Skip the potato chips, fruit snacks, graham crackers, and candy. If you’re in a rut here are some quick, great real food any-time or after-school snack ideas for inspiration that kids will love (and adults, too!). Sticking with simple ingredients keeps snack time easy and fun.
Keep these tips in mind:
- healthy fats, like what are in nut butters, keep you fuller longer which is great for little ones who are very active
- combine some of the suggestions below in creative ways (for example, combine some fruit with yogurt to make a yogurt parfait, or make a fruit salad and drizzle some honey on top)
- chia seeds make a great topper for yogurt, and add in some yummy texture
- most of the fruit below is also great frozen. Ever blended up frozen bananas to make “ice cream”? Try it!
- If you’re looking for school lunch ideas, any of these would be great in a school lunch box!
- If you have a picky eater, combining several of these snacks onto a plate – tapas style! – could make a well rounded lunch or easy breakfast
Please leave any additional suggestions in the comments below…
Fruits and Vegetable Snack Ideas
- Apple (good with peanut butter, or almond butter)
- Banana (good with peanut butter, or almond butter)
- Carrots (good with hummus or ranch dip)
- Celery (good with peanut butter and raisins a.k.a. “Ants on a Log”)
- Mango
- Pear
- Grapes
- Strawberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Blueberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Raspberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Oranges
- Peaches (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
- Plums
- Kiwi
- Grapefruit
- Avocado (good with soy sauce and brown rice)
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Star Fruit
- Figs (good with goat cheese)
- Honeydew Melon
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Cherries
- Edamame (good with soy sauce, or drizzle with a little olive oil + kosher salt)
- Raw Sugar Snap Peas (good with hummus)
- Cooked Green Beans
- Mashed Sweet Potato (good with butter and cinnamon)
- Raw Sliced Bell Peppers (good with hummus or ranch dip)
- Cucumber Slices (good with ranch dip)
- Jicama
- Cherry Tomatoes (good with ranch dip)
- Cooked Snow Peas
- Frozen Peas (frozen…no cooking necessary!)
- Raw Cauliflower
- Raw Broccoli (good with ranch dip)
- Applesauce
- Unsweetened Raisins
- Fruit Leathers
- Freeze Dried Fruit (like mango, banana, blueberries or strawberries)
- Dried Apple Rings, or pineapple rings
- Canned Fruit like Mandarin Oranges (Native Forest brand does not use sugary syrups in their cans)
- Olives
Whole-Grain Snack Ideas
- Whole Grain Crackers (like Triscuits, Multi-Seed, Ak-Mak, Whole-Wheat Matzos, Brown Rice Crackers/Snaps, Whole-Grain Rye Crackers topped with cheese, peanut butter, almond butter, or a cream cheese and jelly combo)
- Popcorn (make it using “The Popcorn Trick”)
- Oatmeal (served warm in a Thermos if sending to school)
- Shredded Wheat (look for brands that contain 1-ingredient)
- Arrowhead Mills Puffed Whole Grain Cereal (corn, brown rice, wheat or millet variety)
- Brown Rice Cakes
- Whole-Wheat Pretzels
- Whole-Grain Toast
- Small, Cooked Whole-Grain Noodles
Nuts and Seeds Snack Ideas
- Larabars
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Pecans
- Walnuts
- Pine Nuts (they are good lightly toasted)
- Pistachios
- Sesame Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Nut Trail Mix including Dried Fruit
Other Snack Ideas
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Garbanzo Beans
- Cheese (cubes or sticks…with or without crackers)
- Plain Whole Milk or Greek Yogurt (flavored with a little honey or maple syrup and vanilla extract)
- Organic and/or Local Bacon
Homemade Snack Ideas
- Homemade Granola Bars
- Homemade “Larabars”
- Whole-Wheat Toaster Pastries (a.k.a. Pop Tarts!)
