50 Healthy Snacks for Kids That Are More Fun Than Boring Old Carrot Sticks
Finding healthy snacks that kids love can be a challenge. Here are 50 exciting and nutritious snacks for kids that won't come home uneaten.
What Makes a Healthy Snack for Kids?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a healthy snack for kids should support and enhance their overall nutrition—essentially increasing their fruit and vegetable intake and adding nutrient-dense foods to their diet while also filling them up between meals. It’s best to avoid added sugars and salt, and to include foods like dairy and lean protein that will satiate longer than pure carbohydrates.
Try combining a few items from this list (like fruit kabobs and energy bites, or cheddar crackers and guacamole) to hit the sweet spot of carbs, fat and protein.
Two-Cheese Guacamole
Unless your kid is a uniquely adventurous eater, finding treats that they love (and don’t get sick of after a week) can be a real chore. Sure, fruit snacks are a guaranteed hit, but how much fruit is in those things actually? Here, 50 healthy snacks for kids that are more exciting than a carrot stick, more nutritious than a pack of yogurt-covered pretzels and won’t come home in their lunch box. From classic ants on a log to pizza trail mix, there’s something for even the most, well, discerning palates. (And while our busy lives often dictate a packaged snack, if you have the time, it’s fun to make some of these with your kids.)
Time Commitment: 10 minutes Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein Cheese adds protein to this dip—14 grams, to be exact. The recipe calls for goat cheese and shredded jack, but you can trade in any type (like cheddar or mozz) to make the flavors even more kid-friendly.
Veggie Sushi
We doubt your 6-year-old is ready for spicy tuna, but they’ll love the visual appeal of these cucumber-wrapped bites. It’s a lot easy to sneak in extra veggies when they’re not just baby carrots and store-bought ranch.
Time Commitment: 40 minutes Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients Try combining a few items from this list (like fruit kabobs and energy bites, or cheddar crackers and guacamole) to hit the sweet spot of carbs, fat and protein.
