Healthy Snack Ideas for the Entire Family + 3 Snack Recipes

Hey Mama trying to hustle out the door–I see you. You want to provide tasty, yet wholesome foods to fuel your growing kids. But healthy snack ideas don’t always come to mind easily!

Whether you’re a working parent trying to pack snacks for daycare or a stay at home mom with an activity-packed schedule, I’ve got some tips for you. Keep reading for some healthy snack ideas!

Whether you are looking for a premade snack you can purchase or you want to try your hand with homemade goodies, let’s dive in

Three Ingredients I Try To Avoid

Prior to becoming a Mom, I cared about what I put in my body, but I didn’t really understand what different ingredients meant.

I didn’t realize a small little snack that had healthy looking packing could contain some pretty gross stuff.

Here are the top three things I try to avoid.

Canola Oil

The manufacturing process leaves the oils damaged, creating higher levels of oxidation and trans-fat content. I look for alternatives like Sunflower oil or olive oil.

Artificial Food Dyes

I personally have experienced skin allergies to food dyes. I try to find foods that are dyed with natural things like turmeric or fruits.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

It’s more quickly absorbed by the body than sugar and can lead to all kinds of unwanted health issues. I try to stick to things that are naturally sweet without added sugar.

If I do need something premade with a sweetener I look for maple syrup or honey instead.

My Top 3 Store-Bought Snack Ideas

Let’s start with the store-bought snacks. Some days we’re super mama with our homemade foods and others, we need to take advantage of convenience.

I am a full time working mom, I love to cook and bake but sometimes I just don’t have the time to prepare my snacks.

On those occasions, I head to the store. It’s important to me that my children are still getting good quality food in their bodies even when it’s store-bought.

Here are my top three healthy snack ideas you can buy for convenience.

GoGo SqueeZ Fruit and Veggie Pouches

Sauce Pouches have always been a fav in my family. They are easy to throw in a backpack or lunch box and are non-perishable until opened.

However, I was always a little concerned about the quality of the fruits and veggies, the preservatives and dyes added and the way they were processed as well as the container they were packaged in.

I did quite a bit of research on companies and feel confident in GoGO Squeez. Their packaging is BPA free.

Their ingredients are simple and natural…real fruit, veggies and a splash of real fruit juice. They don’t use any added sugars or dyes. Lastly, they are NON-GMO and Certified Organic!

Mini Beef or Turkey Sticks 

I have recently discovered these Mini Beef Sticks at Costco. They are made by Country Archer and are the perfect size for little ones.

They are made with 100% Grass-fed beef, 5G of protein per stick and 0G sugar!

Annie’s Full Fat Yogurt

My kids LOVE yogurt. I think it’s a fun, tasty and (can be) healthy snack. My kids, however, can never eat a whole yogurt in one sitting, plus most of them are packed with added sugar.

I came across these Annie’s yogurts at Costco. They are small, perfect for toddlers. They are full fat which I love. After my kids finished nursing I worried they weren’t going to get enough calories–these ensure that they do.

Lastly, these only have roughly 7 grams of natural sugar 0 added sugar! Plus 4 grams of protein.

My Top 3 Homemade Snack Ideas

Alright–sometimes you have time and you want to get a little extra domestic! I love batch prepping snacks and meals for my twins as much as possible.

It feels good knowing exactly what you’re putting in those priceless little bodies.

I have all kinds of favorite snack recipes but today I will share my top three. I make these most frequently and they are pretty simple.

Everything Crackers Recipe

This is something we came up with by playing around in the kitchen. We wanted a cracker without all the preservatives that were quick and easy to make.

Ingredients: 

• 4 Cups Almond Flour
• 3 eggs
• 1 tbsp Avocado or Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

You may need to add an egg or two depending on the texture of the almond flour you use.

Steps:

1. Put everything in a food processor (including the oil) and mix it up until you get a dough consistency.
2. Lay a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet, put the dough in the middle and cover it with another piece of parchment paper. Roll it out with a rolling pin.
3. Then remove the parchment paper, sprinkle the everything but the bagel seasoning over the dough and slightly press it.
4. Then cut the dough using a pizza cutter into cracker size pieces.
5. Bake at 350° for 12-18 minutes.

Once these are cool, I place them in an airtight container and they last me a week. They are low carb and delicious with cheese, guacamole, salami, hummus, etc.

I haven’t tried this myself yet, but I’ve read adding a little arrowroot powder will help make these crisper. GIve it a try and let me know if it works!

“Chipas”Argentinean Cheese Bread Recipe

So, this one probably isn’t the healthiest snack in the world, but it’s quick and easy to make, easy to store, and again–you are in control of the ingredients. My twins LOVE these and ask for them every weekend.

These are also gluten-free so they make a great savory snack for a child with gluten allergies.

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of Tapioca Flour
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups of shredded cheese (Cheddar and Mozzarella are my favorite combo)
• Salt
• A little water

Steps:

1. Mix all the ingredients together using your hands to knead everything together. You want to use enough water to get the dough to stick together. I’d start with 3 tbsp of water and then add an additional tbsp at a time until the dough sticks together.
2. Grease a muffin tin and preheat the oven to 350.
3. Form balls with the dough and place them in the muffin tin.
4. Bake for 25-30 MInutes.

There you have it, delicious cheesy homemade goodness!

Zucchini Chocolate Muffins Recipe

This is not a recipe I came up with but rather one from Daniel Walker. These muffins are SO GOOD.

You can make them 24 at a time and freeze them in order to have a yummy breakfast or quick snack on hand.

Check out this zucchini chocolate muffins recipe here. These are packed with protein, totally grain-free and no preservatives. Enjoy!

What Healthy Snack Ideas Do You Love?

Well, there you have it. Even when you’re busy you can find a way to get yummy food into your body!

What healthy snack ideas do you have? Please share in the comments below!