Use this guide for healthy snack ideas for kids and toddlers to make packing school lunches easy! These homemade snack recipes and store-bought snack ideas are quick to pack in a lunchbox and eaten at school. Even picky eaters will love these great snacks!
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What are Good School Snack Ideas for Kids?
When packing school snacks balancing flavors and nutrition is key. A great snack includes two choices, one sweet and one salty.
Packing nutritious snacks with healthy fats, fiber, and protein is a great way to keep kids full and fueled.
Many of these snack ideas for kids work for after-school snacks too! All of the ideas are designed to be quick, easy, and easy for making ahead or meal prepping.
Recipes for Homemade Snack Ideas for Kids
Try making one of these delicious snacks for a homemade option!
Full of whole grains, simple with a bit of sweetness from dark chocolate chips!
This delicious snack is sweet and super easy to make.
Protein-packed and full of delicious pizza flavor.
This easy egg muffin doubles as an easy breakfast or quick snack for after school!
Our favorite snack is muffins! These banana muffins taste just like banana bread.
This recipe is great for using up bananas!
This easy snack is a great source of protein!
Make these easily and quickly in the Instant Pot!
These little bites will satisfy your sweet tooth!
The best part about these energy bites is how simple they are to make!
Cheaper to make and less ingredients than the frozen version.
Throw some French fries in the air fryer with these and you have a main meal that doubles as a hearty snack!
This is a great healthy snack you can serve with full-fat Greek yogurt to keep you full and satisfied until your next meal!
This recipe also works as a quick breakfast you can take on the go!
Try this allergy-friendly snack idea that kids will love!
A great homemade Goldfish cracker that is allergy-friendly and gluten-free.
GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
Make a big batch of these to meal prep for an entire week of snacks.
This sweet treat is gluten-free making it great for all of your family!
A fun and easy way to eat your veggies!
Dipping veggies into a little bit of ranch dressing is always a hit!
This recipe is a great opportunity for adding veggies into breakfast!
Made with wholesome ingredients like almond flour, cacao powder, and zucchini, these muffins are great for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
COPYCAT CHEEZ-IT CRACKERS (GF)(
Another gluten-free kid-friendly snack recipe that tastes so good!
A delicious homemade Cheez-it that is great for gluten-free kids!
These bites are a great source of protein!
The perfect small snack for fall when you are craving a sweet treat.
This tasty dip pairs with veggies, pita chips, or your favorite dipper!
A little olive oil on top is the perfect savory treat.
Pumpkin puree provides essential vitamins like Vitamins A, B, and C.
Get some extra protein and enjoy nutrient-packed pumpkin!
Another yummy cracker recipe you can make at home!
Tastes just like Simple Mills crackers for a lot less money!
These bars taste just like the store-bought variety and cost much less!
Double the recipe to make a big batch - they will go fast!
Baked cheesy goodness that has a delicious crunch and savory flavor.
Crispy, delicious, and full of cheesy goodness!
This sweet snack is great for meal prepping for a whole week!
You can even top them with banana slices for more potassium!
A fun sandwich alternative in mini dipping form!
Add in some Greek yogurt ranch dressing or cream cheese veggie dip for a fun dippable snack!
This delicious snack is simple and quick to make for after school! Toss the apples in lemon juice if you packing in a lunch box.
Drizzled with peanut butter and topped with dark chocolate chips, this healthy apple snack will be a hit!
Just two ingredients and a delicious crunch!
These crispy chickpeas are fun to eat on their own or to eat as a salad topping.
Another hidden veggie recipe to sneak some extra nutrients into your kids and picky eaters! This recipe will keep their energy levels up!
Enjoy the taste of pumpkin and hidden zucchini in this healthy muffin recipe.
Pizza is always a good choice for an after school snack!
Top these yummy pizza muffins with your favorite toppings!
OAT FLOUR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
One of my favorite treats to add to kids' school lunches or eat for an after school treat.
Yummy cookies that are gluten-free and full of whole grain oat flour.
Waffles aren't just for breakfast! This savory waffle is a delicious snack.
A delicious savory waffle your family will love!
A tasty cracker full of nutritious sweet potatoes!
A sweet potato snack recipe that is full of fiber, crunch, and tastes delicious!
Veggies are much easier to eat when they come in a fun shape!
This is a fun way for getting more vegetables into your child's diet.
Crispy and delicious potato chips cooked to crispy perfection in the air fryer!
These air fryer potato chips are a great option when you are craving a bag of chips!
A batch of these sweet potato chips will go fast!
They are a delicious blend of salty and sweet.
Homemade Chex-Mix that is gluten-free and super tasty!
Make a big batch for after school snacks or to pack for lunch!
List of Prepackaged Store-Bought Snacks for School and After-School Activities
This list includes affiliate links to my Amazon storefront. All of the affiliate links open in a new tab.
