If the phrase “kid-friendly snacks” conjures up stale Cheerios or ants on a log, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. After all, you’re the one who usually ends up mindlessly finishing them, so shouldn’t they actually taste good? We think so. That’s why we’ve rounded up a bunch of delicious (and nutritious!) snacks that both tiny and sophisticated palates can get excited about. You might even find yourself making them just for you.
They’ll never know these cheesy bites are hiding a whole pound of veggies. Riced cauliflower forms the base of these healthier tots, while garlic, shallots, and white cheddar bring the flavor. And because they’re oven-baked, not deep fried, you won’t feel bad about sneaking a few off their plate.
The festive plating here makes good ol’ bananas and peanut butter feel like a celebratory treat. Coconut yogurt (or any yogurt, really) takes the place of ice cream, while granola, berries, hemp seeds, and coconut flakes act as the toppings. It’s basically the parfait you’d make for yourself… in kid-friendly dessert form.
Cheese quesadillas aren’t exactly packed with nutrition. Pumpkin hummus quesadillas, on the other hand? Not only does the hummus bump up the nutrients and add some extra protein, but you can also use a lot less cheese—and no one will be any wiser. If your kids freak out at the sight of anything green, just leave off the spinach or arugula on theirs.
Coconut Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bites
These buckeye-meets-Almond Joy bites may look like sugar bombs, but they’re actually loaded with protein and healthy fats and only the tiniest bit of added sugar. Make a big batch at the beginning of the week and pull out whenever they—or you—need something sweet. They also make a great on-the-go breakfast or late-night dessert.
As awesome as it was to come home to Bagel Bites every day, they’re not exactly something you want to feed your kids—or yourself anymore. These mini muffins pack in plenty of pizza flavor with none of the junk. Plus, the addition of quinoa will help keep them full till dinner.
Vegan Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Muffins are usually desserts in disguise, but these are actually veggies in disguise. Vegan or not, you’ll appreciate the wholesome ingredients (zucchini, almond milk, flaxseed, avocado oil, coconut sugar). All your kids need to hear is “chocolate chip muffins.”
These gluten-free eggplant “fries” are almost like Italian breadsticks, especially if you serve them with a side of marinara like the blogger does here. But you could also dip them in a tahini sauce, tzatziki, hummus, even ketchup or ranch—the options are endless. They’re also so easy to make: Just dip in egg, then almond flour and dried herbs, and saute in olive oil.
If your first thought is “no way am I making homemade Doritos,” stay with us. The chips are really just corn tortillas, so all you really have to “make” here is the seasoning. The three options (nacho cheese, cool ranch, and spicy taco) use nutritional yeast and different combos of spices to recreate that beloved Doritos taste, minus all the chemicals.
Everything’s better in fritter form. Broccoli lovers and broccoli haters alike will gobble up these cheesy bites—they’re that good. Take a page out of the recipe blogger’s book and serve with ketchup for them, yogurt and a lemon wedge for you (glass of wine optional).
These ombre pops may look like a Pinterest fail waiting to happen, but they’re actually super easy to make. Simply puree a few different fruits, stir them into yogurt, layer into an ice pop mold, and freeze for a few hours. They’re so pretty, it’s easy to forget they’re just fresh fruit and yogurt.
Everything Bagel Vegan Tofu Nuggets
Skip the frozen, preservative-laden kind and serve up these tofu ones instead. The mustardy bites get dipped in—and sprinkled with—everything bagel seasoning, which is all you really need to know. We highly recommend making the maple-tahini sauce to go with.
1 thought on “11 kid-friendly snacks that you’ll want to eat, too”
These snack recipes are amazing! We made some today and those were really so good! Can’t wait to try the rest! Thanks a lot for sharing!