50 Healthy Homemade Toddler Snacks
- November 22, 2019
- Last Updated: June 14, 2024
- 1 Comment
- Toddler Food Ideas
These healthy toddler snacks are homemade and can help add fruits and veggies to your picky toddlers’ diet, while still tasting good. As parents, we know easy toddler snacks are the best!
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We are always looking for healthy and easy toddler snack recipes, especially toddler snack ideas for daycare, and easy toddler snacks for on the go.
Kids can be on one day and off another – you just never know. So, it’s good to have a variety of healthy homemade snacks for toddlers’ on hand!
Currently, Camryn loves pomegranate seeds, apples, rice crisps, and sweetpotato zucchini muffins for her favorite snacks for daycare. But, it changes by the season.
And if I’ve bought oranges frequently, she’s less interested in them.
I know I need several easy toddler snack ideas on hand to switch up my snack game for the girls often, and I”ll admit, I sometimes do rely on Thrive Market for some creative and healthy snack ideas!
Which is why I’ve rounded up several ideas for healthy homemade snacks for all kinds of kids, including back to school snack ideas.
Whether you need road trip snacks for a 1 year old or car snacks for older kids, this is your ultimate list.
If I’m serving them to toddlers as a healthy toddler breakfast, I’ll usually offer a bigger serving size or pair with more protein, like yogurt, nuts/seeds or eggs.
Now, while these are great snacks in the moment, don’t dismiss the power of the freezer for snacks and meals.
In fact, here are 20 freezable toddler meal ideas that have really come in handy for us!
These healthy snacks for toddlers and preschoolers not only look good but they taste delicious.
And best of all? They’re all toddler friendly, but also adult and family-friendly. There are also several vegetable recipes for toddlers hidden in these snacks!
To instill a good relationship with food for your little ones, they want to see you eating some of the same foods. I promise, I’m STILL working on a post about this for you guys.
You know, they want to feel like the big kids. But, as a parent, you can know these are nutrient-dense options, too!
Easy Toddler Snacks: Where to Start
Sometimes, making sure that you’re toddler is eating healthy food can be difficult.
Let’s face it, toddlers are picky eaters, and sometimes their likes and favorites change by the day.
And it’s really through no fault of their own – they’re exploring the world. When possible, I still prefer to make healthy homemade snacks for toddlers because I have more control over the ingredients.
If you’re looking for a way to get your picky toddler to eat more, these tips from Baby Center are good ones, and we really believe in practicing intuitive eating for kids.
With these easy toddler snacks and toddler snacks ideas, you can sneak in fruits, veggies and healthy fats.
Ingredients to Keep on Hand for Healthy Homemade Toddler Snacks
We love to base our healthy homemade snack on some iterations and combinations of these ingredients and food groups.
- Fruits – change it up by season to keep things fresh! Better if you can pick your own and get your kids involved.
- Veggies – I love to change the texture by serving raw or cooked, spiralizing sometimes, or baking along with fruits to sweeten them up.
- Oats – So versatile and work in so many recipes!
- Hummus – A great dipper for many of these healthy toddler snack options.
- Whole Wheat Flour – great source of fiber and iron.
- Whole Grains – Whole wheat flours, breads, pastas, couscous, quinoa, farro, etc. Check out this round up on quinoa recipes for kids
- Beans & Legumes – These can be easily hidden in baked goods and can be a great option for fiber and protein in their diets.
- Dairy – Easy way to add protein, fat and probiotics. Cheese is great for on the go and yogurt is great for probiotics.
- Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes – There are so many ideas for recipes for sweet potatoes for kids!
- Nuts and Nut Butter – A great source of healthy fats for their growing brains and bodies and nut butters are great for dipping, too.
- Seeds – Chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds and even sunflower seeds are some of our favorites! Here are tons more ideas for chia seeds for toddlers.
A healthy snack for a toddler should have some carbohydrates, and maybe a bit of protein or fat.
For adults, I always recommend at least two food groups for a satiating snack. For example, string cheese + fruit, or nuts + raisins.
When I can, I’m also a fan of including a fruit or veggie into a toddler snack recipe, too. This offers some fiber that will help keep them full and several micronutrients too.
And if you have a child (like mine), who loves muffins, don’t forget to check out these healthy baby led weaning muffins, which are great for toddlers, too.
Healthy Snacks for Toddlers On the Go
If you have a non-stop toddler, consider these healthy snacks for toddlers on the go.
From muffins to energy bites to cookies, these can provide energy and nourishment for those busy bodies.
Muffins
Toddler muffins are wonderfully portable and easier for smaller hands to handle. They are great as healthy toddler snacks on the go (more road trip food ideas), since we all know toddlers don’t sit still for long.
