25 Healthy, Kid-Friendly Snacks That Won’t Pack on the Pounds

Registered Dietician

| 4 min read

I love snacking. It gets a bad rep, but snacking can actually be good for you. It is a great way to get healthy food in your body. It also can keep your metabolism moving, if you are going too long in between meals.
It’s a good idea to eat portion-controlled meals every three to five hours. If you know you are going to go too long in-between meals or you need a little something before a workout, try a snack.
Don’t forget snacks should be in the right portions throughout the day, so don’t overdo it. Here are some delicious, healthy snacks that are great for you and your entire family:
  1. Make ants on a log or red ants on a log. Spread peanut butter, your favorite nut butter or low-fat cream cheese on celery sticks. Then top with raisins or dried cranberries.
  1. Make your own trail mix. Mix the end of your favorite cereals, dried fruit and nuts. Then pack in a sandwich bag for an easy on-the-go treat.
  1. Pre-slice some veggies and store in the refrigerator. Dip in low-fat ranch or my favorite, hummus.
  1. Dip a whole-wheat pita in hummus.
  1. Peel a banana and dip it in your favorite yogurt, then roll in crushed cereal. You can eat it as is or freeze it for a change of pace.
  1. Cut up an apple and dip it in peanut butter with a little bit of cinnamon mixed in. Or create one of my kids’ favorites: apple chips.
  1. Try stuffing a whole grain pita with ricotta cheese, Granny Smith apple slices and a dash of cinnamon. Yum!
  1. Top low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt with your favorite cereal or low fat granola and some blueberries or berries of your choice. You can even make your own parfait!
  1. Top a whole-grain waffle with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches or pears.
  1. Make snack kabobs. You can make fruit kabobs, veggie kabobs or mix it up with some cheese. Try low-fat cheese cubes and grapes on pretzel sticks — so fun and colorful! The kids can’t resist this one and neither can my husband.
  1. Microwave a small baked potato (think the size of a redskin potato) and top it with some salsa and reduced fat cheese.
  1. Make a quick smoothie: Blend low-fat milk of your choice with frozen or fresh berries, a banana and voila! Try not to add fruit juice because you already have fruit in it.
  1. Sprinkle your favorite cheese over a corn tortilla, microwave for about 20 seconds and serve with salsa.
  1. Mix together your favorite nut butter and cornflakes in a bowl. Shape into small balls and enjoy.
  1. Try sprinkling Parmesan cheese on hot popcorn instead of salt and butter.
  1. Make a healthy banana split: Top a banana with low-fat vanilla or strawberry frozen yogurt and top with your favorite whole grain cereal. You can also make banana split overnight oats for an easy morning treat.
  1. Make a mini pizza: Toast a whole grain English muffin, drizzle with pizza sauce, sprinkle with low-fat mozzarella cheese and your favorite veggies. For a sweeter version, toast a whole grain English muffin, drizzle with low-fat vanilla yogurt and your favorite pieces of fruit.
  1. Make my favorite chocolate peanut butter energy bites: They’re delicious and will give you plenty of energy throughout the day.
  1. Roll your favorite lunch meat and low-fat cheese in lettuce for a fun and easy lettuce wrap.
  1. Make an Inside-Out Sandwich: Spread mustard on a slice of deli turkey. Wrap it around a sesame bread stick or a pretzel rod. One of my favorite quick snacks.
  1. Smear light cheese spread, like Laughing Cow, on a whole grain cracker.
  1. Build a mini caprese: Enjoy some grape tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella cheese together.
  1. Snack on edamame, pomegranate, pistachios or kale chips. I love these because you have to work a little bit to enjoy them. Of course, any fruits and vegetables are great. Remember they are nature’s fast food.
  1. Try dipping whole wheat waffles in some natural applesauce. I love this for breakfast, too. I sometimes will mix some Greek yogurt with the applesauce.
  1. Spread your favorite nut butter and sliced bananas on a whole wheat cracker. Honey is optional. Elvis loved peanut butter and bananas and knew what he was talking about with this delicious snack.
Many of these snacks I will also have as a meal, by increasing the portion slightly or picking a couple of the above snacks to be my lunch. I cannot stress enough that having a snack is not a bad thing, but don’t overdo it.
What are some of your favorite snacks? I would love to learn about your faves and try them. Happy and healthy snacking to all!
Photo Credit: Andy Melton via Flickr
You may also like:

A Healthier Michigan is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
No Personal Healthcare Advice or Other Advice
This Web site provides general educational information on health-related issues and provides access to health-related resources for the convenience of our users. This site and its health-related information and resources are not a substitute for professional medical advice or for the care that patients receive from their physicians or other health care providers.
This site and its health-related information resources are not meant to be the practice of medicine, the practice of nursing, or to carry out any professional health care advice or service in the state where you live. Nothing in this Web site is to be used for medical or nursing diagnosis or professional treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed health care provider. Always consult your health care provider before beginning any new treatment, or if you have any questions regarding a health condition. You should not disregard medical advice, or delay seeking medical advice, because of something you read in this site.