Fast, fun and full of flavor—who doesn’t love a good snack? But even old faves can seem, well, stale, when we eat them all the time. These make-ahead options are simple enough that you and your kids can make them together, special enough that they’ll want to eat them often, and yield enough to ensure they’re on hand whenever hunger strikes. From savory to sweet, for the pantry or the freezer, these seven options even sneak in the occasional vegetable. You’re welcome.
Smoothie Pops
These frozen treats are a most delicious way to get fruit and veggies in their bellies—if you’re lucky, maybe even all five servings. Start with milk—dairy or nut—or yogurt to bring in the liquid creaminess and then blend with fresh or frozen ingredients. For a fruit smoothie, there’s the tried and true banana and berries combo, or mix tropical fruits, like pineapple, peach, and mango. For a great veggie option, the magic of peanut butter makes the flavors of kale and spinach practically disappear, especially when mixed with the sweetness of frozen banana. After blending your ingredients, pour the smoothie into popsicle containers (or paper cups with popsicle sticks snuck in mid-freeze) and you have vitamin-packed snacks in the freezer for whenever you need them.
Party-Party Mix
Even the most petite palettes crave variety. Experiment with a party mix to find a satisfying blend for your kids’ tastes that’s just the right mix of salty and sweet, chewy, and crunchy. You could create a combo of multigrain cereal, peanuts, pretzels and chocolate chips; honey oats cereal, cashews, dried cherries, and banana chips; or honey squares cereal, walnuts, dried apricots, and coconut flakes. Store in an airtight container and scoop out as needed, or create individual serving baggies to go.
Fruit Leather
Ever thought your kids would happily ingest beets or cranberries? Sometimes snacks are more about the format than the actual food. Take fruit leather—a simple blend of whole fruits and the occasional veg, they become top choice because they’re fun to eat. Like smoothie pops, ingredient combos can be customized to your little ones’ preferences. But that doesn’t mean you can’t work in vitamin-packed additions as well. Try cherry-cranberry, strawberry-rhubarb, or apple-beet. Most recipes call for using fresh, cooked fruits, but sometimes canned or sauced fruits work, too. After pureeing them, bake one thin layer on parchment paper, and cut into strips. What doesn’t get eaten right up will store for several weeks in an airtight container.
Yogurt Pretzels
Pretzels are a pantry staple. Add a little yogurt and suddenly they become a celebration. For all its simplicity, this treat can be created differently each time—with mini pretzels, pretzel rods, or waffle pretzels—to keep things fresh. For one bag of mini pretzels, combine two cups of yogurt—plain, or use Greek yogurt for an extra punch of protein—with five cups of confectioner’s sugar. Then dip the pretzels in the mixture, and let them dry on a baking rack for three or four hours. If you want to jazz them up, drizzle them with chocolate, caramel, or rainbow sprinkles. Better to eat within the week so they don’t get soft.
Power Bars & Bites
A mix of mostly healthy ingredients, made in either bar-form or quick bite-sizes, these are great for on-the-go afternoons, long car rides, or just snacking at the kitchen counter. Combine your favorite mix of ingredients—ideally five or six—such as old-fashioned oats, chocolate chips, raisins, nuts, graham cracker bits, flax seeds, dried apricots, dates… you get the idea. You also want at least one binder like peanut butter or honey. Stir until completely combined, and either scoop them into balls and refrigerate until firm, or pour into a baking pan until set, and cut into bars. Devour within a week, or store them in the freezer for up to a month.
Roasted Chickpeas
Mimic the crunch of Pirate’s Booty and appeal of Veggie Stix with a humble can of chickpeas. Drain the can and let the chickpeas dry. Then season them, simply with salt or with a mix of spices like ground cumin, paprika, ground coriander, curry powder and/or garlic powder. After they’ve roasted, you have a crunchy, nutty snack (bonus: it’s also great source of protein!) that will keep the kiddos feeling full longer. Store them in an airtight container for up to a few days. P.S. this also works with green peas.
Chocolate-Covered Fruit Chunks
One part nutritious, one part naughty, chocolate-dipped frozen fruit makes the everyday festive. Slice up bananas, skewer grapes, section oranges, or opt for whole strawberries. Whatever your preferred fruit, dip them in melted chocolate chips and then, for fancier tastes, roll them in crushed nuts, shredded coconut or, why not, sprinkles. Pop them in the freezer on a parchment lined baking sheet and once the chocolate has hardened (at least 6 hours), transfer to a freezer container for up to 3 months—if they last that long.