Plus, muffins are an easy vehicle in which you can add fruits, veggies, chia seeds, and/or healthy fats, so healthy muffins for toddlers are our favorite.
Get inspired by these ideas for veggie muffins for toddlers, and muffins sweetened with fruit.
Many of these also check the box for gluten free toddler snacks.
Toddler Muffins
These toddler muffins have healthy hidden ingredients, making them an easy homemade healthy snack for kids.
Strawberry Banana Chickpea Flour Muffins are light and fluffy, yet high in protein. These chickpea flour muffins are gluten-free and ready in 30 minutes. They are perfect for on-the-go snacks and kids.
Almond Flour Banana Muffins are the perfect portable snack, and perfect for the kids! You can whip these banana almond muffins up in less than 30 minutes without any oil or added sugars!
These Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are ridiculously easy to make, full of warm pumpkin spice, and naturally gluten free! You can load them up with chocolate chips, nuts, and cranberries or leave them plain! I love to make a big batch and freeze them for quick breakfasts throughout the week.
A super easy savoury muffins recipe made with ham, corn, cheese and chives... perfect for lunch boxes, as a side to a bowl of soup or on their own! Printable Thermomix and conventional recipe cards included.
These Healthy Toddler Muffins are delicious for breakfast, but also work as a healthy snack or lunch. This is an easy muffin recipe for kids. Make one batter and choose from 4 different mix-ins to get variety, including a vegetable muffin!
These light and moist Banana Oat Muffins are a hit with kids of all ages, and you can use any toppings you like. Naturally sweetened they can be a nutritious breakfast on the go, or a filling snack. With no butter, sugar or oil, these muffins are a lighter choice, but still bursting with flavour.
These healthy muffins for kids get all their sweetness from bananas and sweet potato. Perfect for little ones! They’re also paleo, vegan, gluten-free and nut-free.
These pancake muffins use a standard pancake batter recipe spiked with orange zest and filled with a delicious raspberry chia jam.
Veggie Muffins For Toddlers
Toddler Veggie Muffins
From spinach muffins to savory breakfast muffins, these toddler vegetable muffins are a great way to increase fiber and veggie intake in a fun way!
Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Zucchini Muffins are a tasty, portable snack option for your little ones. These zucchini and sweet potato muffins are full of veggies and provide a dairy-free option for those who need it
These blender Spinach Banana Muffins are an easy, healthy, freezer-friendly breakfast recipe full of fruit and veggies! They are gluten-free, dairy-free and have no refined sugar!
Spinach muffins with chocolate are a tasty, easy hidden vegetable recipe! The whole family will love them. You can't taste the spinach but it makes them naturally bright green! Perfect for breakfast, lunch or dessert.
Chocolate Chip Sweet Potato Bread is a healthy option for your sweet tooth! Made with sweet potatoes, whole wheat flour and oat flour, this bread is soft and fluffy and provides a healthy pre or post workout option.
A healthier Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread recipe made with greek yoghurt, honey and coconut oil. Freezer-friendly and perfect for school lunch boxes!
Toddler Bars, Cookies & Energy Bites
Toddler Energy Bites
These oatmeal bites for toddlers make for great toddler energy bites and protein balls for kids. So much flavor and a great way to get in extra nutrients.
These delicious and healthy toddler cookies are sure to please your little one!
You can make these in under 5 minutes and have one for dessert to satisfy your craving for sweets!
These chocolate almond balls are easy, incredibly delicious and make for a great snack on the go. A touch of collagen makes these collagen bites a high-protein snack to hold you over.
These sweetpotato oat bars are made with staple pantry ingredients, low in sugar, and are great for an easy on-the-go snack, or even as a toddler breakfast bar!
This edible pumpkin cookie dough is hard to resist! Made with just a handful of pantry staples, you'll have the best pumpkin spice cookie dough for fall.
These cherry chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups are a fun new way to take oatmeal on the go, great for snacks, quick breakfasts and kid-friendly.
These pb2 cookies are so easy to make, and delicious to enjoy. Made with peanut flour, oat flour, eggs, maple syrup and some spices, you can't beat the soft, and delicate finish of these powdered peanut butter cookies.
Healthy no-bake peanut butter oatmeal protein bars are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats to keep you full and satisfied. Using less than ten clean ingredients, the pickiest of eaters won't even realize these protein bars are healthy! Indulge your sweet tooth while nourishing your body at the same time.
Frozen cookie dough bites made with sweet potatoes, garbanzo beans, peanut butter and maple syrup are the best homemade cookie dough bites. Just take them out of the freezer and enjoy these no bake cookie dough bites frozen!
These 6-ingredient peanut butter protein balls only take a few minutes to throw together and are full of healthful ingredients! Naturally gluten-free, whole grain, dairy-free and with a vegan option.
