Teaching kids to cook can help them develop fine motor skills and fosters creativity and independence. If you’re looking to start your child off with simple and healthy recipes, these fifteen simple, no-bake snack recipes are exactly what you need. From fun finger food to frozen treats, your kids will enjoy hours of fun in the kitchen while developing a lasting love for healthy eating.
Banana “Sushi” Rolls
Read More »Very Hungry Caterpillar Sandwiches
Simple ham and cheese sandwiches form the body of this cute hungry caterpillar sandwich. Sandwiches are cut into pieces with a cookie cutter and layered to form this cuddly creature. For a friendly face, decorate a cherry tomato with cheese and green onion (or celery).
Peanut Butter-Banana Yogurt Parfaits
For an after-school snack or quick and easy breakfast, these peanut butter and banana yogurt parfaits are packed with protein, carbs and fruit. With three basic ingredients, this quick and easy recipe can be customized by adding any cereal or fruit of your choice. You can also alternate fresh and dried fruit depending on what is in season.
Inside Out Cucumber Sandwiches
These crunchy inside out cucumber sandwiches take only minutes to make. Loaded with veggies and protein, this recipe features cucumbers, cheese, deli meat, bread and tomato. However, for a vegetarian or vegan recipe, you can always swap these fillings with hummus and add more thin-sliced vegetables.
Watermelon Fruit Pizza
Swap other sweet treats for slices of this fresh watermelon fruit pizza. This version uses fresh whipped cream but if you don’t want to pull out the mixer, cool whip or Nutella will do as alternate vanilla and chocolate “pizza sauce”. Cut into slices, with fruit toppings and a hint of fresh mint, this healthy kids’ snack is fancy enough to serve at family events and summer birthday parties!
Monster Trail Mix Bites
Who needs cookies when you can have these monster trail mix bites? Filled with oats, nuts, raisins and peanut butter, these chewy bites also have just enough chocolate to satisfy your kids’ sweet tooths. The recipe is super simple – no chopping or cooking involved! Just stir the ingredients together, roll into balls and refrigerate until set.
Unicorn Frozen Yogurt Bark
Made with all-natural coloring, the pink and blue hues in this unicorn frozen yogurt bark come from Pitaya and Spirulina powder. To make this magical treat, all kids need to do is spread their favorite flavored yogurt in a pan, add coloring and decorate as desired. Then, just freeze and break into pieces for a frosty, sweet snack.
Fruit and Vegetable Bug Snacks
Crafting these cute fruit and vegetable bug snacks gives kids a creative activity and fosters healthy eating. These crunchy, creamy snacks can be assembled with a little help from sticky peanut butter, cream cheese and toothpicks. With an endless variety of designs and toppings, these snacks will keep kids busy and their tummies full until dinner.
Crispy Frozen Yogurt Banana Pops
These crispy frozen yogurt banana pops are the perfect healthy snack for a hot day. Kids can simply coat ripe bananas with their favorite yogurt and crushed breakfast cereal. This recipe uses brightly colored Fruity Pebbles and chocolate Cocoa Pebbles, but if you’re trying to avoid sugar, crushed Cheerios work just fine!
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Putting a fun spin on your kid’s favorite sandwiches is easy with this ham and cheese pinwheel recipe. Rolling up meat, cheese, lettuce and mayo in a large tortilla, secure the roll with toothpicks and slice. You kids will love eating these swirly sandwiches and playing around with different fillings.
Funny Faces Animal Toast
Let your kids’ creativity run wild with these funny animal toasts. With cream cheese, Nutella and berries, kids will get a healthy serving of protein and fruit, all while having fun. Take a stab at recreating these examples, or create your own creatures!
Rainbow Veggie Wraps
For a colorful crunchy treat, have kids recreate these rainbow veggie wraps. Packed with colorful vegetables, hummus and cheese, these rollups are full of flavor and nutrients. Slice and serve with dressing for a “fancy” homemade snack.
Apple Sandwiches
These apple sandwiches have it all. Crispy, crunch and creamy, sliced apples are topped with nut butter, raisins and granola. For extra flavor, soak apple slices in pineapple juice before assembling your sandwiches. This prevents the apples from browning and adds an extra hint of sweetness.
Tuna Vegetable Boats
Give kids a fun, edible craft activity by building these cute tuna vegetable boats. Assembled simply with cucumbers, mini tomatoes and bread triangle sails, these tiny boats are fun to make and eat! Mixing tuna with cream cheese may even trick picky seafood eaters into actually liking it!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Apple Nachos
Healthy peanut butter and jelly cheesecake apple nachos are drizzled with a “cheesecake” sauce made from cream cheese, yogurt, honey and vanilla. These nachos are also topped with a strawberry salsa made from chopped berries and jam, peanut butter and chopped nuts. This fun snack is easy to make and tastes more like a dessert than a healthy treat.
