10 Easy Snack Recipes Kids Can Make Themselves

The kids are at home and they need to eat! It might just be time to hand over the reins and put them in charge of the afternoon’s menu with a collection of easy (and healthy!) snack recipes they can make themselves. From fresh fruit and vegetable ideas to pita dips and popcorn, we’ve got something healthy and filling for every type of junior eater.

Nutty Jumbles Nuts are packed with healthy fats that will stave off hunger until dinnertime. These gluten-free clusters of almonds, pecans and walnuts are sweetened with brown sugar to create a tasty snack.

Apple Sandwiches Super-simple to make and healthy to eat, these breadless sandwiches make great snacks any time of day. Peanut butter is the good stuff that holds the treats together.

Ranch-Style Dip with Dippers This recipe is designed for young chefs to prepare. Moms and Dads: take your kids on a shopping trip to the farmers’ market and let them choose their favorite vegetables to use as the dippers.

Parmesan and Black Pepper Popcorn  Grated Parmesan, pepper and olive oil deliver maximum flavor to a classic treat, air-popped popcorn.

Oven-Baked Carrot Fries Carrots get sweet and tender when they are baked in the oven. Serve these as a vegetable side for dinner, or enjoy as a snack with your favorite dip.

Edamame Snack Edamame, or green soybeans steamed in their pods, are a nutrient-dense yet addictive snack. Season them with sea salt flakes and toasted sesame seeds.

Yogurt Parfaits with Berry Jam & Granola Make homemade granola on a weekend and serve it sprinkled in yogurt parfaits with jam and fresh fruit all week long. You can tailor the granola recipe to your liking: substitute sunflower seeds or chopped pecans for the almonds and dried cranberries for the cherries.

Ham and Pineapple Skewers Snacktime skewers, like this one with alternating pieces of ham and pineapple, boost the fun factor of mealtime. To prep these meat and fruit snacks, working with 1 skewer at a time, alternately thread pineapple chunks and ham pieces onto each skewer. You can substitute cooked sausage for the ham, if you like.

Chewy Fruit and Nut Bars These homemade bars make great snacks or lunch-box treats. You can assemble them in minutes and walk away while they set in the refrigerator—no baking required! Use this recipe as a template for variations using any of your favorite dried fruits and nuts. Swap in your favorite cereal for the puffed rice, and agave or maple syrup for the brown rice syrup, if that’s what you have on hand.

Sweet Potato Hummus Add a fresh, seasonal twist to traditional hummus by swapping out the chickpeas for roasted sweet potatoes.

See more kid-friendly recipes here.