snack.

Peanut butter and banana quesadilla

Ingredients:

• 1 whole-wheat tortilla
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of peanut butter
• 1/2 of a banana
• 1/8
  teaspoon of cinnamon

Spread the peanut butter over the entire tortilla. Slice the
banana and arrange the slices on half of the tortilla. Sprinkle the cinnamon over
the bananas and fold the tortilla in half. Slice it into triangles before
serving.

Olives are rich in healthyfats and packed with powerful antioxidants that protect your body
from damaging molecules called free radicals (42).

Olives are soft and easy for kids to eat. Make sure you purchase
pitted ones for kids or remove the pit before serving them.

Different varieties have their own flavor. If you have never
offered olives to your child before, start with mild-flavored black olives.

Apple slices and peanut butter are a delicious combination.

The skin of an apple
contains pectin, a soluble fiber that feeds friendly gut bacteria and improves
digestive health (43, 44).

Peanut butter has a thick consistency, which may be difficult
for kids to use as a dip.

Mix a little bit of plain, full-fat yogurt into two tablespoons (30
grams) of peanut butter to make a smooth, creamy dip for apple slices.

Frozen fruit popsicles are a yummy treat for kids and really
quite healthy.

Most store-bought popsicles are full of artificial flavors and
refined sugar or high-fructosecorn syrup.

But you can easily make your own, and your kids may enjoy helping.

Purée frozen fruit or berries and a small amount of fruit juice
in a blender. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds or small plastic cups. Cover
with foil and insert a popsicle stick into the popsicles through the foil.
Freeze overnight.

Sandwiches don’t have to be just for mealtime. Half a sandwich
can also make a healthy snack for kids.

To build a healthy sandwich, start with whole-wheat bread, pick
a source of protein, and include a fruit or veggie, if possible.

Here are some examples of healthy sandwich combinations:

• cheddar cheese and thinly sliced apples
• mozzarella cheese and tomato slices
• peanut butter and banana slices
• turkey, Swiss cheese, and pickles
• ricotta cheese mixed with finely chopped veggies
• hard-boiled egg, avocado, and tomato
• cream
  cheese and cucumber slices

Many kids get hungry between meals.

A healthy snack can provide your kids with energy and help them
get the nutrients they need on a daily basis.

Offer your kids whole, unprocessed foods at snack time instead
of prepackaged snack foods.