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55+ Ideas For Thanksgiving Snacks for Kids

There’s no better way to celebrate the blessings of another year than with delicious food, like these fun Thanksgiving snacks for kids. Make your little ones a part of the tradition and festivities with these simple Thanksgiving recipes for kids.

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Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite meals. Juicy turkey, scalloped sweetpotatoes, buttery rolls, crispy roasted brussels sprouts and carrots, irresistible pumpkin pie.

All of it is SO good, embracing the fall season treats. Thanksgiving time is a special time in our house, to

However, a Thanksgiving dinner takes a bit of time to make.

thanksgiving turkey cookies

And if your kids are like mine, they are ALWAYS hungry, which is where these easy Thanksgiving treats for kids come into play.

Involve your kids and have them help in making their favorite adorable Thanksgiving treats.

How to Make Fun Thanksgiving Snacks for Kids

Not only are your kids probably hungry, but they also want in on the action, and these cute thanksgiving snacks are the perfect way to include them!

My children love to help cook. And that’s a good thing – especially when we’re putting said snacks in their favorite snack spinner.

It’s a total win and can keep them entertained for some time!

gobe snack spinner with snacks in it

So, how can you involve them? Some will be age dependent, depending on their fine motor skills.

  • Have them work side-by-side with you doing your thanksgiving prep, letting them measure ingredients or mix (pumpkin puree is easy for toddlers to mix)
  • Give them tasks to do on their own – using kid friendly knives to cut safe foods
  • Have them set the table
  • Prep their favorite snacks to have available
  • Wash and organize produce
  • Make table settings for guests
  • Add candy eyes to nearly any healthy food to make it more fun! This small touch makes it SO much more fun for kids.

Involving kids in meal prep is great for intuitive eating for kids, and can help reduce the likelihood of picky eating.

So, what should you feed them while you’re patiently waiting until the meal is ready?

overhead shot of trail mix bars on parchment paper and counter top

Likewise, how do you involve them in the meal prep process? What is some feasible Thanksgiving food for kids to make?

Today, I’ve got some Thanksgiving snacks for kids that are sure to hold them over until the main event.

Why Focus on Kid Friendly Thanksgiving Snacks?

Having kid-friendly Thanksgiving snacks is important since Thanksgiving is an interesting day of eating, and an entire day of prepping.

You want to try to involve kids as much as possible and definitely have some thanksgiving food for kids available.

The feast is notorious for its savory dishes and delectable desserts – I’m sure there will be plenty of Thanksgiving treats!

As adults, we tend to save our appetite for the main meal. Even the most intuitive of eaters know they’ll probably overeat.

bowl with candy corn snack

But kids don’t necessarily operate that way.

I can’t be the only mom out there who has had their children complain of hunger, not one hour after a huge meal. Am I?

Kids who eat intuitively will need regular meals and snacks leading up to Thanksgiving dinner – they shouldn’t be saving up for a later meal.

Plain and simple—they’ll need breakfast, lunch, and snacks in between. They don’t need to starve themselves and binge later (nor do you!).

Thanksgiving is a fun time to incorporate a food craft or easy Thanksgiving treat.

peanut butter cookies with eyes to look like turkey

Pinterest has about a million fun ways to turn food into a cute turkey.

Little gobblers and turkeys are fun, but of course, you aren’t limited to turkey crafts with pretzel sticks to recognize the thanksgiving festivities.

I’ve got a whole post dedicated to food activities for toddlers that would translate to fun thanksgiving treats or any festive treats.

You can definitely have your kids help you prep some recipes I’m sharing today.

making cookie batter with toddler in kitchen

On the other hand, you may be overwhelmed by the idea of feeding your kids AND your dinner guests.

I’ve got you covered with some of the best Thanksgiving recipes for kids, which can work for school, home or at a friends’ house.

Many of these Thanksgiving snacks for toddlers can be made ahead so you can focus on making the time-intensive turkey and sides.

Thanksgiving Snacks for Toddlers

When you think of Thanksgiving, you may visualize a perfectly roasted turkey as the best part.

However, there are SO many other foods and flavors that remind us of fall that fall under these easy thanksgiving snacks.

pumpkin no bake cookies on parchment paper

Include Nutrient-Rich Fall Foods

First, there are the freshly harvested foods that are both tasty and nutrient-dense.

Squash, pumpkin, potatoes, sweetpotatoes, green beans, roasted starchy vegetables, and cranberries are often staples of the meal, and full of nutrients like VItamins A and C and fiber.

Pomegranate’s juicy and tart flavor is a delicious way to add antioxidants to your fall foods.

These Thanksgiving snacks for kids incorporate the sweet and savory flavors of fall – and can balance a sweet tooth with some nutrition.

Trust me, your kids won’t be the only ones gobbling them up!

Make a Fun Thanksgiving Treat

Next up we’ve got desserts. Is anyone else making apples into anything and everything this time of year?

The combination of apples and spices—like cinnamon and nutmeg—can be used in snacks too.

Making kid-friendly thanksgiving treats can be a way to reduce sugar content and also have them be excited to help, whether it’s with pumpkin cookies, apple muffins, cupcakes, dirt pie, almond flour apple crumble or something else.

These creative healthy thanksgiving snacks can sure be fun, or even more like a thanksgiving treat! Who says sweet treats can’t also be a healthy snack?

Pair candy corn with greek yogurt, a fruit plate or some cute turkey treats. Choose what works best for your family.

Many of these can also work for thanksgiving snacks for school or after school snacks, too!

55+ Thanksgiving Snacks for Kids

These easy Thanksgiving snacks for kids can help keep them engaged and involved in the tradition. Whether you need Thanksgiving treat ideas or healthy options, you'll find what you need with these cute thanksgiving snack ideas!

References:

  • Garcia AL, Brown E, Goodale T, McLachlan M, Parrett A. A Nursery-Based Cooking Skills Programme with Parents and Children Reduced Food Fussiness and Increased Willingness to Try Vegetables: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Nutrients. 2020 Aug 28;12(9):2623. doi: 10.3390/nu12092623. PMID: 32872123; PMCID: PMC7551038.
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