Snacks help keep kids fueled throughout the day, whether a mid-morning bite after breakfast or a more substantial after-school snack.
This list of kid-approved snack ideas provides recipes that are ideal for a variety of occasions. Some can be quickly stirred together in a few minutes while others are best made beforehand to use throughout the week. There are ideas for picky eaters and healthy options to choose from.
Are these kid-approved snacks easy to prepare?
All of these snacks are easy to prepare, but some take longer than others to make. The peach salsa comes together in minutes for a healthy snack to top whole grain tortilla chips or graham crackers. The protein-filled empanadas take a few extra steps to prepare, but they are ideal to keep in the fridge or freezer to heat up when a heartier snack is needed.
Are these kid-approved snacks good for picky eaters?
These recipes have few ingredients and combine familiar flavors making kids more likely to enjoy them. The hummus and white bean dip are smooth making them ideal for kids who have problems with texture. The snack mix contains familiar ingredients. The peach salsa can be adapted to cut out jalapeno and any unwanted spicy heat.
How healthy are these kid-approved snacks?
These snacks are full of healthy ingredients, especially onions that provide vitamin C, dietary fiber, folic acid, calcium, iron, and quercetin, a flavonoid and antioxidant. Some of these kid-approved snacks provide plant-based protein and others lean protein from animal sources. Nuts, for those without allergies, provide healthy fats as well. Many serve as ideal dippers for vegetables or whole-grain crackers.
Can kids get involved in making these snacks?
Many of these snacks provide the opportunity for kids to help with making them. They can operate the food processor for the hummus, stir together salsas, batter the onion rings, and roll and cut out the dough for the empanadas.
Seven Kid-approved snack ideas:
Caramelized Sweet Onion Hummus
This protein-rich onion dip is made from chickpeas. It’s smooth and flavorful while also being super simple to prepare. It makes a healthy dip for carrot sticks and sliced cucumbers.
This salsa provides an alternative for those who don’t like, or can’t eat, tomatoes. Roasted onions blend with olives for new flavors to enjoy with triangles of pita bread or whole-grain tortilla chips. Kids will have fun operating the food processor when they join in making this healthy snack. Eliminate the crushed red pepper and add smoked sweet paprika to eliminate the heat.
Sweet and Smoky Onion Snack Mix
Tiny bits of onion add a unique savory twist to a classic trail mix in this recipe. Heart-healthy nuts are roasted with seeds and dried fruit for a snack you can keep on hand all week whether kids need a handful on a weekday afternoon or you want to take it along for a weekend family hike.
A simple fruit salsa, this recipe contains only six ingredients. It can be prepared with fresh or frozen peaches making it a year-round recipe. You can easily eliminate the jalapeno for a completely mild version. Kids will enjoy stirring this one up to serve with whole-grain tortilla chips.
White beans load this dip with plant-based protein. All the ingredients bake into a cheesy dip that can be served with carrot sticks or with slices of whole-grain baguette.
Kids will have fun using a favorite soda to make this treat that is a fun party snack to serve. They can help batter the onion rings while the adults take care of the deep frying.
These baked empanadas are filled with lean ground beef, onions, and a flavorful combination of cooked vegetables and herbs. These savory hand pies are easy to eat on the go and they can be stored in the refrigerator or frozen so that you have them ready to heat and eat when you need them.