- Smoothies or Smoothie Pops
- Whole-Wheat Banana Bread
- Zucchini Chips
- Whole-Wheat Zucchini Bread (made into muffins)
- Whole-Wheat Pumpkin Bread (made into muffins)
- Whole-Grain Cornbread (made into muffins)
- Whole-Wheat Berry Muffins
- Pecan Maple Breakfast Cookies
- Easy Cheesy Crackers
- Kale Chips
- Homemade Powerballs
- Whole-Wheat Biscuits (good with butter and jelly) or Buttermilk Cheese Biscuits
- Cinnamon Glazed Popcorn
- Whole-Wheat “Baked” Donuts
For even more homemade snack ideas be sure to check out the “Healthy Snacks To Go” e-book from Kitchen Stewardship!
Mara’s Peanut-Thai Pasta and Feta Pasta Salad
Alex
January 14, 2016 at 3:54 amgreat advice, thank you
stephen schuety
February 17, 2016 at 2:11 pmI have your granola recipe for a snack also. Would like to see the brands of specific crackers and pretzels that are approved.
Thanks
Amy
February 18, 2016 at 5:15 pmI would also love to see specific brand names if possible. I can’t seem to find anything that meets the criteria at my local grocery store, and would buy from Amazon gladly if I just knew what to buy. Looking for snacky stuff-especially WW pretzels.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
February 24, 2016 at 9:31 amLisa buys whole wheat pretzels from Trader Joes. Unique Sprouted Grain Pretzels is another and this is my favorite: http://shop.marysgonecrackers.com/Sea-Salt-Pretzels/p/MGC-000519&[email protected]. It has a longer ingredient list but they are whole grain ingredients.
Sara R
May 13, 2016 at 7:17 pmOne of our favorite snacks as a kid was a recipe my mom found: cottage cheese with crushed pineapples, apples, and walnuts. The mix made for a subtle sweetness, crunch, and was very satisfying nutritionally as it has a good balance of carbs, fats, and proteins.
Staci
May 13, 2016 at 9:42 pmDo you have meal plans for single folks?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
May 18, 2016 at 3:02 pmHi Stacy. No, not specifically but the plans can be scaled down in size.
Amber
September 25, 2016 at 1:54 pmOr make the full recipe and freeze the leftovers. It’s the whole “cook once, eat twice” mentality that is great for busy nights.
Crystal
July 29, 2016 at 2:29 pmHi. I really like your snack ideas. They sound great. Have you ever tried the ziplock freezer molds for your freezer pops. Or do you just use the reusable for the environment factor. Which is cool if you do, but just curious about the disposable kind too.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
August 1, 2016 at 9:45 pmHi there. Lisa uses the reusable kind. :)
Amber
September 25, 2016 at 1:52 pmIt sounds weird, but my favorite real food snack is a whole grain rye cracker topped with a thin layer of cream cheese and natural pepperoni. It’s like a mini pizza, but not super heavy.
R. Lordahl
November 20, 2016 at 5:35 pmA product I have been purchasing at Costco for many years seams to have been discontinued at some stores including the Woodland Hills village location. The product is Wheat Thins what gives?
Susan
December 11, 2016 at 12:01 pmThese are amazing! Kids might not like them due to the intense lime flavor but everyone I’ve shared them with has been so impressed:
http://paleogrubs.com/lime-energy-bite-recipe
Heather
December 29, 2016 at 7:44 pmAnother snack idea – Baby Carrots and Applesauce
Gretchen
February 9, 2017 at 2:27 pmI LOVE your website! It’s so helpful! My family has switched to your plan, but I’m struggling with one thing… I need crackers that my 18 month old can eat. Any suggestions? We’ve been eating Annie’s organic cheddar bunnies…
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
February 15, 2017 at 12:54 pmHave you given these a try: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/recipe-easy-cheesy-crackers/?
Sue
April 5, 2017 at 11:49 pmIs there a printer-friendly version of this list? Lisa’s Facebook post suggested printing this and taping it to the pantry door, but when I try to print from my browser, it’s a mess.
