As parents, we strive to feed our kids three square meals every day. But, let's face it, kids love snacking. While there are plenty of healthy-ish store-bought snacks available to buy these days, many of them are downright expensive and not always that healthy.
The good news is that there are plenty of easy and healthy snacks that you can whip up without too much effort. Here are some tasty snack ideas that the whole family can gorge on without too much guilt.
Apple sandwiches
Auntie Angie of Oh She Glows made these adorable apple sammies for when her nephews came to visit — and we have a feeling she earned plenty of smiles with these healthy treats! Easily made with apple slices that have the middle cored out like bagels, these quick and easy sweet bites can be filled with peanut butter, granola, raisins, chocolate chips, coconut and other healthy nibbles. See the rest of Angie’s post for eight additional kid-friendly snack ideas and inspiration.
Homemade Cheez-Its
In need of a crunchy-salty fix? Mom Jaime of Prudent Baby shares this easy idea for baking homemade Cheez-Its, and she swears that you can make them in less time than it takes to go to the store with your kids and back (heh). Check out Jaime’s full post for the complete walkthrough and recipe when getting started.
No-bake energy bites
Love to make no-bake treats? Consider taking a tip from Ali of Gimme Some Oven and trying your hand at these healthy bitty bites. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, and even as dessert, these low-cal no-bakes are made with oatmeal, toasted coconut flakes, peanut butter, flaxseed, chocolate chips, honey, chia seeds and vanilla extract. Healthy doesn’t sound so bad after all, right? See the full post for the rest of the recipe.
Broccoli Parmesan fritters
Looking for a way to sneak in some extra veggies? Disguise them as delicious crunchy-cheesy fritters with this fab recipe featured on Smitten Kitchen. Easily whipped up with a mixture of mashed al dente broccoli, grated Parmesan, garlic, salt, flour and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little extra zing, these healthy low-cal bites can be ready in a matter of minutes for a quick after-school snack or appetizer. And, you never know — you may just end up with a new pint-sized broccoli fan!
Homemade fruit leather
Are fruit roll-ups always on your weekly grocery list? Mom Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod shows us just how easy it is to make your own fruit leather — and other than a blender, you’ll only need two ingredients to get started: ripe chopped fruit and a sweetener (agave, honey or sugar). This is one treat that’s sure to become a new favorite!
Sushi sammies
Sure, your little ones may not be completely sold on sashimi yet, but how about sandwiches? Needless to say, we can’t get enough of this darling idea for creating sushi sammies featured on Domestic Charm! Fun for a quick snack or even as a creative lunch idea, these adorable sandwiches can include any and all of your child’s favorite ingredients, with a side of mustard or mayo to replace the usual wasabi or soy sauce. Also possibly a great snack idea for giving your child an intro to the raw real deal!
Homemade fruit snacks
Much like DIY fruit roll-ups and Cheez-Its, these homemade gummy fruit snacks included on Kirbie’s Cravings are downright genius. Just think of all of those store-bought fruit snacks you’ll no longer need to stock up on! To get started, you’ll want to have one package of Jell-O mix (or fruit juice) on hand, along with water and unflavored gelatin. Simply let your gummies set for about a half an hour and you’ll be snacking in no time!
Homemade pita chips
Savvy home cook Haley of Cheap Recipe Blog shares quite possibly one of the quickest and most delicious snack ideas that everyone is sure to love: homemade pita chips. If you’ve got some pita bread that’s gone a little stale on the counter, simply brush on some olive oil and pop the soon-to-be crispy chips into the oven with your favorite seasoning for 10–12 minutes. You’ll not only have the perfect excuse to use up your leftovers, but you’ll also have a handful of healthy snacks ready to go when your minis come barreling in after a long day at school.
Yogurt-covered frozen blueberries
Trade in your family’s usual blueberry yogurt cups and make yogurt-covered blueberries instead, like these lovelies featured on The Hungry Housewife. Easily made with blueberries and Greek yogurt that have taken a quick tour of your freezer, these healthy sweets are great for a quick breakfast on the go, or as an easy afternoon snack.
Homemade garlic bagel chips
Another great recipe for reinventing stale leftovers, these homemade garlic bagel chips featured on Foodie With Family are sure to be a hit with everyone in your home. To make your own, simply lather on a coat of olive oil and sprinkle on some salt and garlic or garlic powder. Throw your chips in the oven for 45 minutes and you’re ready for snackers both big and small!
Peanut butter and jelly blueberry muffins
Take those beloved PB&J flavors to the next level with this recipe for peanut butter and jelly blueberry banana muffins featured on Picky Palate. An easy, no-fuss recipe, these sweet mini treats are great for breakfast or as a snack — we’re sure your little ones won’t have many complaints, either!
Editor's note: This article was originally published in 2014 and updated for 2019.
