Lifestyle

51 Delicious, Nutritious & Healthy Snacks for Kids in 2024

by: Ashley Reut

Last Updated on Sep 11th 2024

You probably notice your little ones are often hungry in between meals, so having healthy snacks for kids is essential. While the convenience of many storebought products makes them a popular choice, they can be loaded with sugar, dyes and other less-than-ideal ingredients.

For the toddler that’s always on the go or the pre-teen who needs fuel for sports, preparing healthy snacks for kids doesn’t have to be difficult, expensive or time-consuming. There are a handful of pre-packaged options that you won’t feel bad handing to your kid next time they ask for something to eat. Many of these snacks for kids can be added to kids lunch ideas for a well-rounded meal that will keep them satisfied.

For new parents, discovering how often their kids request snacks can be alarming. Thanks to their small stomachs, they eat less but also more frequently, according to The New York Times. It has nothing to do with being picky or developing bad eating habits. So you need to stay prepared with good, healthy snacks for kids to fuel them as they grow.

But what are the 10 best foods for kids? While your kiddo is growing, they need lots of protein, carbs and healthy fats to help everything develop. It’s also a crucial time to expose them to new flavors and food combinations to give them a nuanced palate later in life. Lots of whole fruits and veggies, even if they’re dehydrated into fruit leather or blended into purée, still provide nutrients. Protein from animal sources via deli meat, eggs, or dairy products can be combined in so many ways for tasty and fulfilling snacks for kids. Read on for some inspiring snacks for kids that you just might want to copy.

Homemade Snacks for Kids

1. Smoothies

Delicious on its own or alongside breakfast for a little extra nutrient density, smoothies are crowd-pleasing homemade healthy snacks for kids. You can customize this to your child’s preferences, but it’s a great way to sneak in some extra fruit and veggies with a picky eater. Frozen mango, pineapple or strawberries covers the taste of just about anything, like spinach or avocado.

As your kids get older and need a little more protein, you can always add some vanilla or chocolate protein powder and make the smoothie with milk instead of water. Pro tip: serve it in a colored container to hide any hints of green!

2. Chia Pudding

With just a few ingredients, chia pudding cups are delicious homemade healthy snacks for kids. Popular as a breakfast dish, these smoothie-adjacent snack ideas can be made any way you like. Mix up chia seeds with the milk of your choice, a dash of vanilla extract and some honey. After it sits in the fridge, ideally overnight, you can top it with fresh fruit.

Kids can spoon it or slurp it knowing they’re getting great fiber, healthy fats and protein. You can mix up fruit bases too by mixing your chia seeds with a smoothie base, or stir in some powdered peanut butter and mini chocolate chips for one of the top healthy snacks for kids, or even for healthier dessert options.

3. Ants on a Log

Perhaps one of the most beloved healthy snacks for kids or adults, ants on a log will never get old. It’s a pretty much foolproof method to get kids to eat something green, even if it is coated in peanut butter. You know the drill here: celery sticks, filled with peanut butter or almond butter and topped with raisins or chocolate chips. It’s decently filling thanks to fiber and fats.

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4. Pears and Ricotta

You can help shape your child’s palate one dish at a time, and while pears and ricotta aren’t that out of the box, it’s a good start as one of the top ideas for healthy snacks for kids. Slice up a pear and spread a little ricotta on top for a sweet, creamy treat that packs a nutritious punch. This one can double as a healthy after-dinner treat, too. Pack them for a picnic food idea, in separate containers, as an appetizer or dessert bite.

5. Muffins or Mini Muffins

Making your own baked goods means you get to control how much, if any, sugar is included. Unlike pre-packaged options like Little Bites, you can mix up muffins or mini muffins using bananas, apple sauce and flour of choice with no sugar added — talk about great alternative options of healthy snacks for kids. Zucchini muffins taste nothing like veggies and kids love the cinnamon flavor. These sweet homemade and healthy snacks for kids are also great breakfast food ideas or a cure for mid-day hunger.

6. Sweet Potato or Kale Chips

If your kid doesn’t shy away from veggies, you can offer homemade veggie chips as a healthy homemade snack for kids. Dusted in spicy BBQ dry rub or sprinkled wtih cinnamon sugar, you almost forget that you’re eating something good for you.

