Spring break – how I love thee!
The weather is warming, the birds are chirping, my boys are home AND hungry….constantly. Having 4 boys has taught me many things, like looking first before sitting to use the loo (I’ve made that mistake more than once), and of course, having snacks ready for when they say – in unison “weee’re huuuungry!”
Because you’re awesome and I want to make your spring break a little easier, I have compiled a list of my favorite 18 homemade snacks for kids. Oh! Just in case you’re following a specific diet, they are also labeled. Happy spring!
Portable Snacks
These babies are good to go if you want to take the kids on a hike (or tell them to take a hike…jk). They pack easily and are shelf stable.
I like to take these Homemade Vitamin C Gummies with us when we travel. They have come with us to the ski hill and on long and short day trips. The kids love the taste and gummy factor and I love that they’re getting a ton of nutrition in each bite without any added sugar. I have many cute molds that I use for these gummies, but this mold is next on my list!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
Little hands like hand held snacks and these Raw Chocolate Macaroons fit perfectly into containers and little hands. They also have no sugar! They do require a bit of planning because they are dehydrated but are the perfect salty-chocolatey treat.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
OR if you don’t have a dehydrator these Embarrassingly Easy Raw Macaroons will surely make you blush (but these need to be kept in the fridge to keep their shape)!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
If you remember Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, allow me to introduce you to their nourishing cousin…Crazy Good DIY Peanut Butter Cups. These are no bake, have 3 ingredients and you can put your little helpers to work.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Paleo
Pudding, at least the Jello brand kind, is not synonymous with nutrition. Libby’s *Next Level* Chocolate Avocado Pudding on the other hand is requested daily at our house. It’s smooth and creamy and chocolatey and sweetened with maple syrup.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
These Crunchy Maple Cinnamon Chickpeas may sound a bit unconventional but trust me when I say that every time we take these out with us, even the most skeptical of children end up loving them. My boys have learned to just tell their friends to try them before telling them they are chickpeas. I have been asked for the recipe countless times and now you’re part of the secret circle. 😉
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
Mmmmm chocolate almond butter. This is a favorite dip for sliced apples. I pack a container with any one of these Homemade Almond Butter-3 Ways (OR if you’re nut free, this Nut-Free Butter) AND another container with sliced apples and I have a super happy group!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Paleo, Nut Free
These nutritious (perhaps even sneaky) Raw Cookie Dough Bites are super easy to make and have a super secret ingredient you wouldn’t usually put into a cookie. They require no flour and are sweetened with honey so you can feel great about giving them to your kids.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
Fruit leather takes me back to my own childhood and snack time at school. This Sneaky DIY Fruit Leather amps up the nutritional value of this kid friendly snack with the addition of sweet potatoes and beets. My kids don’t even know…hence the sneaky part! 😀
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
If you’re avoiding dairy, this Paleo Coconut Chocolate Mousse will be your new best friend. The boys love this in their lunch and one of my favorite parts is that it is a filling, protein rich snack. I set them in these containers and pack ’em and some spoons. They travel really well.
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
If you want a little more crunch, these Plantain Chips will do the trick! If you’ve never tried plantains, they look like green bananas but behave more like a starch. You only need 2 ingredients and you can bake ’em or fry ’em. Either way, they’re delish!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
This breakfast pudding is way more than just a breakfast pudding! It is perfect for a mid morning/afternoon snack break. I make this and pour it into these little containers and leave them in the fridge to set. I pack them in my cooler and off we go!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
If you’ve got 5 minutes, you can make the Easiest Apple Sauce ever and who doesn’t love a bowl of apple sauce? The best part about this is that you don’t have to peel the apples and they are undetectable in the sauce. Make snack time easier for yourself and whip this up!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
Forget the Jello brand, this Easy Peasy 2 Ingredient Jello is where it’s at! Seriously! You literally need 2 ingredients! I sometimes pour it into a glass dish and slice it up into squares or directly into these stainless steel portable containers. Either way, they are a terrific snack!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
Ok now don’t let the name of these scare you off…I make these Raw Chocolate Dipped Rum Balls all the time for the kids (sans the rum of course). They are moist and very satisfying. The crunchy chocolate outside doesn’t always make an appearance but the kids do chant my name when it does…just sayin. 😉
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
If you’re ok with traditionally prepared grains, these Soaked (birthday) Cupcakes will be a major hit They are moist and delicious and topped with a little whipped cream or butter icing, they can definitely qualify as a treat.
Nut Free
Something Cold
If something a little cooler is what you’re after, these Ice-Cream Sandwiches from scratch are uh-MAY-zing, as is this dairy free 3 ingredient Cappuccino Ice Cream (you could easily leave out the cappuccino and replace with fresh fruit). Warning though: you may have some many neighborhood kids at your doorstep once word gets out!
Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Paleo
So there you have it! 18ish homemade snacks for kids. A funny thing happened as I was compiling this list…I noticed a very common theme: EASY! Am I just lazy? As much as I love prepping nutritious foods for the fam, I much prefer spending time outdoors enjoying my nutritious food with the fam 😀
Come back and tell me which of these snacks is/are a hit!
