7 Tasty Snacks to Fuel Your Busy Kids
By: Jennifer Landis
Published: October 13, 2020

Between soccer practice, dance recitals, and playtime with friends, your kids keep busy. Ensure that they stay healthy and energized by making tasty snacks that will fuel them all day long. These simple recipes allow you to manage what ingredients go into those hungry tummies while cutting out preservatives and harmful chemicals.
Check out these seven tasty snacks that any child can enjoy!

Vegetable Chips by The Spruce Eats
	Instagram @thespruceeats
Bake vegetables — or fruits — for a colorful and nutritious snack. Slice your ingredients thin using a mandolin to ensure even crispiness. Lightly season with your favorite spices for a customizable finish.
Baked vegetable chips are a healthier alternative than traditional fried snacks and offer kids a variety of flavors. They also provide essential vitamins for childhood development. Try to limit the amount of salt used when seasoning to keep this snack low in sodium.

Maple Snickerdoodle Popcorn by Super Healthy Kids
	Instagram @superhealthykids
Whole grain popcorn is linked to lowering the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even some cancers. It also provides a good source of fiber and antioxidants, which improve blood circulation and digestive health. This healthy snack will help your kids to feel full, even when eating small quantities.
Maple snickerdoodle popcorn will give your child all of the satisfaction of eating a cookie with a fraction of the sugar. By making the recipe at home in a pan, you can avoid the unusual chemicals and preservatives found in microwavable bags. This snack is perfect for parents cooking dairy-free meals because it uses coconut oil instead of butter.

Banana Sushi by The Many Little Joys
	Instagram @Meg_TheManyLittleJoys
It's essential that your young ones receive plenty of physical activity to develop strong bones and build their confidence. This recipe is perfect for fueling playtime and sharing with friends. Kids love this creative spin on traditional sushi.
Bananas are high in potassium, which helps to regulate blood pressure, fluid retention and muscle contractions. The peanut butter in this snack is a good source of protein and healthy fat. When combined with the other ingredients, this dish offers a complex combination of nutrients that will keep your pickiest eater full until dinnertime.

Bugs on a Log by Food Network
If you haven't heard of this tasty health snack, then you may be left wondering if your kids will eat it. Fear not, the bugs on a log recipe can be customized to suit your child's preferences. This dish's base is a stick of celery that is used to hold the filling — and best of all, your kids forget they are eating vegetables because of the sweet filling and fun toppings.
This particular rendition calls for raspberries, raisins, and cherries, but you should try experimenting with other toppings until you find their favorite combination.
Other healthy toppings you could include are:
Blueberries
	Walnuts
	Dark Chocolate Chips
	Apples

Colorful Fruit Board by The Forked Spoon
	Instagram @theforkedspoon
Most adults love a good charcuterie board, and kids feel the same way once you add their favorite snacks. Think of this recipe as a healthy snack platter that can easily fill up the whole family. It's bright and colorful with a wide range of flavors and textures that will entice even the most selective mouth. It's also perfect when it's your turn to bring snacks for the entire sports team.
Include a mix of snack types like fresh fruit, jerky, crackers, pretzels, vegetables, and dip. Try to look for the healthiest version of each snack you plan to include on the platter — think jerky that's free of MSG, nitrites and growth hormones, and whole-grain carbohydrates. The result will be a balance of protein, carbs, natural sugars, vitamins, and nutrients that will fuel the most active child.

Fruit Popsicles by Joy Food Sunshine
	Instagram @joyfoodsunshine
This is the perfect way to sneak vegetables into your child's diet without them knowing. Blend fresh fruits and veggies and combine with fruit juice and yogurt for creaminess. Use honey if you'd like a sweeter ice pop or add citrus for something sour. These sweet treats are perfect for a hot summer day and will provide vitamins and nutrients without any added coloring or high-fructose corn syrup that comes in store-bought popsicles.
This recipe utilizes a rubber mold, but you can also create a mold using cups, popsicle sticks, and tin foil. The volume of the cup you use will dictate the ice pop's size so you can adjust the amount you make to match your child's appetite.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies by Kathryn's Kitchen Blog
	Instagram @kathryns.kitchen.blog
Cookies are loved by children but are notoriously high in sugar with low nutritional value. Yet, the peanut butter oatmeal cookie combats those stereotypes by using natural sweeteners and healthy ingredients that render this recipe vegan and gluten-free. The only sources of sweetness come from banana, honey, and peanut butter, but it's unlikely your young one will notice the lack of added sugar.
This recipe is super simple and requires only six ingredients, which means you can easily whip up these cookies on a rainy day. Numerous ingredients can be added to adapt the taste and texture, but you might find that the classic cookie becomes your household favorite.
Snacks to Make Energy Last
Enjoy these seven tasty snacks that are sure to keep your kids energized. Mix and match ingredients to adapt the recipes to your child's tastes — just remember to choose the healthiest alternatives when possible. Relish in the fact that you know what foods are entering your child's body and delight as you watch them discover the world.