85 Snack Ideas for Kids (and Adults)!

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

1. Apple (good with peanut butter, or almond butter)
2. Banana (good with peanut butter, or almond butter)
3. Carrots (good with hummus or ranch dip)
4. Celery (good with peanut butter and raisins a.k.a. “Ants on a Log”)
5. Mango
6. Pear
7. Grapes
8. Strawberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
9. Blueberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
10. Raspberries (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
11. Oranges
12. Peaches (good with regular or Greek yogurt)
13. Plums
14. Kiwi
15. Grapefruit
16. Avocado (good with soy sauce and brown rice)
17. Pineapple
18. Papaya
19. Star Fruit
20. Figs (good with goat cheese)
21. Honeydew Melon
22. Cantaloupe
23. Watermelon
24. Cherries
25. Edamame (good with soy sauce, or drizzle with a little olive oil + kosher salt)
26. Raw Sugar Snap Peas (good with hummus)
27. Cooked Green Beans
28. Mashed Sweet Potato (good with butter and cinnamon)
29. Raw Sliced Bell Peppers (good with hummus or ranch dip)
30. Cucumber Slices (good with ranch dip)
31. Jicama
32. Cherry Tomatoes (good with ranch dip)
33. Cooked Snow Peas
34. Frozen Peas (frozen…no cooking necessary!)
35. Raw Cauliflower
36. Raw Broccoli (good with ranch dip)
37. Applesauce
38. Unsweetened Raisins
39. Fruit Leathers
40. Freeze Dried Fruit (like mango, banana, blueberries or strawberries)
41. Dried Apple Rings, or pineapple rings
42. Canned Fruit like Mandarin Oranges (Native Forest brand does not use sugary syrups in their cans)
43. Olives
    

    Whole-Grain Snack Ideas

44. 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)
45. Popcorn (make it using “The Popcorn Trick”)
46. Oatmeal (served warm in a Thermos if sending to school)
47. Shredded Wheat (look for brands that contain 1-ingredient)
48. Arrowhead Mills Puffed Whole Grain Cereal (corn, brown rice, wheat or millet variety)
49. Brown Rice Cakes
50. Whole-Wheat Pretzels
51. Whole-Grain Toast
52. Small, Cooked Whole-Grain Noodles
    

    Nuts and Seeds Snack Ideas

53. Larabars
54. Peanuts
55. Cashews
56. Almonds
57. Pecans
58. Walnuts
59. Pine Nuts (they are good lightly toasted)
60. Pistachios
61. Sesame Seeds
62. Pumpkin Seeds
63. Nut Trail Mix including Dried Fruit
    

    Other Snack Ideas

64. Hard-Boiled Eggs
65. Garbanzo Beans
66. Cheese (cubes or sticks…with or without crackers)
67. Plain Whole Milk or Greek Yogurt (flavored with a little honey or maple syrup and vanilla extract)
68. Organic and/or Local Bacon
    

    Homemade Snack Ideas

69. Homemade Granola Bars
70. Homemade “Larabars”
71. Whole-Wheat Toaster Pastries (a.k.a. Pop Tarts!)
72. Smoothies or Smoothie Pops
73. Whole-Wheat Banana Bread
74. Zucchini Chips
75. Whole-Wheat Zucchini Bread (made into muffins)
76. Whole-Wheat Pumpkin Bread (made into muffins)
77. Whole-Grain Cornbread (made into muffins)
78. Whole-Wheat Berry Muffins
79. Pecan Maple Breakfast Cookies
80. Easy Cheesy Crackers
81. Kale Chips
82. Homemade Powerballs
83. Whole-Wheat Biscuits (good with butter and jelly) or Buttermilk Cheese Biscuits
84. Cinnamon Glazed Popcorn
85. 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!