No Bake Peanut Butter Cherry Trail Mix Bites are the perfect pre-run or on-the-go snack! Full of flavor, fiber and a hint of sweetness, they are kid friendly, gluten free and vegan.
The ultimate Vegan and Gluten Free Energy Bites Recipe! Packed with plant based protein, healthy fats, and whole grain gluten free oats, these healthy energy bites taste like cookie dough.
Satisfy your sweet tooth cravings the healthy way with these Salted Caramel Chia Energy Bites. They’re sweet, all-natural, gluten and dairy free snacks made with oats and chia seeds!
These healthy Sweet Potato cookies are made with mashed sweet potato, banana, baby cereal and oatmeal! My favorite part is that these cookies are so delicious we can share them together!
Sweet Healthy Snacks
Even the pickiest of eaters love a good pizza- and even more when you can turn it into a dessert!
These fruit dessert recipes are the perfect mix of healthy and delicious.
Easy Snacks with Fruit
These healthy toddler snack recipes still include fruit and healthy ingredients, but may be a bit sweeter than those listed above. Some can be great as toddler snack ideas for daycare!
This Gluten Free Fruit Pizza is a perfect healthy fruit pizza that works as a snack or dessert and it's topped with a creamy greek yogurt frosting.
Looking for an easy no-bake dessert the whole family will love? You'll love this healthy fruit pizza with cream cheese. It's one of the tastiest healthy summer desserts out there!
I love pumpkin and I love muddy buddies. When I decided to combine those two to make Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow, well, Fall magic happened.
These greek yogurt fruit barks can be an easy breakfast option on a hot summer morning or as a snack between meals.
Healthy Chocolate Hummus Recipe is easy to make and ready in 5 minutes! It's a nutritious dip, appetizer, dessert, snack or spread that everyone in my family, including my kids, loves. This dessert hummus recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, has no refined sugar & it's vegan!
Instant Pot Pumpkin Applesauce is THEE recipe of all Instant Pot recipes you need to make in your home. No added sugar (you're welcome)!
Apple pizzas are a fun and tasty treat. They're a great healthy kids recipe for breakfast, lunch, dessert or a snack. Endlessly customisable, this healthy snack for kids will definitely delight children (and grown ups!).
Once you make Crockpot Applesauce you will be making it time and time again. This is a favorite in my house and I love that I control all of the ingredients that go in it. When you go apple picking make a big batch of this to store in your fridge!
Chocolate Hummus is a dreamy and sweet dessert hummus that’s actually healthy (but no one will know it). It is a great spread, appetizer, dip, dessert, snack and me time treat that the whole family will love.
This 5-ingredient frozen yogurt bark is a fun, colorful, healthy treat to make with the unicorn lover in your life. Perfect for a unicorn party!
These fun and easy fruit kabobs are an awesome and kid friendly snack. Served with a creamy peanut butter yogurt dip. So good!
A small batch, stovetop Homemade Chunky Applesauce recipe made with only 3 ingredients. Choose the best apples for applesauce to eliminate the need for sugar!
Your kiddos will love these homemade fruit snacks sweetened entirely with honey, and without any added artificial colors or flavors.
Not only is this pizza visually appealing, it tastes delicious, too! The sweet, juicy strawberries paired with the ripe banana and chocolate hazelnut butter is a match made in heaven. This Gluten-Free Sweet Tortilla Pizza will easily become a family favorite!
Using less than 5 ingredients, these homemade peanut butter rice crispy treats come together in under 20 minutes and make a delicious and nutritious snack that is guaranteed to be a crowd-please (for both the kids AND adults alike).
Healthy Finger Foods and Dips
To round this selection of easy toddler snacks, here are some side dishes. Make sure to check out this post for more finger foods for toddlers.
These types of recipes are versatile and fun, plus they’re easy to hold and make for great toddler daycare snacks.
Greek yogurt smoothies are wonderful and if your toddler likes toppings, making a strawberry banana smoothie bowl and letting them add the toppings works wonders.
You can also try a few of these recipes for your next holiday or family party for a crowd-pleasing menu.
Healthy Homemade Finger Foods
Whether you need toddler smoothies with veggies or yogurt, easy dips for toddler finger foods or more, these easy recipes can save you. Plus, toddler smoothie recipes are great for quick, on the go, snacks that offer balanced nutrition!
Frozen baby food dots are an easy finger food idea perfect for teething toddlers and self-feeders.
These Spinach Sweet Potato Tots are a fun way to offer nutrient dense toddler vegetable recipes to your little ones. Packed with iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and carbohydrates, this veggie tots recipe is great for meal prep and the side to any meal.
