When life gets busy, it’s easy for healthy eating habits to fall to the wayside. When every hour of the day is accounted for, even getting dinner on the table can be a challenge, never mind quality snacks. The good news is, there are plenty of easy snack options out there. Here are 8 quick and healthy kids snacks to get you rolling.
8 Quick and Healthy Kids Snacks
I found all of these wholesome snacks at Sprouts Farmers Market, an excellent resource for grab-and-go bites. They have a huge variety of nourishing packaged snacks, affordable organic produce, a good bulk bin section, and frequent sales on items that would otherwise be too pricey. You’ll find eight top picks below. I’d also love to hear about your preferred snacks when time is short, so leave me a comment below.
1. Single-Serve Nut Butter
Nut and seed butter in single-serve packs paired with carrots or whole grain crackers for dipping became a favorite snack in our house. These containers from Barney Butter make it easier to dip than the standard packets.
2. Good Quality Yogurt
When it comes to buying yogurt, my preference is to opt for plain yogurt and add your own fruit and sweetener. That said, it’s been nice to have wholesome flavored options that aren’t full of artificial ingredients or excessive added sugar. Siggi’s does a good job on both counts and my kids are big fans of the creamy texture.
3. Whole Fruit
I’ve spent an awful lot of time as a mother cutting, peeling, spearing, and festooning fruit every which way. Lately though, I’ve stuck to stocking our fruit bowl with whole fruit — apples, bananas, pears, and tangerines — that requires no prep so that it can be snatched from the fruit bowl on the way out the door or upstairs to study.
4. Single-Serve Nut Packs
These packs of pistachios have become a favorite. I like that they are on the smaller size with just 80 calories, so are great for littler appetites or when you just need a tide-me-over. They come in three different flavors.
5. Hard Boiled Eggs
Although this is one snack that requires a smidge of elbow grease, it’s such a good one that I’ve tried to keep them on hand. They’re portable, high in protein, and good any time of day. Sprouts has a great selection of quality eggs at prices that are more affordable than elsewhere. You’ll find my “how to” on hard boiled eggs by heading here.
6. Popcorn
Either make your own popcorn or look for a packaged products without artificial ingredients. Lesser Evil, Boom-Chicka-Pop, and Skinny Pop are all brands to look for.
7. Trail Mix
I’ve been making my own trail mix since the kids were tiny, but this time around I kept it to just a couple of items packed into little jars that we could keep in the car or the kids could tuck into a backpack. Here’s my how to on making your own trail mix.
8. Granola Bars
It’s hard to find an easier snack than a granola bar, and it’s one that kids tend to love. I look for bars that have less than 8 grams of added sugar, at least a couple grams of fiber, and no artificial ingredients. Cascadian Farms, Kind, Good Made, and Annie’s all fit the bill. You’ll find more about how to choose a quality granola bar in this post.
If you like these 8 quick and healthy kids snacks, check out:
20 Healthy Store-Bought Snacks