Healthy Snacks for Kids Checklist

Not only is string cheese fun for kids to peel apart, it’s also a delicious portable snack that provides a healthy dose of calcium.

Choose all-natural peanut butter made with just nuts and salt; it provides plenty of protein and heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Spread it on whole-wheat crackers or bread, apple slices, or celery sticks for a complete snack. If peanut allergies are a problem, stock up on all-natural almond or cashew butter instead.

With countless varieties and flavors available, there are plenty of choices for this calcium-rich food. For a real treat (and extra nutrients!), blend yogurt with fresh or frozen fruit to make a kid-pleasing smoothie.

Toss them into a homemade trail mix, sprinkle over a bowl of cereal or oatmeal, or make the classic snack: ants on a log. Just spread a layer of peanut butter on a celery stick and top with potassium-rich raisins—a treat even the pickiest eater will love.

Nothing beats taking a bite out of actual fruit, but juice can be the next best thing—if you select carefully. Choose brands that are made from 100 percent real fruit juice as opposed to those that are juice cocktails or sweetened beverages for the most nutrients and the fewest additives.

Toss together your own concoction for a snack that’s full of energy-boosting nutrients and is easy to eat on the go. Simply mix various types of nuts and dried fruit or a few dark chocolate chips.

Nicknamed “nature’s candy” for its natural sweetness, fruit is the ideal snack. Stick to what’s in season to make sure it’s at its freshest and ripest: apples and pears in the fall, oranges in the winter, strawberries in the spring, and peaches, plums, and melon in the summer. To switch things up, try freezing grapes or sliced bananas for a cool treat.

Choose all-natural, unsweetened applesauce, which is packed with vitamins but doesn’t contain extra sugar.

Trade butter-laden movie-style for plain, air-popped popcorn. To entice the kids, top with a light dusting of grated Parmesan cheese or dried herbs, such as rosemary or oregano.

Skip tempting sugar-coated cereals, and opt for those that are low in sugar and high in fiber. Kids can eat this by the handful or in a bowl with low-fat milk, soy milk, or rice milk.