50+ Healthy Snacks for Toddlers (with Recipes)
- December 9, 2024
- Last Updated: December 9, 2024
- 1 Comment
- Toddler Food Ideas
Stuck on finding healthy snacks for toddlers? These homemade snacks for toddlers use familiar ingredients and can help add fruits and veggies to your picky toddlers’ diet, while still tasting good. As parents, we know easy toddler snack recipes are the best!
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As a mom and Registered Dietitian, I always look for healthy snacks for toddlers, especially toddler snack ideas for daycare and easy toddler snacks for on the go.
Kids can be on one day and off another – and their snack preferences change just as quickly.
So, it’s good to have a variety of snacks for toddlers and recipes on hand, for whatever mood they’re in.
Currently, my oldest loves pomegranate seeds, apples and sweetpotato zucchini muffins for her favorite snacks for daycare.
But, it changes by the season. I can almost guarantee that my two year old will eat a homemade yogurt pouch anytime, any day.
That said, having been a mom for 6+ years now, I know I need several easy toddler snack ideas on hand to switch up my snack game for the kids often.
I’ll admit, I sometimes do rely on Thrive Market for some creative and healthy snack ideas, especially for traveling.
There is no shame in convenience and they have allergen-friendly, healthy snacks that I can usually only find at specialty grocery stores, so why not just have Thrive Market deliver them?
However, some people prefer to make healthy snack recipes for toddlers in their own kitchen, especially if they have allergies or something where ingredients need to be meticulously controlled.
And for babies under one, we have these healthy snacks for babies with no added sugars.
I thought it would be helpful to share several ideas for snacks for toddlers and toddler snack recipes for all kinds of kids, including back to school snack ideas.
So, whether you need road trip snacks for a 1 year old, fun 3 year old snack ideas or easy to pack snacks for older kids, this is your ultimate list of toddler snacks and recipes!
Tips for Healthy Snacks for Toddlers
Before we get into the list of recipes for snacks for toddlers, here are some guiding principles to keep in mind when offering snacks.
Because let’s face it, sometimes ensuring your toddler is eating healthy food can be difficult, if they only ask for processed foods or french fries.
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.
- Be consistent with snack times – If you constantly offer snacks throughout the day, toddlers will continue to ask for them. On the flip side, if they come to expect snacks at 10am and 3pm, for example, it’s more consistent and can help with their expectations.
- Opt for homemade sometimes – We have many snack recipes for toddlers below! While storebought can be convenient sometimes (we do Thrive Market snacks occasionally!), it also helps to have homemade options available, especially if you have allergens or certain nutrients you are prioritizing.
- Include snacks in your meal prep plan – Making time to prep snacks for toddlers is important for them actually consuming them! I’ll often prep some oatmeal bites or muffins during my weekly meal prep, or better yet, let them make them with me! If they play a role in the snack preparation, they are more likely to try them.
- Add in nutrients – I often add in nutrients to snacks because it’s a great opportunity to get more fruits and veggies in. With these easy toddler snacks and toddler snacks ideas, you can sneak in fruits, veggies and healthy fats.
Ingredients To Include In Homemade Snacks for Toddlers
We love to base our homemade snacks for toddlers on some iterations and combinations of these ingredients and food groups.
These make for some of the best toddler snacks.
- 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 – Oats are the perfect healthy toddler snack ingredient, are versatile and work in so many recipes!
- Hummus – A great dipper for many of these healthy toddler snack options, plus healthy fats for satiety.
- Whole Wheat Flour – I base my muffin recipes off of whole wheat flour, which is a 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 – Beans and lentils can be easily hidden in baked goods and offer 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 and kefir are great for probiotics.
- Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes – There are so many ideas for recipes for sweetpotato recipes 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.
Snack recipes for toddlers 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 in a toddler snack recipe, too.
tThis 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 at school or on the go.
From muffins to energy bites to cookies, these can provide energy and nourishment for those busy bodies.
These are some quick healthy toddler snacks.
- string cheese and crackers
- fruit, dried fruit or fruit bars
- fruit/yogurt pouches
- Harvest snap peas
- NOKA pouches – another favorite!
- beef jerky
- sliced cucumbers and portable hummus pouch
- Serenity Kid Pouches – I love that these have protein and fat!
- nut butter bites
- roasted edamame or chickpeas
- granola bites
Plus, here are some homemade options for toddler snack recipes that you can consider.
Muffins
Toddler muffins are wonderfully portable and easier for smaller hands to handle.
They are great as toddler snacks on the go, since we all know toddlers don’t sit still for long.
Plus, muffins are an easy vehicle to 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 Muffin Recipes
These toddler muffins have healthy hidden ingredients, making them an easy homemade healthy snack for kids.
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.
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.
Whole Wheat Sweetpotato 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
Pumpkin zucchini muffins are perfect for fall, and a healthy muffin recipe for babies, toddlers and adults! Who knew dairy free pumpkin muffins could taste so good!?
These Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are made with chickpea flour and naturally sweetened with bananas. Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip muffins are great as baby muffins, toddler muffins, or a high protein muffin snack!
