100+ Healthy Snacks for Kids

This list includes almost 150 healthy snacks for kids. If you need a healthy after school snack, snacks for teens or young children, this list will be handy to save!

How’s your snack game lately? It’s nice to have a list to refer to when you’re feeling uninspired with snacks. Just a quick reference that you can look at to get the ideas flowing. That’s why I decided to make this list of healthy snacks for kids.

I’ve learned that no matter what we do, kids are going to gravitate towards junk food. I try to keep in perspective that this is normal and I don’t ever want to demonize foods for my kids. I will, however, do what I can to help them eat as many nutrient-dense foods that I can. These healthier options are a great start.

I wanted to see what else was out there, and it turns out the resources I found aren’t all that great. I saw a few decent lists, but many were unrealistic, too time consuming, or seemed to have the main goal be that the snack is cutesy.

I mean, the top result had chicken satay on the list as a top snack for kids. What?

And I think flower-shaped cheese is cute and all, but when it comes right down to the actual snack time…sorry, not happening.

Healthy snacks for kids don’t have to be complicated or time consuming.

I wanted this list to be a big list that could help every parents, whether your kids are super picky or have allergies, and you need a variety of different ideas.

To help you navigate which snacks will work if your kids have allergies or other dietary restrictions, I’ve labeled the snacks. If your child’s diet has restrictions, this list will help you navigate the perfect snack idea. As a mom who had to navigate breastfeeding a baby with multiple protein sensitivities, I know how helpful it can be to have these labels.

Here’s what the labels mean:

gf: gluten-free

v: vegan

df: dairy-free

nf: nut-free

In the end this list is great to help you choose an afternoon snack for the whole family.

Most of the linked recipes are from Happy Healthy Mama, but a few are from some of my favorite bloggers. I hope you find this list helpful and inspirational.

Whether you prefer to make your own snacks or use packaged snacks, there’s something here to help you get that quick snack when it’s needed!

100+ Healthy Snacks for Kids

Snack Ideas with Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

carrot sticks with hummus (gf, v, df, nf)

apple slices with peanut butter or homemade almond butter (gf, v, df)

vegan carrot spread on crackers (v, df, nf)

dates stuffed with peanut butter (gf, v, df)

fruit with dip (gf, v, df, nf)

frozen banana yogurt pops (gf, nf)

mini cucumber hummus “sandwiches” (gf, v, df, nf)

2-ingredient pineapple cream popsicles

butternut squash smoothie (gf, v, df, nf)

simple guacamole and chips (gf, v, df, nf)

fruit salsa (gf, v, df)

summer fruit salad (gf, df, nf)

red pepper slices (gf, v, df, nf)

sugar snap peas (with hummus or alone) (gf, v, df)

orange with a handful of almonds (gf, v, df)

clementines (gf, v, df, nf)

spinach and egg bites (gf, nf)

celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins (ants on a log) (gf, v, df)

banana (plain or with peanut/almond/sunflower seed butter) (gf, v, df, nf)

vegan banana almond chia seed pudding (gf, v, df)

chocolate covered blueberries (gf, v, df, nf)

toast made with whole grain bread with grated apple and melted cheese (nf)

baked vegetable chips (gf, v, df, nf)

apples with vegan caramel dip (gf, v)

apples with naturally sweetened apple dip (gf)

2-ingredient sweet potato pancakes (gf, df)

grapes and a few cheese cubes (gf)

frozen peas (gf, v, df, nf)

fruit kabobs (gf, v, df, nf)

spinach nuggets

watermelon avocado ice cream (gf, v, df, nf)

crispy kale chips (gf, v, df, nf)

kiwi (cut in half and serve with a spoon) (gf, v, df, nf)

peanut butter chocolate spread with apples (gf, df)

mini bell peppers nachos (gf, v, df, nf)

quick berry fruit salad with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, & blackberries (gf, v, df, nf)

grape or cherry tomatoes (gf, v, df, nf)

whole wheat tortilla+peanut butter+sliced bananas (v, df)

better than ice cream fruit cream (gf, v, df, nf)

banana sushi (gf)

Energy Balls and Homemade Granola Bars

Many of the energy balls are made with nuts that are filled with healthy fats. These will help keep your kids full and make delicious snacks! Kids love homemade granola bars, too, and moms love when they’re made with whole grains.

healthy energy balls (gf, df, v)

almond butter and quinoa energy balls (gf, df, v)

chewy granola bar recipe (gf, df, v)

birthday cake energy balls (gf, df, v)

chocolate bliss balls (gf, df, v)

nut free granola bar recipe (gf, df, v, nf)

strawberry shortcake energy bites (gf, df)

carrot cake energy balls (gf, df, v)

lemon coconut energy balls (gf, v, df)

pure joy bars (gf, v, df)

coconut apricot energy balls (gf, v, df)

no bake granola bars (gf, df)

pecan cranberry granola bars (gf, v, df)

quinoa peanut butter balls (gf, v, df)

chocolate oatmeal granola bars (gf, v, df)

no bake pumpkin spice energy bars (gf, v, df)

oatmeal cookie energy balls (gf, v, df, nf)

nut fruit and seed granola bars (gf, df, v)

