Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, lunch is the most nutritious, and dinner is the tastiest. But what about snacks? Every family has its own approach, but most parents try to offer healthy homemade snacks for kids. That’s why we’ve put together a selection of 30 of the best balanced snacks for summer: a full month of ideas! You can later mix and match them, and you’ll have enough inspiration to last until the end of summer. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
What Should Kids’ Snacks Be Like?
The simplest answer is: healthy summer snacks for kids should be nutritious, balanced, and wholesome. Ideally, they should be low in sugar, not too salty, and free of additives like monosodium glutamate or flavor enhancers that make food taste more intense but might not be the healthiest.
From a practical standpoint, the best snacks are those that won’t spoil quickly when you take them with you on a hot day. And perhaps the most important criterion: your little one has to enjoy them – otherwise, your efforts may go to waste. If your child reacts poorly to new foods, is picky, or doesn’t like new ingredients suddenly appearing on their plate, you might find the Kids Nutrition Guide for Parents very helpful. It’s packed with strategies to overcome picky eating. Plus, this digital guide includes everyday recipes, ideas for balanced meals (including vegetarian options), as well as a variety of fun drink and snack recipes. In short, a must-read for all parents!
How Important Are Snacks for Kids?
Can snacks actually reduce a child’s appetite? If they’re uncontrolled and too frequent, they really can. But healthy summer snacks for kids are still essential. They are important to have on hand when traveling or going for a walk – just in case your child gets hungry while you're at the park, at the store, or anywhere far from home. In fact, hunger is often the real cause of kids’ tantrums and meltdowns. A small snack can help your child stay in a good mood and maintain energy between meals.
How Many Snacks Should Kids Have per Day?
Small additional meals can be offered:
-
Between breakfast and lunch
-
Between lunch and dinner
-
After dinner as a little treat, especially if the dinner was light or your child was very active in the evening. In this case, opt for healthy bedtime snacks for kids that won’t overload the stomach.
Just remember not to offer a snack too close to the next main meal – your little one should still have an appetite for proper food.
Healthy Summer Snacks for Kids – One for Every Day
Grab your notebook for saving ideas – or simply save this post to your favorites so you won’t lose these healthy low sugar snacks for kids when you need them.
-
Fruit and veggie purees and smoothies
Of course, the best way to serve these healthy homemade snacks for kids is freshly made. But let’s be honest – do we always have time for that? So, blend your child’s favorite fruits into a puree and serve immediately. What’s left can be poured into ice cream molds and frozen. This frozen fruit treat is a much healthier alternative to store-bought frozen fruit juice.
-
Pancakes and berries
A perfect breakfast – but also great as a snack! Pancakes are easy to pack into a lunchbox and take with you.
-
Plain yogurt or kefir (unsweetened)
Dairy is a natural source of calcium. And this snack doesn’t require any prep! Like juice and smoothies, yogurt can be poured into molds and frozen. It’s a perfect option for hot days when kids want something refreshing but also filling.
-
Homemade cottage cheese bars
Kids love chocolate-coated curd snacks, but store-bought versions are often loaded with sugar. Let’s make a healthier version at home.
You’ll need:
-
700 g / 25 oz of cottage cheese
-
up to 100 g / 3.5 oz of powdered sugar
-
60 g / 2.1 oz of butter
-
200 g / 7 oz of dark chocolate
-
50 g / 1.8 oz of vegetable oil
-
a bit of vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients except the chocolate until smooth. Form into small bars – square, cylindrical, or shaped in molds, whatever’s easiest for you. Then, melt the chocolate using a water bath and pour over the bars (optional – and only if your child isn’t allergic to chocolate). These can be stored in the freezer, so you’ll always have a healthy, delicious treat on hand.
-
Grapes and hard cheese
Heading out? Toss some rinsed and towel-dried grapes into a small container along with cubed hard cheese. This combo offers fiber, vitamins, and a great taste balance of sweet and savory.
-
Veggie canapés or mini sandwiches
Make mini sandwiches using vegetables, salad greens, and lean meat (like chicken or turkey) or fish. It’s a filling and nutritious option for any season.
-
Falafel with veggie sticks or cherry tomatoes
Falafel can be homemade or bought as a semi-prepared product. It’s easy to pack into a lunchbox and makes a convenient snack on the go.
-
Nuts and seeds
All types of nuts are healthy. Try offering your child a different kind each time to find their favorites. You can pair nuts with something juicy, like an apple, grapes, or seasonal berries. Nuts are rich in healthy fats and contain fiber. The daily portion of nuts is easy to measure – pour some into your child’s palm: whatever fits in their hand is enough for a day. Make sure nuts are unsalted and free of flavoring additives.
