50 Healthy Snacks for Kids

Guac Crocs & Veggies

I’m all grown-up, but I still love to play with my food. Garbanzo beans in the guacamole add taste, texture and nutrition. The croc part is just plain fun. —Kallee Krong-Mccreery, Escondido, California

Nectarine Smoothies

This nectarine smoothie recipe tastes great on a warm summer day. Enjoy it on your patio or at a picnic! —Joni Rodriguez, Silverton, Oregon

These refreshing smoothie recipes also make great healthy snacks for kids.

Crunchy Tuna Wraps

Packed with protein-rich tuna and fresh, crunchy veggies, these colorful wraps have sensational flavor—and they’re good for you, too. —Edie Farm, Farmington, New Mexico

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

Only four ingredients and one bowl are needed for these healthy peanut butter cookies. If you want to make this recipe gluten free, make sure the oat bran was made in a certified gluten-free facility. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Healthy snacks for kids don’t have to be savory. Check out these light desserts that will satisfy their sweet tooth.

Roasted Veggie Quesadillas

I am always looking for recipes that will encourage children to eat vegetables and this one has been a huge success. You can also use other vegetables, such as mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus and broccoli. Just remember to roast your vegetables before making the quesadillas. —Kathy Carlan, Canton, Georgia

Air-Fryer Breakfast Cookies

I used to buy name-brand breakfast cookies from the supermarket, but since I found this recipe I’ve enjoyed making my cookies more than buying them. —Linda Burciaga

Really Good Snack Mix

I grew tired of my family picking through a snack mix for their favorite ingredients and leaving the rest. So I experimented using only their most-loved mix-ins and came up with this recipe. Now there’s never any left! —Lori Genske, Waldo, Wisconsin

Constantly hunting for healthy snacks? A snack subscription box might be the break you’ve been looking for! Check out these top-rated healthy snack boxes.

Breakfast Banana Splits

These bright cups are pretty enough for a formal brunch, yet simple and nutritious, too. Feel free to substitute different fruits and cereals—the possibilities are endless! —Renee Lloyd, Pearl, Mississippi

Start their day off on the right foot with these healthy breakfast recipes for kids.

Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

These grain-free, cheesy cauliflower breadsticks are made with vegetables instead of flour. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce.—Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado

Chocolate Hummus

This chocolate hummus is a sweet twist on the traditional recipe. Plus, it’s so easy to make with just a handful of healthy ingredients. I like to serve it with berries and pretzels for a quick snack. –Catherine Ward, Mequon, Wisconsin

Vegetable Samosas

My family enjoys the wonderful Indian flavors in a traditional samosa. Baked instead of fried, this version has fewer calories but keeps all the classic tastes and textures we love. —Amy Siegel, Clifton, New Jersey

Chia Seed Protein Bites

I keep these little bites on hand in my refrigerator and grab them for breakfast or a snack when I’m in a hurry. We have a lot of food allergies in our family and I like to keep healthy snacks around that everyone can eat. This recipe has no gluten, eggs, dairy or corn, so it’s the perfect go-to treat in our house. —Tanja Miller, Peoria, Arizona

Whether they’re 7 or 17, these healthy snacks for kids are a must-add to their lunchbox.

Peanut Butter, Honey & Pear Open-Faced Sandwiches

I work a 12-hour night shift at a hospital, and when I come home in the morning, I don’t want to cook a big breakfast. I love these sandwiches because they’re versatile; sometimes I use apples instead of pears and different cheeses, such as Brie or grated Parmesan. —L.J.Washington, Carpinteria, California

Yogurt & Honey Fruit Cups

This tasty combo of fresh fruit and creamy orange-kissed yogurt is guaranteed to disappear fast from your breakfast table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

These aren’t the only healthy snacks for kids. Check out some high fiber foods for kiddos that help when they’re having tummy troubles.