While homemade snacks are fun to make and eat, sometimes convenience wins. Here are some of our favorite store-bought nutritious snacks or prepackaged popular kids' snacks we love.
Many of these quick snacks are available at the grocery store or Whole Foods and at bulk shopping stores like Amazon, Sam's Club, or Costco.
I like to save money on groceries by using Subscribe and Save to purchase my kids' favorite snacks on Amazon! You can find my favorite healthy back-to-school snacks to buy at the store on my Amazon store.
Free Printable List of Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids
Use this free resource to help plan kids' snacks for the entire school year! Download your free printable list of healthy kids' snacks!
Fresh Fruit & Vegetables
These fresh fruits for snacks are great to purchase at the grocery store or in bulk at Sam's Club or Costco.
- Apple slices
- Bananas
- Blueberries or strawberries
- Grapes (cut for younger kids)
- Clementines
- Baby carrots
- Mini bell peppers
- Celery sticks
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumber slices
- Edamame
Packaged Fruit
Look for packaged fruit snacks that have no added sugar.
- Gogo Squeeze applesauce pouches
- Dole mandarin oranges or fruit cups (packed in water or fruit juice, not syrup)
- Dried fruit - raisins, mango, or apples are a few ideas.
- Freeze-dried fruit - Aldi has strawberry, fuji-apple, and mango.
- That's It Bars - 100% fruit bars
- Fruit leather
- Apple chips
Meat, Cheese, Dairy, and Protein
Choose from this list of healthy snack ideas to make a personal charcuterie board that works like mini meals!
- Applegate turkey lunchmeat
- Stoneyfield or Siggi's yogurt tubes
- Sargento mozzarella cheese sticks
- Babybel cheese
- Cottage cheese cup
- Hard-boiled eggs
Puffs, Crackers, and other Salty Snacks
- Veggie Straws
- Pea Crisps
- Pirate's Booty
- Skinny Pop
- Cheddar Bunnies
- Rice cakes
- Pretzels
Healthy Snack Bars for Kids
Look for a healthy option that includes whole grains.
- Z-bars
- Chewy Kind Bars
- Trail mix
Snacks for Classroom or Group Sports
Many times in preschool parents will provide a snack for the entire class during snack time. Group sports like soccer and baseball sometimes have a parent-provided snack for the entire team.
Easy snacks for the classroom or group sports will help to provide a healthy and balanced snack that most kids will eat.
Many of these prepackaged snack ideas can be purchased in bulk on Amazon, Sam's Club, or Costco making it easy to feed a group of kids.
I recommend picking 2 of these healthy snack ideas for kids, one sweet and one savory.
Best Snack Containers for Packing Healthy Snacks
Reusable snack containers are a great idea when packing kids' snacks. They are helpful to the environment and designed for snacking on the go.
My Amazon store shares all of my favorite snack containers!
Munchkin Snack Catchers are my favorite snack containers for babies and toddlers. They have a handle and a lid that makes getting a snack easy.
Take & Toss bowls are our favorite snack containers to this day! We used them when my kids were babies, and still use them now for holding snacks at home.
Snackbox Spinners are great for travel and packing larger snacks.
Pack-it Freezer Snack Bags are perfect for transporting cold snacks.
Reusable snack bags are an option for packing school lunches or throwing an after-school snack in a sports bag. Look for dishwasher-safe bags.
Expert Mom Tips for Packing Snacks for Kids
- When packing a group snack for a preschool, school, or kindergarten classroom, consult the teacher for any food allergies that may be present in the class.
- Avoid snacks with nut butter like peanut butter or almond butter and opt for school-friendly sunflower butter snacks when packing snacks for school or a group.
- Use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes in sandwiches or cookies.
- Cut snacks into small pieces for younger kids to eat.
- To lower grocery bills, shop in bulk at Sam's Club or Costco for prepackaged snacks that your kids eat.
- Opt for snacks that don't make a mess. For example, yogurt tubes are great for older kids, but younger children may struggle with the fine motor skills to open the package and eat it.
- Need ideas for class parties? Try these 27 Christmas Party Snacks for School.
More Kid-Friendly Recipes for Lunch and Breakfast
Need lunch ideas for feeding hungry kids? Try these quick and easy Bentgo lunch ideas!
Need main meal ideas for teens or adults? Check out these cold lunch ideas to take to work and these lunch ideas for teens!
We've got you covered on breakfast too! Check out these healthy breakfast ideas for kids for even more meal-planning help.
FAQs
Picky eating makes packing snacks challenging! If texture is an issue, look for snacks with smooth textures and minimal pieces. Yogurt tubes and cheese sticks work great for this.
If you need more recipes for picky eaters, check out these top recipes for picky eaters and my library of kid-friendly recipes.
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