-
Dried fruits and fruit leather
Apricots, dates, cranberries, and raisins are a great alternative to candy. While they are high in natural sugar (needed for energy and brain function), they contain no added sugar. These are healthy summer snacks for kids that don’t spoil quickly, so they’re perfect to bring along when traveling.
-
Oatmeal cookies for kids
You can make these at home, too. First, mix the dry ingredients: oat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and a bit of sugar. Then add an egg and a little melted butter. Mix everything well. Form small balls from the dough and bake at 180°C / 355°F for 18–20 minutes.
-
Homemade waffles
There are so many ways to make waffles. If you have a waffle maker at home, give it a try! For example, you can make pumpkin waffles with this simple recipe:
Grate a bit of pumpkin (around 100 g / 3.5 oz), add corn flour, an egg, a pinch of vanilla, baking powder, and sugar to taste. Mix the batter until smooth. For extra flavor and a touch of sourness, you can also add grated apple and cinnamon.
-
Berries and yogurt
Add your child’s favorite berries – like strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries – to Greek yogurt. It’s a super quick and simple hunger fix.
-
Whole grain crispbread with avocado
Add a sliced or mashed avocado to whole-grain crispbread. For more nutrition, top it with a boiled egg. You can mash the avocado with a bit of lemon juice and herbs for more flavor.
-
Colorful bell pepper strips
Slice red, yellow, and green bell peppers into sticks – and you’ve got a healthy, crunchy snack! You can buy or make hummus at home and use it as a dip for the pepper sticks.
-
Carrot or zucchini fritters
Grated vegetables are the base for these fritters. Add a little egg, flour, and a pinch of salt to help them hold together, and cook until golden. Serve with unsweetened yogurt as a dipping sauce.
-
Berry jelly
Make small portions of jelly using agar-agar – it’s quick to prepare and tastes amazing, especially if you use natural fruit juice as the base.
-
Freeze-dried fruits or fruit chips
Another great healthy summer snack for kids that keeps well and is easy to take along on a walk or a trip. Freeze-dried fruits can be made in a dehydrator. If you don’t have one, you can make fruit chips in the oven. For example, slice an apple into thin rings, place them on parchment paper, and bake at a low temperature (around 90°C / 195°F), drying them until crispy.
-
Hummus and veggies
Chickpea-based hummus made with olive oil and a splash of lemon juice pairs perfectly with various vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, or even celery.
-
Yogurt with chia seeds
Add 2 teaspoons of chia seeds to yogurt, stir in some berries, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, you’ll have a tasty and nutritious chia pudding.
-
Mini pumpkin muffins
Add pumpkin puree to your muffin batter and bake in small muffin cups. These muffins are nutritious, tasty, and perfect for kids.
-
Homemade energy bars
You might be surprised how easy it is to make energy bars at home! You’ll need oats, whole wheat flour, a bit of milk, and baking powder as the base. Then you can add whatever you like: honey, flaxseed, sesame seeds, apple or pumpkin puree, dried fruits, raisins, nuts, sunflower seeds – experiment to find your favorite combo. Pour the mixture into a baking dish or tray and bake in a preheated oven at 190°C / 375°F for 30 minutes, then cut into snack-size bars.
-
Whole grain fritters with extra ingredients
Try adding ingredients like a plum or grated carrot. These are filling snacks, so they’re best when your child is truly hungry, but it’s still too early for lunch.
-
Cherry tomatoes with crackers
Simple crackers or galette cookies pair wonderfully with cherry tomatoes. Add banana slices or cheese cubes to make it more fun and filling.
-
Use what the season offers – serve seasonal fruits, veggies, and berries
Grapes, apples, bananas, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes – offer them raw, sliced, or cut into sticks. Pack them in a container and take them with you wherever you go.
-
Cherry tomatoes and whole grain crispbread
Fast, convenient, filling, and healthy. No cooking required – just assemble and serve!
-
Hard cheese with carrot sticks or baby carrots
Heading out? Pack some crunchy carrot sticks and a few slices of cheese – it’s a snack that’s easy, nutritious, and kid-approved.
-
Lavash rolls with different fillings
Wrap roasted chicken or turkey breast, some green salad, grated carrot, and sliced cucumber in lavash. Roll into small bite-size wraps for easy eating on the go.
-
Boiled egg and cucumber
This is a simple and satisfying snack – quick to prepare and easy to enjoy.
-
Plum or peach with cheese
The soft sweetness of a plum or peach pairs beautifully with the savory taste of cheese. Tasting them together is pure delight!
-
Granola with yogurt
This one can be prepped the night before: just pour yogurt over granola in a cup or jar and refrigerate. In the morning, you’ve got a delicious and nourishing snack ready to go. Kids’ metabolism runs much faster than adults’, so it’s perfectly normal for little ones to ask for snacks or full meals every 2–3 hours. With the snack ideas listed above, you’ll always know what to offer to keep your child full and happy.