Garden Vegetable Cornbread

When I was a kid, my parents would make cornbread for my siblings and me. We would slather butter and maple syrup over the warm bread—it was delicious. Today I experiment a lot with recipes, just as my grandma and mom did, and that’s how my version of their easy cornbread recipe was born! —Kim Moyes, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Lemon-Apricot Fruit Pops

With just 31 calories and less than 1 tsp. sugar per serving, these lemon ice pops are one light and refreshing summer dessert everyone can find room for! —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho

Healthy Avocado Pineapple Muffins

These healthy muffins would be a real treat to enjoy at breakfast, at lunch or on a coffee break. They are delicious served warm from the oven or freeze well. The avocado adds an extra-special touch. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

If you don’t have time to whip up something homemade, these better-for-you chip brands also make healthy snacks for kids.

Strawberry Lime Smoothies

Peak-of-freshness strawberries make this thinner, easy drink a summer staple. —Elizabeth Johnson, Greenville, South Carolina

Baked Veggie Cups

These colorful veggie cups are not only tasty, but they also pack in a surprising amount of nutrition! The addition of mozzarella and Parmesan is the perfect Italian touch. —Cathy Horvath, Surrey, British Columbia

Lime-Honey Fruit Salad

Nothing is more refreshing to me than a seasonal fruit salad enhanced with this simple honey-lime dressing. —Victoria Shevlin, Cape Coral, Florida. Be sure to check out our collection of healthy fruit snacks.

Sesame-Garlic Pumpkin Seeds

This “everything” mix of pumpkin seeds with other seeds and seasoning is a fun treat—a lively way to use the seeds left over from your Halloween jack-o’-lantern! —Danielle Lee, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Take a look at more healthy snacks for kids.

Chunky Banana Cream Freeze

Everyone loves ice cream, but we all know it doesn’t make a great after-school snack. Until this! With its sweet banana-almond flavor and chunky texture, this appealing banana peanut butter “ice cream” is a crowd-pleaser. People who ask me for the recipe can’t believe how easy it is to make. —Kristen Bloom, Okinawa, Japan

Air-Fryer Potato Chips

For Christmas one year, I received an air fryer. Potato chips are simple to make in it and are an essential, crispy side for lunch. —Melissa Obernesser, Oriskany, New York

Fresh Fruit Bowl

The glorious colors of the fruit make this a festive salad. Slightly sweet and chilled, it makes a nice accompaniment to a grilled entree. —Marlon Kirst, Troy, Michigan

Chicken Avocado Wraps

I came up with this chicken avocado wrap while trying to figure out what to make for lunch one day. The recipe is now a favorite at my house. —Shiva Houshidari, Plano, Texas

Your little ones will love these healthy school lunch ideas, too.

Brownie Batter Oatmeal

We all grew up eating bowls of lumpy oatmeal for breakfast, and everyone has favorite toppings to make porridge more palatable. My recipe transforms a ho-hum morning staple into something that will make the kids jump out of bed! —Kristen Moyer, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Carrot Zucchini Bread

When my husband was diagnosed with diabetes, many of the treats he enjoyed were off-limits. This moist, flavorful bread satisfies his sweet tooth—and I like it, too. —Edna Bright, Paris, Illinois

Great Granola

Granola goes glam when stowed in a see-through container decked out with tinsel. Nuts, dried fruit and more make a crunchy mix for topping oatmeal or eating by the handful. Tie on mini holiday bulbs fancied up with a metallic paint. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Raspberry-Banana Soft Serve

When I make this ice cream, I mix and match bananas for their ripeness. Very ripe ones add more banana flavor. Less ripe ones have a fluffier texture. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Crispy Baked Wontons

These quick, versatile wontons are great for a savory snack or paired with a bowl of soothing soup on a cold day. I usually make a large batch, freeze half on a floured baking sheet, then store in an airtight container. —Brianna Shade, Beaverton, Oregon

Strawberry-Rhubarb Ice Pops

These cool, creamy pops are a deliciously different way to use up the bounty from your rhubarb patch. —Donna Linihan, Moncton, New Brunswick

Mini Zucchini Pizzas

Looking for low carb? This simple snack recipe is a fantastic way to satisfy your pizza cravings while skipping the usual carb-filled crust. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Yum! This mini pizza snack is a healthy version of one of our favorite school lunches.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

