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10 Tasty Snack Ideas For Kindergartners That They Will Love

Snack Ideas For Kindergartners

Looking for healthy snack ideas for kindergartners? Look no further! 

Below we’ve included ten healthy snack ideas to keep your little one healthy, happy, and energized until their next meal.

Healthy snack ideas for kindergartners

Kids love to snack but can be picky about what constitutes a real ‘snack.’ 

Many of us parents browse supermarket snack aisles looking for the healthiest, budget-friendly options among the sea of packaged snacks while also considering if our little ones will like the best options. 

Sound familiar? If so, we’ve got a healthy, budget-friendly solution. We’ve got 10 of them. 

The healthy snacks for kids below are easy to prepare, packed with key nutrients, and, most importantly, delicious! 

Add them to your little one’s lunch box, or let them enjoy themselves at home at snack time. 

Packaged snacks are okay occasionally; you may even enjoy them, but when your kids taste the delicious, nutritious snacks you’ll prepare from this article, don’t be surprised if they ask for them over the packaged options!

Ten healthy, easy snacks for kids

Healthy kid-friendly snacks don’t have to come in bright packages, and they don’t have to be expensive. 

There are so many healthy, delicious, and surprisingly easy-to-make snacks that you can make right in your own kitchen with common, cheap ingredients.

Snack Ideas For Kindergartners

1. Apple slices with Peanut Butter

Apples are cheap and nutritious, with plenty of fiber and antioxidants to keep your little one’s system running smoothly. Apple slices pair well with peanut butter to make a simple snack that kids love.

Presentation dramatically affects how much kids enjoy food, so play with how you present this easy healthy snack.

You can slice apples and dip them in peanut butter, cut them into apple ‘soldiers’ and dip them, or make a peanut butter sandwich with round apple slices instead of bread!

You can add coconut flakes or mini chocolate chips to make this tasty snack even sweeter. You don’t have to stick to just peanut butter – any nut butter is a delicious addition to this snack, such as coconut, cashew, or almond butter.

2. Oatmeal (or oatmeal bars)

Oats are packed with nutrients kids need to grow and develop at their best, such as protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and zinc. 

A classic bowl of oatmeal is an easy, healthy snack, but make sure to top it with something more exciting to appeal to your little one’s taste buds, such as fresh or frozen fruit (banana, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry), Greek yogurt, or honey.

Alternatively, bake delicious and nutritious oatmeal bars at home for a high-energy snack that the whole family will love. 

Homemade oatmeal bars are the perfect opportunity to boost your little one’s nutrient intake. 

Simply add crushed nuts (walnuts, almonds), flaxseed, coconut oil, raisins, dried fruit pieces, or any other nutrient-rich ingredient to the mix before baking.

3. Roasted chickpeas

Roasted chickpeas are the perfect snack food. The only problem is that they’re so tasty you may eat them all up before your little one gets the chance. 

They’re crunchy, spicy, and salty, but spice and salt can be adjusted to your little one’s preference.

Simply drain and rinse a can of chickpeas (or soak fresh overnight) and place them in a bowl. 

Toss with some olive oil and seasonings of choice, such as paprika, cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, herbs, and salt. 

Roast chickpeas at 400F for 20-30 minutes until golden and crispy. 

Check and shake halfway through for even cooking.

4. Hummus and veggies

Make tasty hummus at home with a humble can of chickpeas, olive oil, and seasonings of choice. Add tahini (homemade or store-bought) for that traditional hummus flavor, or leave out the tahini for a chickpea puree that is still delicious and nutritious.

Serve this homemade hummus in a bowl or a lunchbox-friendly container and pair it with veggies such as carrot sticks, bell pepper sticks, or sweet potato fries. 

Serve with whole wheat pita wedges and whole grain crackers for more carbs.

5. Bean and cheese quesadilla

Refried beans contain protein, fiber, and other vital nutrients. Cheese is also high in protein, calcium, and vitamin D, which kindergartners need for healthy, strong teeth and bones.

This easy-to-make quesadilla is a great lunch idea, but you can serve it in smaller portions for a healthy and nutritious snack. 

Add refried beans, cheese, and veggies of your choice (i.e., diced tomatoes and leafy greens) to a whole grain tortilla and grill, fry, or place in the oven.

Serve with a dip such as homemade salsa or even leftover hummus from another recipe!

6. Ants on a log (celery and peanut butter or cream cheese)

Ants on a log is a kid-favorite snack packed with protein and vitamins, making it one of the healthiest snacks your little one can have. 

All you need are celery sticks (the ‘log’), a filling (peanut butter or cream cheese are healthy fillings), the ‘ants’ – raisins work with peanut butter, and small pieces of fresh or dried fruit go well with cream cheese.

