Nutritious and delicious, these healthy toddler snacks are easy to make and perfect for little kids and big kids too!
*Originally published May 2015. Updated Feb 2021*
Hi Friends!
We’re talking toddler snacks today! Specifically, healthy snacks for toddlers. One of the most frequent questions people ask me as a Registered Dietitian is “do you have any snack ideas for me?” Kids eat a lot of snacks and it’s easy to run out of ideas or fall into a rut. This post was actually first published before my oldest was even a toddler, way back in 2015. Now I have three kiddos and my youngest is a toddler! Which means I’ve got snack time going on in triplicate over here.
I hope this list will give you some inspiration. Toddler snacks don’t need to be complicated or expensive! My top tips are to focus on set snack times versus letting them graze all day and always including a protein source at snack time!
Here are some ideas:
Healthy Toddler Snacks
- Cottage Cheese: Serve it alone or pair it with whole-grain cereal and some fruit for a twist on a yogurt parfait. It can be high in sodium so as always, variety is key! And if they’re not fans, lower sugar yogurts (or plain yogurt with fruit mixed in is great too!)
- Hummus: Perfect for dipping raw veggies like carrots, celery, cucumbers and bell peppers (be careful with raw veggies- they can be a choking hazard for young toddlers). You can also serve with crackers or chips or add to pizza or sandwiches.
- Avocado: A great source of healthy fats. Mash it up for avocado toast, make guacamole for dipping or just slice and serve!
- Nut Butter: Healthy fats help keep them full! Add peanut butter or other nut/seed butters to oatmeal, drizzle on banana slices or spread on toast, waffles or pancakes!
- Whole Grain Cereal: Check out my list of Lower Sugar Cereal for Kids. Pair with milk, yogurt or a hard-boiled egg!
Healthy Snacks For Toddlers
- Muffins/Bars: I’ve got tons of muffin and bar recipes that make great snacks! You can find most of these toddler snack recipes in this Kid-Friendly Baking Recipes post. A few favorites of ours are the Lentil Banana Muffins, Carrot Oat Bars and Sweet Potato White Bean Bars
- Smoothies: Smoothies are a great way to get extra fruit and veggies into your toddler’s diet. Mix with a little milk or yogurt and you have added protein and calcium, among other important nutrients. Spinach, zucchini and cauliflower are easy veggies to add to smoothies without altering the taste or texture too much. My boys’ favorite combo is frozen mixed berries, spinach, milk and a little orange juice. This Peach Zucchini Smoothie Bowl is also a fav, along with this Silken Tofu Mixed Berry Smoothie!
- Oatmeal: It’s not just for breakfast! Make it with milk for protein and stir in a scoop of peanut butter for healthy fats. Top with berries or a few chocolate chips. You can even make a big batch ahead of time, freeze in muffin tins and thaw in the microwave. Learn how in my post for Freezer Prep Oatmeal Cups.
- Trail Mix: Homemade trail mix is SO easy and can be adapted based on your child’s favorite add-ins. Try this toddler Nut-Free Toddler Trail Mix or make up your own combination using cereal, small crackers, dried fruit and small nuts if they’re older (nuts can be a choking hazard for young toddlers). Freeze-dried fruits and veggies are a great option for younger kiddos or things like Hippeas or Harvest Snaps!
- Kabobs: Cubes of cheese and small pieces of fruit are fun for kids to help make and eat! Remember round fruits like blueberries can be a choking hazard for young toddlers. You can always cut them in half before adding to kabobs!
If you want more snack ideas, I have the ultimate resource for you – The Snack Spark! It’s a simple PDF packed with balanced snack pairings, store-bought snack suggestions, allergy-friendly snacks, prep ahead snacks and more! Learn more about The Snack Spark here!
Need more snack ideas for toddlers?
- Sweet Potato Banana Bites
- Egg Wraps
- Frozen English Muffin Pizzas
- Banana Flax Waffles
- My Go-To Energy Balls (press them into a pan and cut into bars to make them easier for young toddlers to eat!)
And if you’re looking for store-bought snacks, I’ve gotcha covered there too!
- 60+ Healthy Packaged Snacks For Kids
- Healthy Store Bought Granola Bars for Kids
- Freezer Snack Ideas
- After School Snack Ideas
- Peanut & Tree Nut Free Snack Ideas
- Egg-Free Snacks For Kids
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
PS. Thanks to my friend Katie at Mom to Mom Nutrition for the original inspiration for this post! See these types of snacks in action in her real-life photos below!
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These are great ideas! I love the idea of making mini muffins and having them for the week, but I’m not so much a plan-in-advance person, so I just try to have a bunch of healthy things my kids love on hand so I can always whip of something!
I needed you six years ago. Oh who am I kidding… I need you everyday! Little Bean has the best Momma ever! Have a great weekend! xo
Mini muffins were always in my freezer when my kids were little. They are the perfect little snack for little fingers. Or any fingers really!
so many great ideas here!
I love all of these ideas! I agree that food prep makes a huge difference. If fruit and veggies are ready in the fridge they are just as easy to grab as less healthy “convenience foods.”
Umm, yum! I am don’t have a toddle but may make some of this for my grown up self ;).
Just sent this to my friend w/ a toddler and a 4 month old. She’ll love it!
I think these are great grown-up snacks as well! For the longest time I would get the kids pancake at IHOP that let me decorate it’s face with yogurt and fruit 🙂
love that you ladies teamed up together for this one! So many great ideas. I find that the kids get more excited when the snacks are served in a fun way like the kebabs!
I love these ideas! I need to restash the muffin supply in our freezer- that’s such a great easy snack to thaw and have on the go. Love the kebabs, too!
I’m no toddler and I’d eat most of those!
Love that your promoting real whole foods for toddlers to eat! These days there are so many processed junk out there that seems to be healthy!
Excellent list! My kids definitely enjoy most of these snacks on a regular basis 🙂
This is an awesome post with so many great ideas. Thanks for including my Chocolate Strawberry Muffins, Katie!
Matilda (and I!) love snacks. I think the idea about using cottage cheese as a dip is great!
Looks amazing!I hope these snacks are really nutritious and delicious, i will try it! I found your post from Pinterest ! Thanks for sharing, Lindsay!