Nicki Vannatter
April 11, 2017 at 1:23 amMy daughter has a retainer and cannot eat nuts. I was wondering what other things she might be able to try.
THERESA Kemp
August 28, 2017 at 5:01 pmGreat ideas
Kami
September 9, 2017 at 11:47 pmWe love olives but could someone tell me what kind the “healthy” ones are please?
Theresa
January 21, 2018 at 12:33 pmWhat is the best substitute for whole wheat flour?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
January 23, 2018 at 11:00 amHi. Spelt is a good sub for WW.
Lindsay Untherbergus
March 22, 2018 at 4:31 pmThese days, I love roasted chickpeas for snacking! They satisfy that need for something crunchy, and you can make them savory, spicy, or however you want!
Darrel Pontejo
April 17, 2018 at 4:02 amAt a young age, we should already introduce our kids to healthy living. We should all start by giving them fruits snack perhaps or vegetables during meal time. Why we promote a healthy lifestyle? So that, while they are still young they would know the importance of being healthy and they can enjoy their lives today.
We offer books to children to teach them a healthy lifestyle. We do seminars and workshop here also! Just visit our website http://www.academyforhealthsuperheroes.com
Patricia
April 24, 2018 at 12:40 pmSnack idea 44 says Triscuits. While Triscuits are made with only 3 ingredients (whole grain wheat, canola oil, sea salt), I know that canola oil is bad for us: it is a synthetic oil discovered in Canada (hence its name). What do think about this? Thank you.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
May 2, 2018 at 11:57 amHi Patricia. This was an early post and Lisa really does not use Triscuits anymore precisely because of the conola.
Alida
May 17, 2018 at 5:08 amCanola oil is from rapseed, the variety of plant was bred in Canada, but it is not synthetic. you can check wikipedia or other sources for more information.
Gwyn
May 14, 2018 at 9:48 amHello! Do you have a recommendations for whole wheat pretzels? I can’t
seem to find any at our local stories that follow real food rules, and my kids & hubby LOVE pretzels. Any recommendations?
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
May 25, 2018 at 11:26 amHi there. My favorite is Unique Sprouted Whole Wheat Pretzels.
Jessica Elliott
June 2, 2018 at 3:19 pmOMG I love the idea of homemade Pop Tarts! I’m always looking for variety in snacks for travel and this is a good inspiration list.
Sheryl Bergstrom
June 6, 2018 at 4:12 amI want this Homemade Granola Bars and Whole-Wheat Banana Bread. Thanks for sharing these ideas.
Dephinah Sirako
June 25, 2018 at 4:45 amYour ideas are great. Thanks for sharing
Scarlett Abbott
June 27, 2018 at 5:27 amThis could also be another idea for parents out there to give to their kids as sort of snacks. With this, we can ensure that we provide them with a healthy snack.
Hope
July 12, 2018 at 9:36 pmWonderful ideas! I just went down the list with one of my boys because he is so picky. I was stumped on what have for a snack for him after school. We did find some solutions. Thanks for sharing!
Cara Imperato
July 25, 2018 at 9:08 pmWhat kind of jelly do you recommend? I was worried about all the sugar.
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
August 2, 2018 at 4:56 pmHi. Look for an organic all fruit version. I buy Crofters most commonly.
Jennifer Berkey
December 30, 2018 at 6:09 pmOMG! Thanks for this article. I am now committing myself to eat healthier this 2019. With this, I can stay fit and avoid any sickness for the coming year ahead. Xoxo.
Chris Berkey
December 30, 2018 at 6:12 pmI am loving the inclusion of fruits and vegetables. 2019 is the time for a healthier version of you. Thanks for this.
Jeff Shft
January 12, 2019 at 11:30 pmWe shared these snack ideas this holiday season. My baby loves it! Every bite burst with happiness, it’s like the heaven opened its gates. This is so good, so thumbs up!