Halve a celery stick vertically so that you have a half-cylinder shape. Fill the stalk with a layer of nut butter or cream cheese, and place the fresh or dried fruit on top in a line formation.

7. Popcorn

Yes, popcorn! Believe it or not, popcorn is a healthy snack. 

A bag of popcorn kernels is relatively cheap and counts as natural whole-grain food. We tend to think of popcorn as an unhealthy snack, but that’s mainly because packaged store-bought popcorn contains a lot of saturated fats, sugars, and excess salt.

Homemade, natural popcorn is loaded with B3 and B6, folate, and pantothenic acid, all promoting healthy brain function and essential minerals and energy-boosting carbohydrates.

8. Fruit toast

Fruit toast is one of the most accessible snacks you can make for your little one. 

Simply toast a slice or two of whole-grain bread and top it with fresh fruit slices, such as bananas, strawberries, or avocado. Peanut butter (or any nut butter) is an excellent addition to fruit toast and packs in that extra protein your little one needs to keep growing and exploring.

Change peanut butter for cottage cheese or cream cheese for a calcium-rich alternative, keeping the fruit on top for extra vitamins and antioxidants.

9. Trail mix

Combine complex carbohydrates with dried fruit in a tasty trail mix that will fuel your little one throughout the day. 

Peanuts are affordable and nutrient-dense and are considered safe for 5-year-olds. 

Add raisins, dried fruit, whole grain cereal, baked oats, and chocolate chips for a filling snack that’s easy to make at home and carry anywhere. 

Serve with Greek yogurt for added calcium and protein, or enjoy it alone!

10. Fruit smoothie

Fruit smoothies are an energy-boosting, nutrient-rich snack that helps kids enjoy fruit without worrying about textures. There are many options here when it comes to ingredients.

Bananas are always a great option, so make a banana-only smoothie for a quick and healthy drink snack. Add strawberries, kiwi, and berries for an antioxidant-rich fruit blast. 

Use whole milk or any dairy alternative (nut, oat, soy). You can even eat peanut butter for extra protein and chia seeds for healthy fats.

Snack Ideas For Kindergartners

Filling foods for toddlers

Snacks serve two main purposes – boosting your little one’s nutrient intake and keeping them full and fueled until their next meal. 

Fruit snacks are always a healthy option, but it’s best to pair them with complex carbohydrates to keep kids’ bellies fuller for longer.

Complex carbohydrates are carbs that burn slowly, unlike simple carbs (refined grains, sweets) that burn fast and usually contain high amounts of sugar. 

Complex carbs include whole-grain bread, nuts, oats, potatoes, and beans. These foods provide hours of energy and help your little one avoid the ‘crash’ that typically follows a simple-carb binge.

So, if you want the most filling and fueling foods for your toddler, focus

  • Whole grain bread, crackers, cereals
  • Potato, sweet potatoes
  • Beans
  • Nuts
  • Oatmeal

Fruit toast, oatmeal bowls/bars, and bean quesadillas (on a whole wheat tortilla) are some examples from the list of healthy snacks above that will keep your little one full while also providing key nutrients for optimal growth and development.

The Importance of Healthy Snacks for Kids

Kindergartners grow fast. Entering the school system is an exciting time for kindergartners, and they need healthy, nutritious food to fuel them both physically and mentally. 

Nutrient-rich foods eaten at the correct times fuel the body and promote healthy brain development, leading to success at school, happiness in play, and overall good health. 

Kindergartners tend to be highly active; the more active, the more need for healthy fuel!

Children are usually in touch with their body’s needs, whereby they can assess their hunger levels and eat the right amount to fuel their needs. 

Snacks are an essential part of any kid’s diet, so as parents, we should consider snacks not just as a treat or a filler between meals but as an efficient way to boost your little one’s vitamin, mineral, and general nutrient intake.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that ‘healthy eating can help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy body weight, consume important nutrients, and reduce the risk of developing health conditions such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, iron deficiency, dental cavities [and more].’ 

Healthy eating is essential throughout our lifespan, and when we can help our kids develop the habit early, it sets them up for a healthy life. 

According to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, ‘dietary patterns established during this life stage tend to continue into adult years.’

Conclusion

The diet we offer our kids at kindergarten around five years old sets up food habits into their adult years, so take this opportunity to establish healthy habits moving forward. 

The healthy snack options above can provide your little one energy and help them reach their nutrient goals daily. 

Remember that while packaged foods are best avoided, sometimes we don’t have time to prepare food at home. 

Don’t worry if you need to rely on packaged foods sometimes; just try to ensure that your kids get whole, unprocessed foods most of the time.

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