In this post, learn my top picks for healthy kids snacks that are nourishing, filling, require no prep, and approved by my kids!
I am so excited to share with you guys my top picks for healthy kids snacks! As a mom of three littles ages four and under I totally understand the struggle of trying to find nutritious snack options. There are so many choices on the market, many of which aren’t the healthiest or the best options to really fill up and fuel our kids. (For more on my philosophy on feeding kids in general, see this video.)
I have done the hard work for you in this post, and found some great healthy kids snacks that I really recommend and stand behind. I placed a big order on Thrive Market to find these snacks so I could really take the time and look at the ingredients and nutrition facts for each item. We love Thrive and have had a membership for years! They have so many healthy options offered at a slight discount.
I used three main principles to determine the best possible snacks:
- Quality, wholesome ingredients
- Contained substantial fat, protein, and/or fiber for increased satiety
- Packaged so they required zero prep & could be taken on the go
Healthy Snacks for Kids
- Applesauce Pouches– Hands down one of the easiest snacks! What I love about this Thrive pouch is that the ingredients are simply “organic apples”. Essentially the same thing as handing your child an apple, this pouch contains fiber for added fullness.
- Organic Mama Chia “Chia Squeeze“- Another great pouch option! These have great ingredients and a variety of fruit flavors. Chia seeds are added to these which adds protein, fat and a great source of omega 3s.
- Kids Beef Sticks– These are basically like mini beef jerky sticks made with 100% grass-fed beef. No nitrates or nitrites are added and the ingredients are clean. This is an excellent snack option because it is protein rich! A protein rich snack is a much better choice compared to a sugary bar which will send your child on a blood sugar rollercoaster. (See my video on blood sugar here.) My kids don’t love these right now but I have friends whose kids do love them and I think as my kids get older they will enjoy them more.
- Sweet Potato Chips– These are individual snack bags that are easily packable and the ingredients are great- simply sweet potatoes, organic coconut oil and sea salt. I love that these chips are not cooked in a refined oil and they taste delicious!
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers (cheddar & sea salt) – Another awesome individually wrapped snack option with great ingredients! What I love the most about these is the higher protein and fat content vs your standard wheat based cracker. 1 small bag of these crackers has 6 grams of fat, 2 grams or protein, 13 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of fiber.
- gomacro Kids Bars– I ordered the peanut butter cup flavor for my kids to try and while these bars are higher in carbohydrates, they offer 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat which is pretty good for such a small bar.
- Scout Organic Bars– These are fruit based date bars similar to a Larabar. This brand offers a variety of flavors and I grabbed the Apple Pie flavor to try. Each bar has 2 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, 2 grams of fiber and 17 grams of carbohydrates. The higher carbohydrate count is to be expected based on the fruit ingredients but these nutrients are top notch for a more fruit based bar.
- ZEGO Sunny Day Fruit and Veggie bars– I grabbed the Apple Strawberry flavor of these. The ingredients are from concentrate so not exactly the same as handing your child a piece of fruit but they are a great fruit bar option for on the go.
- Solely Fruit Jerky– This is just dried fruit that comes in a handy jerky shape that makes it so easy to grab and go. The only ingredient here is mango. What kid doesn’t love dried mangos?
Watch the video!
I hope you found this information helpful! I know how difficult it can be to navigate all of the millions of snack options out there. I know your kids will enjoy these snacks as much as mine do, and you can rest easy knowing they’re actually eating something nourishing that will fuel them up!