I wanted pumpkin pie for breakfast but without the effort. This smoothie delivers that wonderful pumpkin-cinnamon combo. Dress it up with a little whipped cream and a sprinkle of granola on top. —Alisa Christensen, Rancho Santa Margarita, California

Turkey & Apricot Wraps

For these everyday wraps, I combined the traditional southern appetizer of jam and cream cheese on crackers with the turkey, apple and Brie sandwiches we ate at my bridal luncheon. I like to sneak fresh spinach into all sorts of recipes because it has such a mild flavor. —Kim Beavers, North August, South Carolina

Tex-Mex Popcorn

Spicy Southwest seasoning makes this snackin’-good popcorn ideal for any fiesta. —Katie Rose, Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Slow-Cooked Applesauce

My sweet and chunky applesauce is a perfect snack or side dish with your favorite entree. Because it’s prepared in the slow cooker, you can fix it and forget it before you and the family head out for some fun. —Susanne Wasson, Montgomery, New York

Muffin-Tin Scrambled Eggs

I made these one year at Christmas as a way to save time, and they were a big hit. I have to make a large batch because my husband and boys can polish them off in a short amount of time. These also freeze very well, if there are any left! —Jill Darin, Geneseo, Illinois

PB&J Bites

These PB&J bites are fun to make and fun to eat! For a change of pace, replace the jam with Nutella and the rolled oats with sugar or crushed puffed rice cereal. —Kelly Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Caprese Salad Kabobs

Trade in the usual veggie platter for these fun kabobs. In addition to preparing these for get-togethers, I often make these as snacks for my family. And because assembly is so easy, the kids often ask to help. —Christine Mitchell, Glendora, California

Oven Fries

I jazz up these baked french fries with paprika and garlic powder. Something about the combination of spices packs a punch. The leftovers are even good cold! —Heather Byers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Chocolate Date Energy Balls

Eating just one of these healthy chocolate date energy balls satisfies my sweet tooth without added refined sugar. My recipe is a spinoff of an energy ball my daughter made for me when I was testing for my taekwondo black belt. —Barbara Estabrook, Appleton, Wisconsin

Tomato & Avocado Sandwiches

I’m a vegetarian, and this is a tasty, quick and healthy lunch I could eat for every meal. At my house, we call these sandwiches HATS: hummus, avocado, tomato and shallots. These are ingredients I almost always have on hand. —Sarah Jaraha, Moorestown, New Jersey

Garbanzo-Stuffed Mini Peppers

Mini peppers are so colorful and are the perfect size for a two-bite appetizer. They have all the crunch of pita chips but without the extra calories. —Christine Hanover, Lewiston, California

Breakfast Parfaits

The combination of pineapple, raspberries and banana in these yogurt treats makes a bright and cheerful morning breakfast.

Homemade Peanut Butter

We eat a lot of peanut butter, so I decided to make my own. My homemade version is easier on my wallet, and I know what ingredients are in it. It’s also a lot tastier! —Marge Austin, North Pole, Alaska

Air-Fryer Eggplant Fries

My kids love these air fryer fries—and I like that they’re healthy. Coated with Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt, these eggplant fries are delicious and guilt-free. —Mary Murphy, Atwater, California

Carrot Cookie Bites

This recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the aroma while baking is absolutely irresistible! I’m always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky

Hummus & Veggie Wrap-Up

I had a vegan wrap that was similar to this once when I stopped at a diner while on a long and arduous walk. I enjoyed it so much that I modified it to my own taste and now have it for lunch on a regular basis. Everyone at work wants to know how to make it. —Michael Steffens, Indianapolis, Indiana

Baked Egg Rolls

These egg rolls are low in fat but the crispiness from baking will fool you into thinking they were fried! —Barbara Lierman, Lyons, Nebraska

Blueberry Pancake Smoothie

My family loves this pancake smoothie in the morning. I don’t normally measure the blueberries, so go crazy! If you have fresh blueberries, I would recommend freezing the banana ahead of time. —Kailey Thompson, Palm Bay, Florida