Ask any parent and they’ll tell you with utmost certainty: Snacks are a vital part of every child’s day. Whether preparing a massive spread to squelch a teen-sized appetite or making a snack pouch for a toddler on the go, parents have to be prepared — at all times — to keep “hangry” kids at bay.
We’ve rounded up a massive list of snack ideas to help parents feed hungry kids, whether at home, while out and about, or outdoors during a winter weather activity. Check the list below for healthy ideas to freshen up your grocery list, as well as some tasty recipes to make in the kitchen with the kids.
Whether you’re snuggled up at home or out seeking adventure this season, keep everyone’s tummy satisfied with these brilliant bites.
Enjoy at Home
• Fruit and cheese skewers
• Oatmeal and fresh berries
• Tuna and crackers
• Veggies and dip
• Smoothies made with milk, yogurt and frozen berries
• Ants on a log: celery sticks spread with peanut, nut or nut-free butter; dotted with raisins
• Nutella and graham crackers
• Avocado toast
• Whole-grain waffles spread with peanut, nut or nut-free butter
• Yogurt topped with granola and berries
• Apple and cheese slices
• Sliced bananas sprinkled with cinnamon
• Strawberries dipped in strawberry-flavored cream cheese
• Hummus and pita chips
• Toast with their favorite toppings
• Cottage cheese topped with fruit
• Mini bagel topped with cream cheese
• Pretzels dipped in peanut, nut or nut-free butter
Take on the Go
• Trail mix
• Cheese and crackers
• Popcorn
• Apple chips
• Jerky
• Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
• Applesauce or yogurt pouches
• Chex Mix
• Dried fruit
• Peanut butter-filled pretzels
Snack Bars
Nothing’s handier than these individually-wrapped, grab-and-go snacks. There are so many varieties available today that parents easily can find a good fit for their kiddos — added protein, nut-free, no sugar added, gluten-free, etc. Here are some examples:
• Woah Dough
• CLIF Kid Zbar
• This Bar Saves Lives
• Perfect Kids
• MadeGood
• Kind Kids
• Jif Power Ups
• Nature’s Bakery Fig Bar
• RXBAR Kids
• Larabar
Gluten-Free Goodies
If you or a family member needs gluten-free snacks, try these tasty options:
• Garden Veggie Straws
• PopCorners
• Bear Real Fruit Yo Yos
• FreeYumm Oat Bars
• Siete grain-free tortilla chips
• Hippeas Chickpea Puffs
• Pamela’s Honey Graham Crackers
• Pirate’s Booty
Winter Warm-Up
Nothing beats coming in from the cold and warming up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Up your family’s snack game with a hot cocoa bar featuring unique twists on the classic drink. Keep these ingredients stocked all season long:
• Flavored marshmallows
• Mini chocolate chips
• Crushed peppermints
• Toffee bits
• Whipped cream
• Dark chocolate syrup
• White chocolate mix
• Caramel sauce
• Hot cocoa bombs
• Cinnamon
Recipes
Make tasty memories in the kitchen by getting the kids to pitch in when preparing one of the following snacks. Both are courtesy of Northeast Ohio Parent blogger Abby Thome, of The Thome Home.
Ingredients:
2 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups unsweetened coconut
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup ground flaxseed
2 Tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup honey
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a large bowl and thoroughly mix together (using your hands to knead ingredients together works well). Use a cookie dough scoop to separate into balls, then squeeze and roll smooth with your hands. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Ingredients:
16 oz. bag of pretzel twists
1 stick unsalted butter
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
Handful of brown sugar for topping
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a small saucepan, melt the butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, cayenne and garlic until butter is completely melted and everything is well mixed.
Divide the bag of pretzels between the two baking sheets and pour half of the spiced butter sauce over each pan of pretzels. Use a spatula to toss until the pretzels are completely coated. Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar over the tops of the sticky pretzels.
Bake for 10 minutes, stir a bit and then bake an additional 10 minutes. The pretzels will not change in color, but the brown sugar will bubble a bit. Pull the baking sheets out of the oven, and let cool for about 20 minutes. Stir the pretzels with your hands to break apart the sugar that has crystallized and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.