My kids are little snack-eating fools, both at home and at school, as I’m sure many of yours are, too. So, with as many snacks as they eat, I try to load them up with the good stuff as much as possible. They still eat the junky variety from time-to-time because it’s hard to always come up with the healthy alternatives that they actually like to eat and sometimes you just don’t have the time. So here’s a round-up of some of our favorite healthier/homemade versions of popular snacks – Fun Homemade Snacks for kids!
Most of them don’t take very long to make and can last for weeks, so I make them in large batches since they keep well. I’ll be honest here, not everyone loves every single one of these snacks but each snack is definitely loved by at least 50% of my immediate members, so that works for me.
Starting from the top left corner, moving clockwise, we have:
1. Homemade Cheese Its
This one is super fun because they’re great to make with kids. I actually prefer to make it with them because I get tired of poking all those holes and moving each individual cheese it on to the baking sheet. BUT, it’s the perfect task for little hands, as long as you don’t mind if your holes aren’t perfectly centered. While Big Sis and Daddy really like this snack, Little Sis could take it or leave it. Although I’m sure she’d just prefer to leave it – haha.
Family love rating: %75 percent
2. DIY Handi-Snacks using MOMables’ Homemade Velveeta Cheese
This one is super-duper easy to make and you can make a lot at once. But even a half-batch of this goes a long way. And it IS super handy and versatile snack to have on-hand since it keeps in the fridge for 2-3 weeks or up to 6 months in the freezer! This is a snack that is LOVED by ALL!
Family love rating: %100
3. Homemade Granola Bars (Nut-free AND Gluten-Free!)
I love these because they are granola bars that are both nut-free AND my kids will eat! The hubby, Big Sis and I LOVE these, but Little Sis only likes them well-enough. Oh well, I’ll still count that as a win!
Family love rating: %75
4. Homemade Berry Applesauce
I love this snack because I can make it organic and with a minimal amount of sugar, sometimes even none! The hubby and I really like this even though neither one of us have ever really cared for applesauce, mostly because it’s so often way too sweet. The girls both like this and will eat it, but I don’t think either of them LOVE it, so I’ll give this a…
Family love rating: %75
5. Home-popped Popcorn
My hubby is a popcorn junkie. Ever since he bought a new popper and I found this organic popcorn online, he has become the popcorn maker of the family. Thanks to him, we almost ALWAYS have some on hand, stored in a well-cleaned out giant Kimchee jar, but he also ends up eating about 90% of it! So for that alone, it gets this rating. But we all do love it.
Family love rating: 100%
6. MOMables’ Muffins Galore (Raspberry pictured here)
So many muffins, so little room in our tummies for them all. Because they are pretty quick and easy to make, I try to make them the morning of to enjoy them fresh out of the oven. Then, I freeze the leftovers for even quicker breakfasts on rushed mornings!
Family love rating: 100%
Favorite variety:
Daddy: Cranberry Orange, undoubtedly!
Mommy: Tie between Strawberry Banana and Cranberry Orange, but with a slight lean towards the latter
Big Sis: Tie between Banana Chocolate Chip and Blueberry but with not as many blueberries
Little Sis: Banana Muffins so Banana Chocolate Chip without the chips – funny little girl!
7. Homemade Soft Pretzels
What’s not to love? Hubby used to buy them frozen all the time when we first got married. We all SO love getting them at Carolina Hurricanes hockey games. The girls have even gobbled up reheated freezer burned ones, so I’d say this is a safe rating:
Family love rating: 100%
And finally, here are some of the snacks in action as snacks and lunches.
Breakfast Burrito for Lunch with Granola Bars
Snacks for School with Organic Popcorn
Kitty Sandwich with Homemade Granola Bars
Hoagie Sandwich with DIY Handi-Snacks
Homemade Pretzels, Hot Dogs and MOMveeta
Snacks for school with applesauce
Thanks so much for stopping by! Feel free to make my day by leaving me a comment, following my blog via email, on Facebook or on Instagram – the more the merrier!
Christine, aka happyvballgirl : )
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Sarah Paterson-Farrand
Great post. I keep wanting to give those crackers a go!
happyvballgirl
Thanks so much, Sarah! So sweet of you to stop by! 🙂
EasyLunchboxes (Kelly Lester)
Fabulous post Christine!!
happyvballgirl
Awwww, thanks so much, Kelly! You know that means the world to me! 🙂
Rina @ Bento School Lunches
I love all your healthy homemade snacks and thanks for sharing the recipes!! I need to get into baking as my son loves snacks too.:)
happyvballgirl
My pleasure, Rina! Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