7. Pickle and Ham Roll Ups

Skip the bread altogether and make a few pickle ham roll-ups for the tastiest afterschool snack for kids that you will love, too. Lay down a piece of deli meat ham and spread a thin layer of cream cheese on it. Place a pickle spear in the middle and wrap it up tight. This delicious flavor combo also delivers protein and some much-needed sodium in a crunchy, creamy package. One of the most moreish healthy snacks for kids.

8. Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla

It takes just a few minutes to throw together basic chicken and cheese quesadillas that make for delicious and healthy snacks for kids. For young kids, all you need is one tortilla, some shredded rotisserie chicken or sliced deli meat, and shredded cheese. Heat it together on the stovetop or in the microwave if you’re in a pinch. Slice it up and serve, with or without salsa, for some extra protein to tide them over until lunch or make it a light dinner idea.

9. Deviled Eggs

Prep a big batch of deviled eggs over the weekend to enjoy on the go all week long. These light, delicious and healthy snacks for kids or adults are quicker to create than you think and add some extra flavor to plain old hard-boiled eggs.

10. Banana Pancakes

Whip up a big batch of banana pancakes, made by mashing ripe bananas, eggs, oats (or almond flour) with a dash of baking powder. You can stir in some protein powder too, for an extra boost. Cook them up on the griddle and enjoy hot, but cold pancakes make for phenomenal healthy snacks for kids too.

11. Pigs in a Blanket

It doesn’t take much time to pull together pigs in a blanket, and kids and adults alike will devour them. Store-bought puff pastry and little cocktail weiners bake up into fluffy, tender goodness in just a few minutes. These healthy snacks for kids are actually decently healthy, especially if you use locally produced sausages, as they provide a good balance of protein, fat and carbs to fuel them.

Healthy Kid Snacks to Buy

12. Fruit Leather

A quick and easy carb source is important to have in healthy snacks for kids, especially if they play sports. Fruit leathers are a tasty way to get some more fruit in their diet, without feeling like they have to sit down and get through bite after bite of cut fruit. Read the labels and go for versions without added sugar, as the fruit itself already has plenty of natural sweeteners. This shelf-stable snack will do just fine by being tossed in the bottom of a backpack or sports bag.

13. Clif Nut Butter Bars

The Clif Nut Butter Filled Bars are a decently healthy snack for kids on the go. They’re not perfect, but they do contain protein, a good amount of fast-acting carbs and some healthy fat from the nut butter. Plus, they’re pretty darn delicious. Toss one in your kid’s backpack or along with their lunch box for a sweet treat that will fuel them. For another option from the same manufacturer, you can go for the Clif Kid ZBar, which is essentially a granola bar for kids, making it a slightly healthier alternative. The top rule with these is to provide them in moderation, such as before extended periods of sporting activities.

14. Chomps Jerky

For the aspiring athlete, protein is an important part of everyone’s diet, and Chomps Jerky sticks are a tasty and easy snack for kids that you can buy. From regular grass-fed beef to jalapeno or spicy pepperoni turkey jerky, there are several tempting flavors to try. Pick up a big box from Costco to fuel your whole family. The best part about this specific product is that it not made from processed meat, but rather grass-fed beef for — so it is one of the better options for healthy snacks for kids.

15. Starbucks Sous Vide Egg Bites

Great on the go, the Starbucks sous vide egg bites are healthy snacks for kids and adults. You can swing through your closest Starbucks location, or visit Costco for a refrigerated box of egg bites to reheat in the microwave. There are tons of DIY recipes out there too, if that’s more of your thing.

16. Veggies Made Great

If you don’t have the time or energy to bake things at home, Veggies Made Great offers a healthier snack for kids than the typical Hostess or Entemann’s brand you find at the store. Their muffins have a vegetable as the first ingredient, even in flavors like Blueberry Nut and Double Chocolate. You can buy them at your local grocery store or in bulk from Costco. They have other products too, like blondie bars or egg cakes that rival the Starbucks sous vide egg bites.

17. Pretzels and Hummus

On-the-go snacking just got easier with the Samba pretzel and hummus individual cups. The perfect single-serve healthy snacks for kids that are high in fiber and offer 10g of protein. They're perfect for taking the edge off before lunch or after school.

18. Kodiak Chewy Granola Bars

You probably remember Quaker’s Chewy granola bars from your youth, and while certifiably delicious and easy to eat two or three, they are loaded with sugar and not much else. Thankfully, there are new options out there that make for healthy snacks for kids to buy. Kodiak, makers of protein pancakes and waffles, also sell delightfully chewy granola bars with more than three times the amount of protein than in a classic Quaker granola bar. Flavors like peanut butter chip, double chocolate and s’mores sound just as tempting.

