Easy Healthy Kids Snack Recipes - Going for Delicious without Giving in to Sugar

Before diving into some delicious healthy kids snack recipes, let's explore the concept of 'snack' a bit first. You see, I have noticed that subconsciously, snacks and I have a somewhat ambiguous relationship. Maybe you have too?

Have you noticed what kind of thoughts you associate with the word 'snack'?

In my mind, for some reason the word 'snack' seems to intuitively give rise to thoughts such as 'sweet', 'comfort', 'spoiling' perhaps even 'sin' in the sense of doing something tempting that I know isn't really good, right or healthy for me.

So in my world (and perhaps yours too?) snacks as a concept seem to be cursed with a pretty bad reputation, which is actually kind of a pity because snacks - the right kind of snacks that is (snacks low in unhealthy fats, sugar and salt) - are actually pretty important, especially for children.

Important research into children's dietary needs has demonstrated that healthy kids snacks served at regular intervals a couple of times a day are really important for a number of reasons:

• For getting enough carbs, protein and healthy fats. As kids' bellies aren't that spacious, many kids can't eat very much in one go. Then healthy snacks for kids help them get their daily dosage of nutrients.
  
  
• For fuelling their brain with enough energy. An optimally functioning brain requires a lot of fuel to run at its best. If our kids' brain runs low on fuel, not only will it affect their mood, it will also have negative impact on their concentration and academic performance.
  
  
• For developing healthy eating habits. Not only is healthy eating known to reduce the risk of various lifestyle illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, teaching children to eat only when they need it, also helps them to get to know their body better in terms of knowing when they're actually hungry and what kinds of nutrients their body is calling for.

So as it turns out there is really no logical reason to avoid giving our kids snacks as long as they are healthy and served when they are needed.

However, even though science says go for it, that doesn't necessarily mean that we feel, 'Wow, I've been longing to hear this. This is so wonderful, I'm gonna head straight into the kitchen and spend hours making nutritious kids snacks from scratch."

Making homemade healthy kids snacks can seem a bit overwhelming, which is why I've made these pages with easy, quick healthy kids snack recipes with no sugar on my site (you can find links to other snack pages of mine at bottom of this page).

I hope these snack recipes will inspire you and make healthy kids snacks seem easy and quick to do.

Easy and Healthy Kids Snack Recipes List
- No Sugar, only Healthy Food Sources

My goal with this this page on kids snack recipes is to provide you with ideas to make easy and simple snacks at home that are really quick to do, only contain a few ingredients and that are healthy, nutritious and contain no refined sugar.  

Cheesy Toms
- A Really Quick Kids Snack

Healthy snacks for kids don't have to be boring and this cheesy tomato recipe is as easy to make, as it is fun to eat.

All you need is a few cherry tomatoes, some cream cheese and some nuts, almonds or raisons.

• Simply place a few cherry tomatoes on a plate.
  
  
• Add half a teaspoon of cream cheese to each one.
  
  
• As an added twist you can add raisins or nuts on the top. I didn't have any nuts in my house at the time, so I just added some almonds, as you can see in the picture below.

These healthy kids snacks make ideal healthy after-school snacks as they contain healthy carbs, plus both a little bit of fat and protein.

Also they are easy enough to be prepared by older children.

Funky Carrot Trains
- Delicious After School Snacks for Kids

This one of kids snack recipes is also really quick and easy to make. And chances are that you already have the needed ingredients in your fridge and cupboards.

All you need is some carrots, cream cheese and/or peanut butter and some nuts or raisons (basically the same ingredients as in recipe above except that we've switched out tomatoes for carrots).

• Peel the carrots and cut them in half along their longest side.
  
  
• Smear on some cream cheese or peanut butter.
  
  
• Place raisins, almonds or nuts in a long row on the peanut butter or cream cheese. Or even better let your kids do that.
  
  
• Enjoy!

Funky Grape Beads Popsicles
- Fun Frozen Snacks for Kids

These popsicles are incredibly easy to make and since they consist of nothing but fruit, they don't really get any healthier than this. Also they look kind of funny, like beads on a string.

