Find easy school snacks for kids, including easy homemade options as well as affordable store-bought ones. There are nut-free and lower-sugar choices, too.
I love to incorporate homemade snacks in with store-bought options when packing preschool snacks, peanut-free snacks for school, and general snacks for school to keep my food budget in check. And this list will make it easier to know which snacks for kids hold up best—and will fuel the kids until their next meal or snack.
Below you’ll find my top school snacks for kids, both toddlers and older kids, so you have plenty to choose from. Each of these is lower in added sugars, contains a mix of nutrients such as protein, whole grains, and fiber, and is designed to be easy to prepare and store.
Most can be packed in a snack cup or small container without an ice pack, but you can always add an ice pack and send in an insulated bag as needed to keep cool.
(You may also like my Baby Snacks and After School Snack ideas.)
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Easy School Snacks to Buy
Some of our top snacks to buy at the store and send for school include:
TIP: Find my full list of top healthy snacks for kids to buy.
Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins (Little Bites Copycat)
With the inclusion of yogurt and a little less sugar, and a super simple method, these are exactly the kind of homemade snack that makes me excited. (Especially since I love to snack on these, too!)
Moist tender Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins that taste as good as store bought, but have a little extra nutrition? Sign. Me. Up. These muffins are seriously delicious and are a must-make if you have fans of Little Bites in your house!
Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
This recipe is as low in added sugar as I could make it while still delivering on flavor. Plus, the bars can be stored in the fridge for weeks.
With an easy method, accessible pantry ingredients, and the yummiest flavor, these Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are a snack time staple.
Easy Homemade Granola Bars
They’re super easy to make, require minimal added sweeteners, have a texture that even babies and younger toddlers can chew, and store SO well.
We like to have these granola bars as a snack or toddler breakfast with milk or a smoothie—and they’re an excellent lunch box component too. You can make them plain or choose a flavor to add!
Fruit and Nut Bars (Copycat Larabar)
These fruit and nut bars are a great preschool snack (there’s a nut-free option if needed), a great after school snack, and are also wonderful as a pregnancy snack. My whole family enjoys them!
With just 5 simple and nutritious ingredients and no baking, these Fruit and Nut Bars taste like store-bought Larabars but for less cost. You can customize the flavors and store them in the fridge or freezer for weeks.
Homemade Graham Crackers
With just enough sweetness, a pleasant crunch (that’s not too firm or crisp for younger toddlers), and a wonderful flavor, these homemade crackers are an excellent snack to share with the kids.
Transform pantry staples into the yummiest homemade Graham Crackers recipe with this easy method. These make a perfect snack with a side of fruit or yogurt dip.
Favorite Mango Smoothie Recipe
This is a great toddler smoothie recipe for kids who can’t have banana, for when you want a seriously refreshing smoothie, or when you want to serve up a drink that’s packed with vitamin C and probiotics.
This fresh Mango Smoothie is thin enough to drink through a straw and thick enough to eat with a spoon. And of course, it’s super creamy!
Favorite Bliss Balls
The berry flavor in these is seriously the best—it kind of reminds me of the intense berry flavor of a strawberry milkshake. They are also easy to customize with different nuts, seeds, or fruit, so you can make them exactly the way your family prefers. (Use sunflower seeds to make these nut-free.)
These no-bake Bliss Balls have bright berry flavor, are packed with protein and beneficial fats, have only 5 ingredients, and store ridiculously well in the fridge for weeks. They are a satisfying snack to share with the kids.
Blueberry Date Bars
This date bar recipe is a yummy snack or breakfast since it’s easy to eat and seriously satisfying. It’s lightly sweet and has the most delicious flavor combo from almond butter and dates.
These Date Bars are super moist and easy for little ones to chew—and are made with a handful of wholesome ingredients that taste seriously good, too. It’s ready quickly and stores amazingly well.
Banana Yogurt Muffins
These have a base made from very ripe bananas for ultimate flavor and tenderness, an easy one-bowl method, and sweetness that comes from just the fruit itself.
With fresh banana flavor and ultimate fluffiness, these no-added-sugar Banana Yogurt Muffins are perfect for kids breakfast, lunch or snack.
Healthy Carrot Cake Muffins
Packed with carrots, whole grains, and protein, these Carrot Cake Muffins are a delicious way to start the day. They mix up in one bowl, can be made ahead, and are a nutritious snack or breakfast.
These are delicious served warm soon after baking, at room temperature or even chilled, so see what your family prefers. They are naturally dairy-free and can be made gluten-free and egg-free as well. See the Notes section for details.
Trail Mix for Kids
Try an easy trail mix method to let the kids pack their own snack mix for a filling and fun school snack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some easy snack options include whole-grain crackers, whole-grain cereals (dry), dried fruit, fresh fruit like bananas, or homemade snacks like the ones shown here.
Add to a snack cup or snack container and pack in a small insulated bag, adding an ice pack if needed to keep the food cold.
Add beneficial fats to snacks such as nut butter, full-fat yogurt or cream cheese, cottage cheese, avocado, hard-cooked eggs, fully cooked chicken, or cheese to help satisfy.
Best Tips for Success
- Pack any perishable foods in a container with an ice pack in an insulated bag.
- Add fruit to make the snack more filling. Easy options include banana, berries such as blueberries or strawberries, sliced apples (learn how to store apples or apple slices without browning), clementines, applesauce pouches, or fruit cups.
- Add veggies like cucumbers with ranch, carrots with hummus, or other raw vegetables your kids enjoy.
- Check in regularly with your child to make sure you are sending enough food.
- Avoid peanut butter, peanuts, nut butter, and tree nuts as needed according to your school’s policy.
- Avoid popcorn for kids under age 4 as it is considered to be a choking hazard.