These diy yogurt pouches will save you money and are SUPER easy and quick to make! Great for the whole family and can be catered to individual dietary preferences, homemade yogurt pouches are the way to go!
This Mediterranean Vegan Cold Pasta Salad is a creamy, colorful plant based pasta recipe. Swap out your typical pasta salad recipe for this healthy, roasted vegetable pasta salad.
Having trouble with your toddler eating enough vegetables? Try these tasty broccoli and bacon tots.
Deliciously healthy Sweet Potato Quinoa Bites oven baked to perfection! The perfect on-the-go-snack or main meal for toddlers and children.
These quinoa pizza bites are the perfect toddler quinoa bites or quinoa appetizer. Filled with greens, tomatoes, breadcrumbs, and cheese, these veggie quinoa bites taste like healthy mini pizza bites.
Air Fryer Parsnips are an easy and healthy side option, ready in just 20 minutes. Honey mustard parsnips combine honey, dijon mustard and a handful of spices for a healthy veggie side.
These creamy coconut popsicles are the perfect combination of summer, boasting tropical flavors of coconut and pina colada. Pineapple coconut popsicles are naturally sweetened with pineapples, coconut cream and sweet potato.
The BEST Creamy, Cheesy Vegetable Quinoa Bake ever! It's kid-friendly, perfect as a side dish or a main meal... and best of all, it's SO easy!!
These 4 ingredient Healthy Sweet Potato & Zucchini Nuggets are perfect for toddlers and kids! A quick, easy and delicious recipe.
Our simple and easy sweet potato hummus recipe is a fun and healthy snack that your kids will be sure to love. Not only is it delicious and fun, but it’s a balanced snack with protein, fiber and vegetables, to keep kids full and satisfied until dinner time.
Carrot Oatmeal Raisin Bars are a delicious carrot cake bars recipe made with a raisin and date puree, shredded carrots, peanut butter and oats. They make for a family friendly snack any time of year!
These zucchini turmeric salmon cakes are the perfect quick and healthy dinner. These patties can be made in less than 20 minutes and are high in protein and healthy fats!
A new and exciting way to enjoy avocados. Dipped in a delicious coriander and lime gluten free crust and perfect for sharing. A new favourite in the Milner household.
How to cook delicious air fryer roasted carrots with step by step instructions. Includes different variations of air fryer carrots depending on what you are serving your carrots with. Ideal for a quick vegetable side dish and one that is a regular in the Milner house.
Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese is the answer to your cheesy pasta dreams. A mixture of whole wheat pasta, mashed sweet potato, cheese and kale make this savory sweet potato pasta dish a real winner.
This recipe for Air Fryer Carrot Fries puts sweet carrot fries with maple syrup and cinnamon together in one delectable snack or side dish that the whole family will love.
These golden crunchy easy Parmesan Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are ready in under 15 mins so it makes a great weeknight supper, brunch treat or snack. Serve with some baked fries, a simple salad or some mac and cheese.
A healthy breakfast or snack, these easy Baby Cereal Pancakes make use of common baby foods that often end up going to waste. They’re a perfect first food, or finger food, for hungry babies & toddlers. Something you can feel good about serving, and something they’ll love eating!
Different variations of Ants on a Log are perfect for Bento Box style lunches, a lunch at home or even an afternoon snack!
This sweet potato hash is a sweet new way to fix sweet potatoes. These delicious little cubes are perfect for toddlers and picky eaters. They’re perfect for little fingers, and the sweet potato is nice and soft on the inside.
This bright hued sweet potato beet smoothie is the best post workout smoothie recipe. Made with mango, beets and sweet potatoes, it's antioxidant rich, and helps replenish and restore your muscles to expedite recovery.
Make mini chicken quesadillas with your child for a fun and easy toddler-friendly recipe. Perfect snack or lunch for kids!
There are some recipes that are so full of flavor and nutritious, you can’t help but make them over and over again. That’s definitely the case with this easy everyday basic fruit smoothie recipe!
Banana chips are a yummy, crispy, healthy snack. They are perfect for a midafternoon bite to eat, a side in your kids’ lunch boxes, or anytime you want something light and flavorful.
Apple chips are a nutritious, low calorie snack that you can enjoy instead of potato chips or other snacks. Apple chips are a family favorite that are perfect just about any time of year and is especially tasty as a fall treat.
What are your favorite easy toddler snack ideas you make at home?
Sarah Schlichter is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition. As a mom of 3, she specializes in family nutrition, sports nutrition and intuitive eating. She also co-hosts the podcast, Managing Mealtime Madness. Learn More About Sarah
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Support Bucket List TummyI don’t have kids but I love snacks haha. Those broccoli bacon tots are really intriguing to me. You know I love a good tortilla pizza with pesto so that sweet one you shared sounds amazing!