All you need is just ONE single ingredient, grapes, that's it. And then of course some popsicle sticks to stick through the grapes.

• Take the grapes and slide them on a popsicle stick one by one.
  
  
• Throw them in the freezer for a couple of hours (they don't have to be complete frozen to work their wonder).
  
  
• Serve!

Homemade Dried Mango Snacks

This one of healthy kids snack recipes is also really simple - it only includes one ingredient, a mango.

Even though, it's really simple to do, it does require a bit of oven time prepare though, so if your kids crave something here and now, this is not the ideal choice 😉  It is however, great to store and have in jars for your kids to nibble on.

• Peal the mango and blend it so the fruit meat is smooth and even.
  
  
• Smear the mango thinly on a baking tray covered with baking paper, so it looks like a thin yellow pancake.
  
  
• Put it in the oven at about 175 F (app. 80 degrees Celsius) for a couple of hours. Keep a close watch on it and take it out before it becomes too burnt/colored. You want it a bit rubbery, not stiff.
  
  
• Now comes the fun part: cut the mango into funny and funky shapes, e.g. long strips that you can roll up, or squares or whatever your kids fancy.

Crunchy and Crispy Avocado Nuggets
- Delicious After School Snack Bites

If your kids like avocado and are gastronomically adventurous (it took a bit of time for my son, but now he's a big avocado fan), this one of kids snack recipes might be a real winner. It's a very different way to use avocado as it is normally used raw, whereas here it has had a quick trip into the oven. (Here is where I got the inspiration for this delicious recipe.) 

All you need for this healthy kids snack is an avocado, an egg, a clove of garlic, some whole wheat flour, some bread crumbs and a little bit of salt.

• Peal the avocado, remove the pit and cut it into wedges (or small 'boats' as we call it in Danish 😉 )
  
  
• Break the egg and whisk it in one small bowl, put a bit of flour in another, and crush the garlic and mix it with the bread crumbs and a bit of salt in a third one.
  
  
• Now take an avocado wedge, dip it in the flower, then soak it the egg and finally roll in the the bread crumb mix. Then place it on a baking tray. Proceed to do the same with all the avocado boats.
  
  
• Place the avocado in a preheated oven at about 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for about 5-10 minutes. When they have turned golden, turn them onto the other side for that site to become crisp too. Once that side looks golden, take them out.
  
  
• Serve them with some of dip, e.g. I used hummus, but I'm sure something like tzatziki or something else with a bit of spiciness to balance the sweetness of the avocado would do just fine.

Veggies in a Blanket
- Simple and Tasty Tortilla Snacks for Kids

This snack is actually more like a mini meal than a snack, so having it before sports when your kids need a good boost of energy without feeling too heavy afterwards is ideal.

They would also be a good choice of food, when your kids come home from a birthday or something similar, where they have been snacking all day and aren't really all that hungry but still need something healthy but not too heavy. 

What you need for this one of kids snack recipes is a couple of tortillas, some cream cheese or peanut butter, some vegetables (I have used cucumber, bell pepper and tomatoes), and a bit of chicken.

• Simply warm two flour tortillas in a pan or in the micro oven
  
  
• Spread a thin layer of peanut butter or cream cheese onto the tortilla and add thin slices of cucumber, bell pepper, tomatoes (you can also use e.g. spinach and carrots if you want. Whatever, you have on stock, really!).
  
  
• Then simply roll them up and serve them warm. 

Veggies in a blanket is the ideal recipe for parents looking for healthy snacks for kids or low fat snacks on the go. If your child would prefer the wraps cold, you can make a batch in the morning, wrap them in cellophane and keep in the fridge until needed. The veggie wraps also make ideal snacks your kids can take to school.

Pumpkin Soup Snack
- A Wonderfully Healthy Afternoon Snack for Kids

Soup may sound like a strange form of snack, and it does take a little of time to prepare. BUT the clever thing is that you then freeze it down in small portions and take a small one up in the morning for your kid to enjoy in the afternoon.

In that way soup snacks become really quick and simple snacks that require little to no preparation.