19. GoGo SqueeZ

What snacks are best for kids? The ones that they’ll eat that also provide good nutrition, and these packets fit the bill. It’s hard to find a store that doesn’t carry the GoGo SqueeZ snacks for kids these days. Available in fruit, fruit and veggie and new creamy pouches with yogurt, these are crowd pleaser healthy snacks for kids. They’re shelf-stable so they won’t take up space in your refrigerator, and kids love them. It’s like a healthier alternative to a juice box.

20. Harvest Snaps

Another healthier crunchy, salty snack to replace potato chips would be Harvest Snaps. They offer veggie-based snacks for kids like baked green peas, red lentil rings or dried apples with mouthwatering flavors like tomato basil, white cheddar or Caesar for savory and crispy strawberries, apples, grapes or bananas for a sweet choice.

21. Whisps

There are so many ways to enjoy crispy, crunchy Whisps. Crumbled on top of a salad, dipped in ranch or eaten in between bites of a spiced meat stick… These baked cheese bites pack all the salt and crunch of your favorite potato chips for a fraction of the calories. Not to mention they offer some protein in between meals, making them one of the top healthy snacks for kids to buy.

22. Figgy Pops

Your kids will be begging for more figgy pops for their after-school snack or post-dinner treat. Made from real fruit, including nature’s candy (dates), these little bites are perfectly sweet without the added sugar. They come plain or in flavors like chocolate crunch and they provide great fiber and vitamins for kiddos, not to mention they’re a quick source of carbs before or after sports — great options for healthy snacks for kids who need a bit of extra fiber.

Healthy School Snacks for Kids

23. Yogurt

Yogurt is a popular food early on when kids are starting to get their first teeth, but it’s just as tasty and useful for toddlers through to teenagers — and beyond. Depending on the type you choose, it packs protein, calcium and healthy fats in one little container. The only thing to be wary of when buying this healthy school snack for kids is that it can contain a lot of added sugar. Especially brands targeted toward kids, like those with artificial flavors that tend to appeal to younger generations. To keep these treats as healthy snacks for kids, look for plain Greek yogurt and sweeten it to taste by adding fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey.

24. Trail Mix

Barring any allergies, trail mix is one of the classic, easy and healthy snacks for kids — especially to take to school. You can easily make your own or buy a pre-packaged trail mix. The combination of salty and sweet makes it perfect as a standalone snack, and it’s got a decent amount of fat and fiber content to keep your child full.

25. Hard Boiled Eggs

The best part about hard-boiled eggs is they’re so easy to prep for the whole week. Send a few, peeled or not, in your kid’s lunchbox for one of the better choices for healthy snacks for kids for school. They’re delicious plain or dipped in ranch, spicy mayo or hot sauce.

26. Turkey and Cheese Wrap

Your child’s favorite deli meat and cheese come together for an easy and nutrient-dense school snack for kids. Use a tortilla (or one of those spinach or sundried tomato wraps) with some deli meat and sliced cheese and a little bit of mustard or mayo and roll it up tight. Optional to slice it into rounds to make it even more fun and visually appealing. These healthy snacks for kids are filling and provide a good amount of protein to help their muscles grow.

27. String Cheese or Mini Wheels

It’s easy to throw a stick or two of string cheese in the lunchbox for a light and healthy snack for kids. A couple of sticks of string cheese provide much-needed protein along with calcium and vitamins to your growing child. Any portable cheese that they like works great like Laughing Cow soft cheese wedges, Babybel mini cheese wheels or any type of string cheese stick.

28. Veggie Tots

Kids (and adults) love tater tots, that’s a nearly universal fact. But you can pack some more nutrients in their tots with the Green Giant Veggie Tots. The same delicious crunch, but made with added broccoli, cauliflower or other veggies, it’s a delicious and one of the secretly nutritiously healthy snacks for kids or side dishes.

29. Clementines

The best part about these Cutie Clementines is they come pre-packaged and ready to go. Toss a couple in your child’s backpack for a quick and refreshing snack for kids at school. Buy them in bulk because everyone in the family is going to love them.

