50 Healthy & EASY Preschool Snack Ideas for Toddlers

After spending the past 3 years feeding my two preschoolers snacks, I have a pretty good idea of healthy snacks that work for preschool. Whether your toddler brings a snack to share with the class or packs their own snack for preschool, these are my favorite healthy preschool snack ideas.

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Serving Balanced Preschool Snacks

Packing for sack time may differ depending on your preschool’s snack rules and whether your child is to bring a shared classroom snack or simply their own snack. However, you can still use these same basic principles to pack a healthy snack for your child.

TIP: Serve a snack that contains two food groups in order to provide satiety and energy for your child.

• Serve high-fiber food such as fresh fruit or veggie. You could also serve a whole grain, but I love to squeeze fresh produce any chance I get.
• Pair the fiber with a healthy fat or protein-rich food choice.
• Check with your preschool for snack rules and allergies. Some schools are nut free or may follow allergies for specific classes. Obviously, you need to follow your schools rules.

50 Healthy Preschool Snacks

My goal with this list is to keep these snack ideas basic and easy so that they feel doable when packing your child(ren) for preschool each day.

Prepackaged Snacks for Preschoolers & Toddlers

When buying prepackaged snacks for my kids, I try to keep them as “real food” as possible, but sometimes when I purchase shared class snacks, I am more likely to buy items we don’t always have at home while still being health-conscious.

Here are a few of my favorite prepackaged snacks for preschoolers. Be sure to check out this post if you’re looking for more ideas on store-bought snacks for toddlers.

1. Skout Kids Bars – These are hard to find in stores. I buy them on Thrive Market, but you can also get them here.
2. Larabar Mini – These may need to be cut for young preschoolers. Many flavors are soft, but use caution as some flavors contain large chunks of nuts.
3. Dino Bars – I love the texture of these bars, especially for very young toddlers.
4. That’s It Bars
5. Kid’s Kind Bars – While we don’t usually buy these for home, it is hands down my kid’s favorite snack to bring for shared preschool snack time. They have 5 grams of added sugar which is better than similar bars.
6. String Cheese
7. Babybel Cheese
8. Yogurt – I love making an easy yogurt parfait if I send my toddler’s snack with plain yogurt, soft granola, and some berries.
9. Stoneyfield Yogurt Pouches, Yogurt Tubes, Or Cups – These contain added sugar so we don’t often buy at home, but we do love them for travel and shared preschool snacks. The yogurt tubes are the most budget-friendly option if you are sending them for a classroom-shared snack.
10. Cottage Cheese
11. Triscuits (or other whole grain crackers – here are some of my favorite crackers for preschooler’s)
12. Annie’s Whole Wheat Bunnies or Organic Cheddar Bunnies
13. Veggie Straws – While veggie straws aren’t exactly healthy, some brands do have minimal ingredients, and they make an easy snack if your kids are on a shared snack rotation. I would definitely send something more sustainable along with them such as yogurt or cheese, but these provide a fun and crunchy element.
14. Pirates Booty – Another snack that can add an element of fun to your preschooler’s snack time.
15. Cheerios
16. Raisins – Raisins can be a fun packaged snack after 18 months.
17. Mandarin Oranges or Fruit Cups
18. Gogo SqueeZ Pouches
19. Unsweetened Applesauce or fruit Puches
20. Mama Chia Pouches
21. Simple Mills Soft Baked Almond Flour Bars
22. Nature’s Bakery Baked In Bars – Higher in sugar than I usually go (7 grams) but my kids love them and they are much less than Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars (14 g) so we do buy them occasionally.
23. GoodPop Freezer Pops – Great for sending for your child’s preschool birthday snack or other special events
24. Freeze-dried fruit

Healthy Fruit & Veggie Preschool Snack Ideas

Of course, including a fruit or veggie with your child’s snack is always a great idea. Not only does it boost the nutrients in the snack, but it expands their palette.

25. Berries – Sliced Strawberries, Raspberries, or Blueberries
26. Apple slices
27. Sliced kiwi
28. Bananas
29. Small clementine oranges
30. Cut watermelon
31. Pineapple
32. Grapes – sliced appropriately lengthwise dependent on the age
33. Bell pepper sticks – My kids love the red, orange, and yellow ones sliced.
34. Thin-sliced cucumbers
35. Small carrot sticks
36. Grape Tomatoes – Serve sliced in half or quartered (age-dependent)
37. Fruit Kebabs – put various fruits on colorful sticks for a fun snack

Fun Dips and Spreads to Serve with Veggies & Fruit

A simple dip or spread can go a long way with making a fruit or veggie more enjoyable. Here are some of my favorites. We use these small containers for sending a dip along with a snack/lunch.

38. Guacamole
39. Hummus
40. Sour Cream
41. Yogurt
42. Cream cheese – I love to use between thin cucumber slices to make cucumber sandwiches
43. Peanut/nut butter – Spread a thin layer on apples, cucumbers, or between banana slices.

Homemade/Prepped Preschool Snack Ideas

44. Half PB&J
45. No Sugar Pumpkin Muffins
46. Toddler Cookies
47. Pancakes – Cut a pancake into strips and pack in a small bento along with some yogurt for dipping.
48. Energy Balls
49. Overnight oats
50. Hard Boiled Egg – Great protein source if you pack a mini bento for your child’s snack.

Why Snacks are Important for Preschoolers

Snacks play an important role in the healthy development of preschoolers. By offering nutritious, well-balanced snacks, we provide the necessary fuel to help them grow.

Snack time is not just about filling bellies; it’s an opportunity to nourish their bodies, engage in social interaction, and set the stage for a lifetime of healthy habits.

Best Tips for Healthy Preschool Snacks

• Follow the guidelines your preschool provides. Ensure you adhere to allergy and other rules that are set in place.
• Include two food groups, including a protein source or healthy fat, to provide more sustained energy.
• If your child’s snack is not stored in a fridge, keep it cold (as needed) with ice packs or a frozen lunch box.
• Involve your preschooler in preparation to build interest about foods as well as life skills.
• Follow age-appropriate recommendations for choking hazards and cutting food.

My Favorite Packable Snack Containers

Here are a few of our favorite reusable snack containers when sending snacks to school with our preschoolers.

• Small Snack Packer Bento -We love this stainless steel bento – it’s the perfect size for packing snacks!
• Zip Top Silicone Snack Containers – We use these often. Perfect for packing produce or something like crackers or cheerios.
• Pack It Freezable Snack Box – We don’t have this particular size, but I have my eyes on it. We have at least 3 Pack It Lunchboxes and love them!

Other Helpful Preschool Snack Ideas & Resources

You may also find these articles helpful for more snack ideas:

• HEALTHY Store-bought snacks for toddlers
• Individually Wrapped Snack Ideas
• Roadtrip Snacks for Kids

PLUS, grab these FREE TODDLER RESOURCES on snacking and a grocery list for toddlers!!!

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