4 ingredient peanut butter granola bars with chocolate (gf, v, df)

protein bar recipe (gf, df)

healthy no bake gingerbread cookie energy balls (gf, df, v)

green smoothie snack bars (gf)

Muffins and Bars

You’ll be surprised that many muffins and bars that are a favorite healthy breakfast can double as your favorite healthy snacks!

flourless apple peanut butter blender muffins (gf, df)

strawberry banana yogurt muffins (nf)

double chocolate peanut butter muffins with vegetables (gf, v, df)

banana bread date bars (df, nf)

strawberry banana blender muffins (gf, df)

apple peanut butter snack bars (gf, df)

peanut butter and jelly oatmeal bars (gf, df)

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies bars (gf, v, df, nf)

5-ingredient blender muffins (gf, df, v option)

blueberry banana oat bars (gf, v, df, nf)

strawberry oatmeal bars (gf, v, df, nf)

carrot cake oatmeal muffins (gf, v, df)

simple banana muffins (df)

healthy pumpkin muffins

banana chocolate chip baked oatmeal muffin cups (gf, df, nf)

healthy no bake carrot cake bars (gf)

apple cinnamon baked oatmeal cups (gf, df, nf)

flourless sweet potato muffins (gf, df)

Smoothies

Smoothies can make really nutritious snacks and are a great way to help younger children eat more fruits and vegetables.

blueberry chocolate smoothie (gf, df, v)

vitamin c fruit smoothie (gf, df/v option)

mango smoothie recipe (gf, df, v, nf)

cranberry smoothie recipe (gf, v/df option, nf)

peachy kiwi green smoothie (gf, v, df,)

banana split smoothie (gf, df)

blueberry lemon smoothie (gf, v, df, nf)

pumpkin smoothie (gf, nf)

peanut butter and jelly smoothie (gf, v, df)

Store-Bought Snack Ideas

There’s no shame in needing to utilize the convenience of store-bought snacks when considering healthy snacks for kids. Read nutrition labels and be aware of things like added sugar. There are so many single-ingredient packaged food ideas that make healthy snacks.

larabars (gf, df, v)

cheese stick (gf, nf)

popcorn (gf, v, df, nf)

cottage cheese (gf, nf)

unsweetened apple sauce

raisins and cheese cubes (gf, nf)

Snack Cookies

If you have picky eaters, try making cookies that are healthy enough to double as snacks!

applesauce snack cookies (gf, v, df, nf)

crunchy snack cookies (gf, v, df)

low-carb flaxseed cinnamon cookies (gf, df, nf)

raw banana bread cookies (gf, v, df)

pumpkin breakfast cookies (gf, v, df, nf)

no bake sunflower freezer cookies (gf, df, nf)

flourless thumbprint breakfast cookies (gf, v, df, nf)

banana peanut butter crunchy cookies (gf, v, df)

no bake trail mix cookies (gf, v, df)

cinnamon raisin cookie bars (gf, v, df)

Occasional Treats 

These snacks fall into the healthier dessert category, but can work for the occasional treat.

no bake peanut butter snow balls (gf, df)

healthier rice crispy treats (gf, df)

chocolate rice crispy treats (gf, df)

Warm Snacks

Older kids appreciate warm snacks! These are easy ideas you can make ahead for them to warm up after school.

simple baked apples (gf, df, v, nf)

simple baked peaches (gf, df, v, nf)

healthy buffalo chicken dip (gf, nf)

dairy-free buffalo chicken dip (gf, df, nf)

healthy spinach artichoke dip

More Kid-Friendly Snacks

homemade trail mix (gf, v, df)

frozen yogurt bars (gf, nf)

raw brownie bites (gf, v, df)

edamame (gf, v, df, nf)

tunafish salad on crackers (would your kids eat avocado tuna salad?) (nf)

vegan nacho cheese sauce  (gf, v, df)

hard boiled eggs (gf, df, nf)

homemade fruit leather (gf, v, df, nf)

parmesan roasted chickpeas (gf, nf)

yogurt with chocolate chia granola (gf)

cocoa dusted almonds (gf, v, df)

apple pear snack cake (v, df, nf)

popcorn trail mix (gf, v, df, nf)

quinoa pizza balls (gf, v, df, nf)

homemade stone ground whole wheat crackers (v, df, nf)

homemade trail mix (gf, df, v)

Greek yogurt berry popsicles (gf, nf)

Want to help make this list even MORE helpful for everyone? Add your kids’ favorite snacks in the comments! I’d love to hear what you’d add to this list.