30. Tuna Salad + Crackers

For growing pre-teens and teens, protein is extra important, and tuna salad is a tasty way to offer more protein in the day. You can whip up a Tupperware full that will stay good all week in the fridge, or buy Starkist tuna creations packets that come pre-seasoned with a huge variety of flavors. Serve with their favorite cracker for a satisfying and savory after-school snack for kids.

31. Skinny Pop or Boom Chicka Pop

Sometimes kids just need a light snack to occupy their mind, and a single-serve bag or Skinny Pop along with a meat stick or piece of fruit are the perfect healthy snacks for kids. Pack it in their backpack for any time eats. Plus, nothing needs to stay cold so it can hang out comfortably in a locker or book bag for a while.

32. Rice Cakes + Nut Butter

These nifty single-serve nut butter pouches changed the game for healthy snacks for kids, making almond butter, peanut butter or even chocolate hazelnut spread easy to take on the go. Send your kiddo with a few rice cakes or a banana and a packet of their favorite nut butter for a satisfying snack that doesn’t have to stay cold.

Healthy Snacks for Kids’ Parties

33. Fruit Kebabs

You may have heard “if you cut it, they will eat it” regarding kids and fresh fruit or veggies, and it’s largely true. All in the presentation, fruit kebabs are actually one of the simplest healthy snacks for kids’ parties. They look fancy, and the different presentation is enough to pique kids’ interest. Stack your favorites on long wooden kebabs, but don’t forget to keep a close eye on kids with the stick when they’re done eating.

34. Popcorn

Popcorn isn’t just for the movies, it can actually be a healthy snack for kids’ parties or at-home movie nights. Not the microwave kind that’s coated in fake butter, but plain old popped corn, topped with a drizzle of real melted butter and maybe even some parmesan cheese can provide fiber and whole grains. Kids don’t know that, they just think it’s fun to eat. Healthy snacks for kids: Check!

35. Banana Peanut Butter Sandwich Bites

Bananas and peanut butter are a match made in heaven, and in just a few minutes you can turn two (or three) ingredients into adorable and fun, yet healthy snacks for kids’ parties or after-school get-togethers. Slice up bananas into one-inch thick chunks, then spread a little dollop of peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter) on top. Go the extra mile by stacking another banana chunk on top to create a little sandwich. In the summertime, you can freeze the open-faced sandwiches for a sweet treat, and a little drizzle of melted dark chocolate only makes it better.

36. Apple Nachos

Dessert doesn’t have to be a sugar-packed ordeal thanks to recipes for healthy snacks for kids’ parties like this one. Apple nachos are crunchy and sweet but have a lot less sugar than an ice cream sundae. Slice up your favorite kind of apple and arrange them on a platter, creating layers. Drizzle the top with melted peanut butter, melted chocolate or a caramel drizzle and sprinkle something crunchy on top like chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips.

37. Frozen Yogurt Bark

These healthy snacks for kids turned dessert are real winners for a kid's birthday party or any night after school. Let the kids get involved in making their yogurt bark so they feel included and like they’re getting to make something cool. Spread your favorite yogurt on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Do the prep ahead of time by setting out bowls of chopped-up strawberries, bananas, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips, graham cracker bits and more.

You can keep it 100% clean and offer just fruit, or allow some sweets to sneak in there like sprinkles or mini marshmallows. Let kids sprinkle their toppings of choice on their baking sheet or corner of the baking sheet, then pop it in the freezer for about and hour to let it solidify while the kids eat dinner or play games.

38. Popsicles

There are tons of pre-made popsicles out there, but most of them boast a pretty high sugar content. Making homemade popsicles is a super fun summer activity and the end result are delicious and refreshingly healthy snacks for kids’ parties or desserts that have little to no added sugar. There are so many ways to do this, from blending yogurt and fruit for a creamy treat to freezing your favorite sparkling water with bits of fruit or Pedialyte electrolyte pops. Hand these out after a summer soccer game to refresh and rehydrate your little athlete.

39. Yogurt Parfait

These yogurt parfaits look incredibly fancy and kids love them for a breakfast party or healthier dessert. Layer your yogurt of choice with some fresh berries and crunchy granola for balanced and beautifully healthy snacks for kids.

40. Frozen Chicken Nuggets

Chicken nuggets can function as meals or healthy snacks for kids and will always be a winner. Frozen chicken nuggets or even frozen fish sticks are easy and convenient for feeding one kid or fifteen kids. There are lots of healthier brands out there too, featuring less breading and organic meat sources.

