10 Healthy Snacks for Kids: Low Sugar with Cleaner Ingredients

As parents, we all know how important it is to provide our children with nutritious snacks that fuel their growing bodies and minds. Finding healthy options can be difficult as we are inundated with sugar and processed foods. In this blog post, you will find ten delicious and kid-approved snacks that are low in sugar and free from harmful processing. Keep in mind as you make them that fruit and honey do contain sugar. It is natural unprocessed sugar ,but still sugar, so be aware of how much your kids are consuming. Every time you make them you can add a little less sweetener than the time before. These snacks will provide nutritional value as well as help keep your child full and satisfied.

1 - Fruit Kabobs

Fruit kabobs are a colorful and fun way to introduce a variety of fruits to your kids. Simply cut up an assortment of fresh fruits like strawberries, melons, grapes, and pineapple. Thread them onto wooden skewers, or better yet, let your kids assemble the kabobs, and you have a great fiber filled snack your kids will love. For another variation you can set out cut up fruit and let your kids pick at them with fun food picks. Amazon has tons of options for food picks for kids.

2 - Veggie Sticks with Hummus

Vegetable sticks paired with hummus are a fantastic combination that provides essential vitamins and minerals, and full of fiber and some protein. Slice up carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and celery into easy-to-hold sticks. Allow them to dip them in hummus and you have a snack that will keep your kids satisfied until the next meal. When purchasing hummus be sure you read ingredients and buy one that does not contain inflammatory seed oils. Grab my list of Better Brands here for the brands I use.

3 - Homemade Granola Bars

Ditch the store-bought granola bars. Not only are they filled with added sugar and chemicals, they are expensive! Instead make your own using gluten free oats, nut butters, honey, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, coconut oil and chocolate chips. Your kids will love them and they will provide them with healthy fats and protein. I love this recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction. They are easy to make and delicious. The whole family will enjoy them.

4 - Greek Yogurt Parfait

Greek yogurt is a great source of protein that promotes healthy digestion. Have fun with this. Provide your kids with several topping options and fun glassware to layer their creations. Some suggestions include fresh berries, sliced bananas, peaches, apples, granola, flax seeds, smash up some Simple Mills Sweet Thins, honey, raisins or other dried fruit, nut butter, cinnamon, chocolate chips, etc. The options are endless. Just make sure you buy plain greek yogurt with no added sugar. Adding a little vanilla extract is a great way to add some flavor. If you are dairy free try Cocojune or Harmless Harvest brand yogurt.

5 - Apple Sandwich

Turn apple slices into mini sandwiches by spreading them with nut butter and adding a few raisins or dark chocolate chips in between. Instead of peanut butter you could try some turkey and cheese. Another option kids love is sliced apples which they dip in melted nut butter. Add some nut butter to a small ramekin and microwave for a few seconds to soften it up. Apple sandwiches are a fun and creative way to get your kids to eat more protein, healthy fats and fiber.

6 - Charcuterie Board

This is a great way to sneak in more protein. Have fun arranging different meats on a board or plate. Add a little cheese, some olives, pickles and/or a bit of honey for dipping to make it even more appealing. Be creative. Let your kids help put it together. Show them pictures of some to help inspire them. Use kids’ food picks when eating. Applegate makes some great clean meats.

7 - Frozen Grapes

On a hot summer day, frozen grapes are a refreshing and nutritious snack your kids will love. They help hydrate and provide fiber. Simply wash and then freeze a batch of grapes. Make sure your kids are old enough that they won’t choke on them. Always be mindful of whether or not your snack is age appropriate. 

8 - Cucumber Sandwiches

Much like apples, sliced cucumbers are fun to stack and use as a sandwich. Some sandwich filling ideas are cream cheese, lunch meat, pepperoni, chicken or tuna salad. You could also have your kids make “sushi rolls”. For this, slice them thin lengthwise. Fill them with cream cheese, avocado and turkey, or whatever you like. Roll them up and secure them with a food pick! Your kids will enjoy creating them.

9 - Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is a favorite in our house. The dip is simple to make. Mix together cooked shredded chicken, Frank’s Hot Sauce, a little avocado mayo and ranch dressing (I like Primal Kitchen). Season with garlic and onion powder. If you tolerate dairy mix in some shredded cheddar or sprinkle some on top. Cook for about 30 minutes at 350 to heat through. Serve with Carrot and celery sticks.

10 - Homemade Trail Mix

For those times you need grab and go. Mix together your favorite nuts and dried fruit (not too much dried fruit). Add some coconut flakes and mini chocolate chips. Portion them out in small bags so you can bring it with you when needed. Add a cheese stick and you have a great snack.

I hope this gives you some ideas on healthier snack options for your kids. They will save you money and you can feel good about what you are feeding your child. Remember to always include your children in the preparation. Not only will they have fun making them, they will be more apt to eat them. 

Want some store bought snack ideas to keep on hand when in a pinch? Click below to get my list of Better Brands that use cleaner ingredients for suggestions.

Happy snacking!