Make these healthy gluten free blueberry muffins for a snack to keep you energized. These dairy free blueberry muffins are great for both kids and adults.
For the best gluten free zucchini muffins, look no further than these zucchini almond flour muffins made with almond flour, oats, almond butter and spices. A delicious and satisfying snack for the whole family.
These gluten free sweetpotato apple muffins are a sweet snack for fall flavor, topped with a crispy oat topping.
Acorn squash muffins are a delicious, kid-friendly snack that can be served any time of day.
Butternut squash egg muffins for baby are an easy, healthy recipe that work great for breakfast, as a snack, or for on the go! Made with wholesome veggies, protein and healthy fats, baby egg muffins are great for meal prep!
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!
Need a quick and easy savory breakfast muffin recipe? These spinach feta muffins are great for on the go, or getting more veggies into your day.
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 blender banana spinach muffins are an easy, healthy, freezer-friendly breakfast recipe full of fruit and veggies.
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.
Healthy Toddler Bars, Cookies and Oatmeal Bites
Oatmeal bites or energy bites, and healthy bars for toddlers, can also provide some staying power, so are some of our favorite healthy snacks for toddlres.
I use many of the same ingredients listed above for extra fiber and protein.
You can also sweeten them naturally with fruit, and sometimes small amounts of honey or maple syrup.
Toddler Bites and Bars
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 oatmeal bites for baby are sweetener free, and a great way to offer protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients, like iron, to your little ones.
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!
These lemon protein balls are the perfect, refreshing snack. Made with lemon zest, chia seeds, a blend of coconut flour and oat flour, these lemon coconut protein balls are satisfying and energizing.
These pumpkin peanut butter balls are the perfect snack for fall or any time of year! Filled with oats, honey, pumpkin, peanut butter and flax seeds, these pumpkin oat balls are full of flavor, fiber and healthy fats too.
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 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 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.
Vegan No Bake Carrot Cake Bites combine the flavors you love in carrot cake into portable energy bite form, perfect for a snack, pre or post workout fuel, or dessert!
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!
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.
These easy nut free protein bars are a wholesome, on-the-go option. Chickpea protein bars offer a filling combination of protein and fiber and are great allergy free protein bars for those allergic to tree nuts, gluten or dairy. Plus, no protein powder is used!
Coconut Flour Oatmeal Cookies with chocolate chips are made with a delicious blend of gluten free coconut flour and oats, for a soft, tasty treat!
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal cookies only require 3 pantry ingredients and are ready in under 20 minutes! Plus, these 3 ingredient vegan peanut butter cookies are the best as an easy, quick dessert.
Baby oatmeal cookies are rich in fiber and nutrients and contain no added sugars. Oatmeal cookies are perfect as baby breakfast cookies or a healthy baby snack any time of day!
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.
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!
You can make these in under 5 minutes and have one for dessert to satisfy your craving for sweets!
These delicious and healthy toddler cookies are sure to please your little one!
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.
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.
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!
Snacks for Toddlers with Fruit
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 carrot banana smoothie is an easy, whole-foods smoothie filled with flavor, nutrition and only 6 key ingredients. Great any time of year, it has the perfect hint of creaminess and spice.
You'll never guess that beans are in this smoothie. This healthy chocolate bean smoothie is made with bananas, beans, dates, yogurt, milk and spinach to make the tastiest mint chocolate chip smoothie, plus it's full of filling fiber and protein.
Mango cherry popsicles require 4 simple ingredients and are a healthy and refreshing snack all summer.
A banana pear smoothie is a delicious and easy way to up your fiber intake to help with satiety, digestion, blood sugar balance and more! This pear and banana smoothie offers both fruit and veggies as well as 15 grams of protein!
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.
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!
This easy recipe for kiwi puree is great for baby led weaning and feeding babies and toddlers. Kiwi can be sour, but pureeing it or even freezing it makes it a little more palatable for little mouths.
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).
Savory Snacks for Toddlers
To round this selection of easy snacks for toddlers, here are some side dish options and savory snacks for toddlers.
Make sure to check out this post for more finger foods for toddlers.
Many of these recipes are easy to repurpose as meals. Just serve a smaller portion as a snack!
Savory Toddler Snacks
These options for savory toddler snacks are great for small meal sides or additions, too! Serve a smaller serving for a snack, or pair it with other foods for a toddler meal.
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.
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.
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.
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 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!
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.
Repurposing Toddler Snacks
Some of these snacks can also be repurposed or added to meals.
For instance, if I’m serving them to toddlers as a healthy toddler breakfast, I’ll usually offer a bigger serving size or pair it 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, some of these freezable toddler meal ideas have really come in handy for us!
These toddler snack recipes not only look good, but they taste delicious.
And of course, as a parent, you want them to provide nutrition, which these do.
And best of all? They’re all toddler friendly, but also adult and family-friendly. There are 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.
You know, they want to feel like the big kids. But, as a parent, you can know these are nutrient-dense options, too!
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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!