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When school is in session, so is snack time! Whether you’re packing your kid’s everyday lunch box, fueling them up for test day, or getting creative for a classroom party, we’re here to give you plenty of easy snack ideas for every school occasion. So, take out that lunchbox and get ready for our essential list of the best snacks for school!
There are many benefits of snacking during the school day. So, what do kids eat for lunch and snack on days when they need to be at their sharpest? These snacks for kids offer a balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fats to feed both tummies and brains.
Packed with protein, Greek yogurt is a great way to keep kids feeling satiated. Let them customize their yogurt with fresh fruit, chopped nuts, honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or other favorite toppings.
Make individual hummus cups with side dippers like pretzels, whole grain crackers, or cut-up veggie sticks. You can either assemble these cups yourself or buy them as packaged snacks for school.
One of the most classic school lunch ideas, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches also work as nutritious snacks for children. Use wholegrain bread to amp up the nutrition factor, and consider trying almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter to switch things up or cater to allergies.
Avocado toast is another one of our favorite lunch ideas for kids that can double as nutritious snacks for children. Instead of serving open-faced avocado toast, turn it into a sandwich for easier packing. We find avocado toast is just as good at room temperature as it is warm!
Combine the following ingredients in a mason jar, cover with a lid, and place in the refrigerator overnight: ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup milk, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Overnight oats are one of our favorite snacks for kids that can also double as breakfast.
This one tends to be a hit with younger kids. Fill celery sticks with peanut butter or cream cheese and top with raisins to resemble ants on a log. You’ve got to love nutritious snacks for children that also offer a dose of creativity.
Roasted chickpeas make great nutritious snacks for children. Simply toss cooked chickpeas with olive oil and seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, or paprika and roast in the oven until crispy.
When it comes to snacks for kids, it’s hard to beat fruit. Make fruit skewers by cutting up your favorite fruit into bite-sized pieces and threading them one by one on a wooden skewer.
These homemade snacks for school are both easy and nutritious. Simply combine rolled oats, nut butter, honey or maple syrup, and mix-ins like chocolate chips, dried fruits, or nuts. Roll into bite-sized balls and refrigerate until firm.
Flatten two slices of bread with a rolling pin. Spread cream cheese and jelly on both slices, leaving a small space on one end. Roll up and pinch the seam closed. Turn seam down, and slice into half-inch pieces resembling sushi.
Slice apples horizontally to create rounds, spread peanut butter or almond butter on top, and sprinkle with toppings like raisins, granola, or chocolate chips.
Test day? To celebrate a job well done, pack up some fun post-test treats like Welch’s® Fruit Snacks. Made with Real Fruit, these individually packaged snacks for school are an excellent source of Vitamins A, C & E and offer a delicious taste every student will love—on test day or any day!
In addition to what to pack for lunch for school on a daily basis, there are other occasions that call for kid-friendly eats. For parent volunteers who are planning a classroom party, consider adding these fun and festive ideas to your school snacks list.
Combine oats, sprinkles, and edible glitter in a bowl, then portion out the mixture into individual clear plastic baggies with a festive label.
Coat the surface of a marshmallow with a thin layer of white frosting, then roll the marshmallow in blue sugar sprinkles. Use a small pretzel stick for the handle of the dreidel. Use white frosting to glue a chocolate kiss on top to create a “spinner.”
Bake cupcakes and tint white frosting pink with a few drops of red food coloring. Write “XO” on top of each cupcake using Welch’s® Fruit ‘n Yogurt™ Snacks. These cupcakes are perfect for when you’re looking for homemade snacks for school parties that are fast to make.
Roll out sugar cookie dough and use a shamrock-shaped cookie cutter to make them a festive shape. Decorate with green frosting and sprinkles. The best snacks for school parties don’t need to take long to make!
Thread a wooden skewer with various types of soft treats, such as jellybeans, gumdrops, Welch’s® Fruit Snacks, licorice bites, and more. Top off your kebab with an iconic marshmallow chick for easy snack ideas that make a big statement.
One of our favorite nutritious snacks for children during Halloween season is a mini jack-o-’lantern. Simply use a food-safe black marker to draw a face on the outside of a clementine. Get creative with different faces, from happy to scary to funny. These treats typically make great school safe snacks for children who live a gluten-free, dairy-free, or nut-free lifestyle.
Bake cupcakes and decorate them to look like turkeys. Use chocolate frosting for the body, edible googly eyes, and a yellow jelly bean nose. Insert a row of candy corn near the back of the cupcake to look like feathers.
That wraps up our list of the best snacks for school! Be sure to add convenient packaged snacks for school to your school snacks list, including deliciously portable Welch’s® Fruit Snacks!
