These healthy, kid-friendly snack recipes are perfect for lunch boxes and after-school snacks. Even if you’ve struggled to find something healthy your kid will eat, you’ll find a new go-to idea in this collection of 28+ snacks for kids.
Finding a healthy balance is a struggle for most adults – so it never surprises me when moms tell me their kids won’t eat healthy foods.
Spoiler alert: your kid won’t come home from school today, talking about the benefits of a plant-based or clean eating diet. Unfortunately, our schools don’t see the value in teaching nutrition to our kids.
Think about it. If you help your child his homework, and if you answer to M-O-M, then ya do, when was the last time healthy eating popped up on the radar?
I asked my girls about what they’ve learned about healthy eating habits (they’re 18 and 11), and the answer was: Nada.
Well, technically, the answer was. Oh, my gah, mom, you are being so extra. Followed by “nothing.”
But you get my point.
So how do you get your kids to eat healthy foods? Well, it starts with you, but even that doesn’t do 100% of the job. Look, some of the fittest folks I know have kids with the worst eating habits.
So what do you do?
Well, the first step is to make small changes and work your way up to more sustainable changes. The second is to try not to lecture them. (It doesn’t work.)
You could also try taking a family field trip to a local farmer’s market. You’d be surprised how much kids love a farm. (And they have the best produce:) And, if you can try starting an herb or vegetable garden at home.
In the meantime, try offering one of these healthy kid-friendly snack recipes.
Fruit Pizza Crackers
Fruit Pizza Crackers by homemade Ginger This could easily become one of your go-to healthy snack recipes (for any occasion). Super simple to make and so pretty-oh, and they taste even better than they look!
Blueberry Oatmeal Bars
These clean eating breakfast bars are gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need a breakfast or snack to grab and go. Oh, and they’re freezer-friendly.
Apple Cookies
Apple cookies from Paleo Eats and Treats are another fine example of a fab after school snack – that doesn’t take too much effort:)
3 Ingredient Sugar-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
Make these peanut butter cookies with three simple ingredients in 20 minutes. These healthy homemade cookies are sugar-free, gluten-free, easy, and, maybe I’m a tiny bit partial because they’re my “recipe” – make an outstanding after-school snack for kids! (Mine are 12 and 8 – and they both agree.)
No Bake Granola Bars
Chewy no-bake granola bars from The Big Man’s World only take a few minutes to prepare and they are super healthy & fun to eat!
Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cones
Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cones from My Fussy Eater will have your picky eater loving fruit in no time – well, it may take a little bit longer, but still – worth a try!
Healthy Granola Cups
Fruit & Yogurt Granola Cups from House of Yumm These are perfect for picky eaters because they can add (or subtract) the fruit toppings based on their preferences – or based on what you have in the fridge.
Gluten-Free Snickerdoodle Protein Balls
Easy No Bake Snickerdoodle Balls via What Molly Made. Filled with protein and cinnamon.
Healthy Chocolate Pudding Pops
No baking necessary & only 6 ingredients for these healthy treats for school or home!
Healthy Shortbread Cookies
You may become slightly obsessed with these shortbread cookies. They’re easy, low carb, gluten-free, sugar-free and they taste like legit old school classic buttery shortbread. (Again – my recipe, but if I can make a gluten-free cookie happen – you can too!)
Fruit Donuts
Easy Apple Fruit Donuts from hello, Wonderful My twelve-year-old daughter is in love with these.
Blueberry Coconut Energy Bites
Blueberry Coconut Energy Bites from Two Peas & Their Pod are a healthy on the go snack for kids that only take 10 minutes to make!
Peanut Butter Snack Bars
Peanut Butter Honey No Bake Granola Bars from Julie’s Eats & Treats. What can I say, other than it’s peanut butter and honey – everybody loves this combo!
Peanut Butter Balls
This simple three-ingredient no-bake snack or treat recipe works for Paleo, vegan, and clean eating diets and is 100% kid-friendly.
Apple Chips
Baked Cinnamon Apple Chips from Sally’s Baking Addiction
No Bake Peanut Butter Balls with Chia Seeds
EASY & healthy No Bake Energy Bites with Chia Seeds from Jenn’s Blah Blah Blog. Chia Seeds are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants – this is a fab way to introduce your kid to something healthy and delicious.
Banana Chips
Homemade Baked Banana Chips from Diethood
No Bake Energy Bites
Make this healthy snack for kids from Gimme Some Oven in ten minutes!
Greek Yogurt Bark
Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bark from Go Eat & Repeat
No Bake Granola Bars
Clean Eating No Bake Granola Bars Recipe from The Gracious Pantry
Frozen Trail Mix Bars
Frozen Yogurt Trail Mix Bars from The Lean Green Bean come together in only 5 minutes & make a fabulous healthy snack for kids (& adults) or an easy breakfast.
Frozen Yogurt Bites
Frozen Fruity Yoghurt Bites from Eats Amazing
Mango Pops
Mango Colada Pops [Dairy-Free] from The Lean Clean Eating Machine
Banana Ice Cream Pops
Impossibly Easy Banana Ice Cream from My Life & Kids
Superfood Smoothie
This easy superfood smoothie recipe is loaded with clean eating, healthy ingredients like spinach, kale, blueberries, bananas, and pineapple. (100% kid-approved: my daughter created it!:)
Super Smoothie
Frozen Superhero Smoothie from My Fussy Eater combines frozen bananas, strawberries, spinach, and almond milk to make the perfect healthy snack (or breakfast.)
Frozen Blueberry Bites
Frozen Blueberry Bites from Live Eat Learn are a delightful treat that just happen to be dairy-free, gluten free, & vegan. Oh, and they’re super simple to make-you only need 2 ingredients!
Frozen Fruity Breakfast Bars
Frozen Breakfast Bars from Fork & Beans. These are absolutely too simple for words, y’all. It only takes 10 minutes to put these together & they’re perfect for on the go or after school. And, obviously, breakfast!
Fruit & Granola Breakfast Popsicles
Fruit & Granola Breakfast Popsicles from A Cookie Named Desire
Healthy Snacks For Kids – Fun Ideas
Under The Sea
Fun & yummy Under the Sea snack by Kix is packed with healthy fruits & vegetables!
Apple Owl
Hoot Hoot! Eat Your Fruit! This fun fruit snack is thanks to Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons
The Frog Prince
The Frog Prince from Little Food Junction
The Crab
Transform your sandwich with these instructions from Cute Food for Kids.
Did I Miss Anything?
Do you have enough healthy snack inspiration?
Or maybe I missed one of the best kid-friendly snack recipes?
Either way, let me know in the comments below!