Healthy Snacks for Kindergarteners

Healthy Quick and Easy Snacks for Kindergartners

Kindergarteners face huge changes as they begin their first “real” school year!  In many cases, they’re going to school for a full day, every day, for the first time.  Kindergarten is a year of transitions.  Nap to no nap, new structures and routines, new responsibilities, learning to read, and making new friends.  Many times at this age they’re dietary needs are changing as well, going from more of a snacking meal set-up to full meals with larger times in between.

When your kindergartener gets home from school they may very well eat a full meal’s worth of food.  Those brains and little bodies burn lots of energy and need to be refueled.  Preparing healthy snacks for your kindergartener will help them function their best!

Many schools make time for snacks.  See if you can send a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack for your child.  It will make a world of difference for your child.

Our Healthy Snacks for Kindergarteners includes snacks you can send along in a backpack or provide for after-school snacks.  Of course, some schools ask parents to send along snacks for the whole class, so we’ve included a few ideas for that as well!

We know that your life is busy, and we want to help make life as simple as possible.  That’s why we’ve gathered up these healthy snacks for kindergarteners.  Our list provides some great, healthy, nutritious, and crowd-pleasing kindergarten snacks!

Quick and Healthy Backpack Snacks

Lots of kids don’t get a lot of time to enjoy a snack.  They may have a 5-10 minute snack break, or even have to eat their snack at recess at some point during the morning.  Throwing a little something in their backpack for these moments will help see them through the morning and keep their brains operating well!

1. String Cheese:  This snack tops our snack list because it’s a healthy protein, and quick and easy to eat!
2. Apple:  An apple is a great, healthy vitamin-filled snack.  The water content in the apple will help to hydrate your child while the fiber will help keep them full!
3. Granola Bar: Granola bars are filled with fiber and protein that will help fill up your child.  However, a lot of store-bought varieties will pack a lot of sugar in, too!  Consider making up a batch of these Homemade Granola Bars by Don’t Waste the Crumbs.  You can throw them in their backpack for the week!
4. Pretzels:  A bag of pretzels provides a boost of carb energy that your child needs to get through the day!  Mix with almonds or peanuts for a protein-packed snack, if your school allows nuts.
5. Sandwich:  It does not take long for a hungry kindergartener to devour a sandwich.  Consider making an extra half sandwich to throw in their bag for snack time.  PB&J or Ham & Cheese sandwiches make for great snacks as well as meals!
6. Beef Jerky: If your kindergartener likes beef jerky, it makes for an excellent protein source to help their bodies stay alert!  Check for sugar content, because a lot of varieties contain a lot of sugar. We love these Sugar-Free Beef Jerky sticks, they’re healthy and delicious!
7. Clif Bar: If you’re looking to get a lot of energy into your kindergartener quickly, a Cliff Bar is a great option.  This Clif Kid pack has lots of varieties of high-protein snack bars your kindergartener will love!
8. Berries:  Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are highly underrated snacks.  They contain great fiber, and lots of vitamins, and are some of the lowest-sugar fruits out there.  Plus, kids love them!  Put a half cup in a container for your child, and serve with a fork if they might get messy!

More Best Quick and Healthy Backpack Snacks

1. Veggie sticks:  Trying to keep it simple for school doesn’t have to mean plain.  Grab a pack of hummus and serve with a variety of veggie sticks.  The protein in the hummus will power their brain, and all those vitamins and fiber from the veggies will keep them full!
2. Oranges: The fiber in oranges can help keep a little one full until their next meal.  That paired with the hydrating natural juices in oranges make it a good choice for snacks.  If your kindergartener can’t peel oranges, cut larger oranges in wedges or slices for them to eat, or pre-peel the smaller oranges and place them in a bag.
3. Yogurt: Several companies make yogurt tubes or pouches.  Look for varieties with high protein and low sugar counts!  Some need to be kept cool, so throw them in the lunch box with an ice pack… or freeze them overnight and by snack time they’ll be just right!
4. Snapea Crisps:  Snapea Crisps are high in protein and fiber, making them a good choice for snacking.  They’re salty and crispy like chips, so kids love them, and parents do too!
5. Cheese Cubes: Cheese is a great protein snack.  Making cheese cubes is super simple.  Just cut up some chunk cheese and put them in little pouches to grab throughout the week!  You may want to consider pairing it with fruit like grapes or apples for some vitamins and fiber! 

Best Classroom Snacks

Every once in a while you may have to prepare snacks for the whole class.  Maybe for birthdays, or maybe your school asks you to take a turn once a month.  These fun and cute snack ideas will make you the most fun mom in the class!

1. Butterfly Snack Pack:  These Butterfly Snack Packs by Raising Little SuperHeroes are very versatile, and always a hit with their peers.  You can try cheese and carrots, grapes and pretzels, or any combination you love!
2. Yogurt Snack:  Pack a yogurt with a box of raisins and a spoon in a sandwich bag.  The kiddos have a healthy and easy treat, and when they’re finished they can throw all their trash back in the bag and into the garbage bin… the teacher will say thank you!
3. Rainbow Fruit Snack:  Kids will love this delicious Rainbow Fruit Snack by The Joy of Boys.  The snack is so beautiful they may not even want to eat it!
4. Apple Smile Snack:  This Apple Smile Snack is sure to be a hit with your kindergarten class!  It’s got fiber, protein, and vitamins, and is just a little sweet.  If you have any nut allergies in your class, consider using sun butter instead.

Conclusion

Your kindergartener may have varying dietary needs, but one thing is certain, their little bodies need lots of good energy and nutrition to learn and grow!  And no matter what types of transitions they’ll go through this year, providing adequate nutrition for your children is a top priority for parents.

If you need more snack ideas, check out our Gluten Free Snacks for Kids!