On these pages I have several kids snack recipes for soups, but this one, the pumpkin soup, is my son's absolute favorite. It's creamy, aromatic, and sweet and spicy at the same time.

All you need is a pumpkin (hokkaido), onions, garlic, a squeeze of lemon juice (sorry, I forgot to include the lemon juice in the picture below, but it is actually quite an important ingredient as it adds some freshness to the sweetness of the pumpkin), some cream cheese, some bouillon and salt and pepper.

• Cut out the onions and garlic and fry them in a pan. Cut out the pumpkin in small cubes and add them to fry with the onion and garlic.
  
  
• Once the vegetables have fried for a bit, add some water to just cover the vegetables, and let it all boil together until the pumpkin has turned soft.
  
  
• Proceed to blend the mix and then reheat the soup and add the cream cheese and the bouillon. Pour in some water, if you find that the consistency is too thick.
  
  
• When it has reheated, add a bit of salt, pepper and lemon juice, until you are happy with the taste.
  
  
• When done, serve your child a long-awaited portion into a cup with a tea spoon, and pour the rest of the soup into small containers that you can freeze.

Nutty Trail Mix
- Quick Kids Snacks on the Go

This healthy kids snack is ideal when you're on the go (e.g. on the train, bus or in the car) as it doesn't stain or crumb or makes a mess in any other way.

All you need is a plastic bag, some nuts, almonds, maybe small pieces of fruit that aren't wet on the surface like e.g. a mandarin.

• Fill the small bag with a nice mix of these delicious goodies (non-salted of course) and your kids blood sugar level should be secure enough throughout the trip.

Healthy Kids Smoothie to Go

If your kid's snacks need to be portable e.g. for going down into the garden, then a healthy smoothie may be just the thing.

• All you need is your kid's favorite fruits (blueberry, blackberries, apples, oranges, plums, pears are all popular smoothie ingredients) and a little bit of plain yoghurt and then just blend it all together. Encourage your child to experiment with different flavors and you will come up with your own recipes in no time.

That's it, it really doesn't get any simpler than that!

If your child is going outside with the smoothie you might want to replace a glass with a plastic cup. Just in case. 😉

I hope you enjoyed these healthy kids snack recipes and found something that you can use as inspiration or starting point to make your own snacks. If you want more healthy kids recipes, you are welcome to dive into some of my other snacks pages below.

Your Positive Parenting Ally,
Birgitte

Parent Coaching

- For Inner Peace, Clarity and a Deeper Connection to Your Child

Being a parent can feel like a double-edged sword. Life with kids may feel like the greatest gift you have ever received, while at the same being hugely challenging, often leaving you confused, stressed and overwhelmed.

When we feel like this, we've lost touch with ourselves. We can't hear our own inner voice, and it's difficult to know what is 'right' for us and how to act.

I offer in-depth parent coaching to help you regain your balance and get back in touch with yourself. From a place of inner peace and clarity, your will find your own answers which will help you reconnect with your child from a place of unconditional love and acceptance.

Read more about my parent coaching here.

Where Would You Like to Go Next?

Healthy Snacks for Kids Fun, Healthy Snacks for Kids and Easy Snack Recipes Ideas.	After School Snacks Easy After School Snacks Your Kids Will Love - Encouraging Healthy Eating for Kids.
Fun Snacks for Kids A Wonderful List of Fun Snacks for Kids - Easy to Do, Healthy to Eat.	Healthy Snack Recipes for Kids The Simplest, Most Natural Way to Good Moods and Emotional Balance.
Healthy Simple Snack Recipes for Kids Quick to Make with only a Few Ingredients.	Delicious Healthy Kids Snacks Recipes to Make in no Time.
Simple Healthy Recipes for Kids Easy Snacks the Whole Family Will Enjoy.	Healthy Easy Snacks for Kids to Make in a Heartbeat
Healthy Halloween Recipes for Kids: Spooky Finger Foods and Scary Snacks.

---

Back to the top of this page about Easy Healthy Kids Snack Recipes - Going for Delicious without Giving in to Sugar

Go to the Positive Parenting Ally Homepage