41. Guacamole

What fiesta is complete without guacamole?! This creamy green dip is actually super healthy, thanks to lots of good fats in avocados and plenty of fresh herbs and ingredients like tomatoes, onions and peppers. Serve it along with a variety of veggies like carrot and bell pepper sticks and a salted tortilla chip for tasty yet healthy snacks for kids that will please the whole party.

42. Homemade Banana Oat Cookies

Sweet treats don’t have to be packed with sugar, and you can make a lot more than just banana bread with ripe bananas! Mixed together with oats, an egg or two and some spices, you can make up delicious banana oat cookies that make yummy and healthy snacks for kids.

Healthy Snacks for Kids on the Go

43. Milk Boxes

Instead of juice boxes, add some more protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals to your kiddo’s diet with milk boxes, like the ones from Horizon Farms. These single-serve containers come in plain, chocolate or strawberry and even with a little added sugar for flavor, they’re still healthy snacks for kids on the go. Ideal for running late for school and needing some fuel in the car or on the bus. The best part is, they’re shelf-stable until opened so they don’t need to take up room in your fridge unless you want to serve them chilled.

44. Mini Box of Raisins

Add some extra fiber and micro-nutrients to your child’s diet with mini boxes of raisins. This easy snack for kids on the go can be eaten alone or in combination with a beef jerky stick, cup of yogurt or popcorn. Even the yogurt-covered raisins don’t have that much sugar in them, meaning they can still be decent healthy snacks for kids.

45. Energy Bites

Popular healthy snacks for kids and adults, you can make your own energy bites to enjoy all week long, or longer if you freeze them. The base is usually oatmeal mixed with dried coconut, dried fruit, chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips and held together with your nut butter of choice and some honey or maple syrup for sweetness. You can play around and add protein powder, sprinkles or other flavors to your energy bites and after rolling them into one-inch balls, store them in an air-tight container in the fridge or freezer.

46. Cheese and Crackers

Pre-sliced cheese alongside their favorite crackers makes for the easiest on-the-go healthy snacks for kids. You can throw in some pre-sliced salami, but even without it this bite is perfect. Salty, buttery crackers and wonderfully creamy cheese are simple and unmatched healthy snacks for kids.

47. PB&J

*Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (via Canva)*

It doesn’t get any more classic than the PB&J, and why fix something that isn’t broken? A whole, half or even quarter of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich stays delicious in their backpack or lunch box all day long. Gooey, delicious, nutritious and healthy snacks for kids — it’s debatably better after sitting for a few hours and getting a little squished together.

48. DIY Lunchable

What is the best snack for school? With an ice pack and some nifty food storage bins, you can whip together some grab-and-go homemade Lunchables for your busy kiddo. Stock with cut-up meat and cheese, fruit, carrot slices, a packet or two of mini Annie’s gummy bunnies and some pita bites for balanced and healthy snacks for kids.

49. Yogurt Tubes

GoGurt used to own the market back in the day, with their brightly colored and artificially flavored (but delicious) tubes of yogurt. Thankfully, today there are better options, like Stonyfield or Kite Hill Creamery, that have packed wholesome, healthy yogurt (even dairy-free options) into convenient packages, perfect for healthy snacks for kids. Need them to last longer or want to serve them as a treat? Stick the whole tube in the freezer before grabbing and going.

50. Olives, Cheese and Meat

Mix up a wonderful charcuterie-like snack for kids by combining soft olives, bite-sized cubes of cheese and a few cut-up meat sticks. You can pack everything in one bag and let the tangy olive juice flavor everything. This snack packs protein, healthy fats and lots of antioxidants for some healthy snacks for kids. If you want to include crackers, just make sure they’re in a separate bag so they don’t get soggy.

51. Seaweed Chips

There are very few people out there who don’t love potato chips, but they’re not the healthiest snacks for kids or adults. Give your kiddo a single-serve bag of Gimme seaweed snacks to replace that crispy, salty bite.

Whether you’re running to the grocery store, after-school sports or traveling across the country, having plenty of healthy snacks for kids is essential. You don’t have to spend hours preparing snacks trying to win “Parent of the Year” when there are plenty of reasonable and healthy store-bought foods. You just need to take a few more minutes to read the labels and choose between brands. For the DIY-lover or mom/dad extraordinaire who loves to make everything from scratch, don’t overlook simple, classic combinations that kids love.

For even more fun foodie ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!