Healthy Snacks Your Kids Can Make All By Themselves

During these times when our kids are around 24/7 or popping in and out of our home offices as they entertain themselves, it’s always a great idea to keep plenty of snacks on hand.

It’s pretty easy to portion out snacks a couple times a week and put them on reachable shelves in the fridge and pantry (or even better, in nifty bins so they’re organized and the kids know exactly what they’re allowed to grab without hollering for Mom or Dad).

Organic Valley makes a number of snackable options that require zero prep: Stringles® string cheese, single-serve milks, beef sticks and sliced cheese. Or throw together an herby sour cream dip with cut veggies, or an easy yogurt-peanut butter dip with fruit.

But what about when the kiddos want to try something new? We’ve got you covered! We asked a bunch of our social media friends to share their favorite kid-friendly snacks that little hands can either access or make all by themselves, and we’re sharing the best ideas below. Enjoy!

Lindsey Bomgren of Nourish, Move, Love

Watermelon + Berry Fruit “Pizza”

This fruit “pizza” is made with three simple ingredients—watermelon, berries, and yogurt or whipped cream. It’s the perfect treat to beat the summer heat. Healthy, delicious, and so easy even the kids can make it in 5 minutes or less!

Here’s how we do it:

1. I slice the watermelon into pizza-like slices.
2. Then I set out the toppings for the kids—a bowl of yogurt or whipped Organic Valley Heavy Cream, fresh berries, and optional toppings like shredded coconut, mint leaves, chocolate chips or yogurt chips, and honey.
3. It’s up to the kids to decorate their slice (and enjoy some handfuls of toppings along the way).

You can get the full Watermelon + Berry Fruit Pizza Recipe here.

This also makes a great red, white, and blue snack for Independence Day!

Seeds + Raisins

Our go-to grab-n-go snack for park dates, adventure walks, and bike rides is a simple cup of seeds and raisins. A sweet and salty snack to keep us energized.

I simply set out the ingredients and let my 3-year-old son build his own cup.

The best part is that this packable snack can sit in the diaper bag or stroller for a couple of days without going bad. It’s also an allergy-friendly snack that I can send with him to school.

Chandni Patel of Chand’s Kitchen

2-Ingredient Blackberry Ice Cream

This recipe went viral on TikTok recently, and I tried it with blackberries. Simply add chopped frozen blackberries (or any frozen berry you like) to a cup and put some Organic Valley milk over the berries. Mix the two ingredients together with a spoon for 2 to 3 minutes, and voila! Two-ingredient berry ice cream ready in less than 5 minutes!

This recipe is for all ages. I love to make it as an afternoon pick-me-up or as a quick dessert. I also love it because there’s one cup to clean at the end. More importantly, I enjoy making this recipe because it is fascinating to watch the berries freeze the milk into an ice cream consistency!

Open-faced Cracker Sandwiches

Growing up, this used to be one of my favorite snacks to eat after school. I laid crackers out on a plate, smeared cream cheese on them, and topped with whatever fruits or veggies that were cut in the fridge.

I loved topping my crackers with cream cheese, strawberries, and some cinnamon powder. Another common one my brother and I made was cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, and a pinch of garlic salt.

This snack would be ideal for elementary to middle school kids. Fruits and vegetables are so easy to have chopped and ready to go in containers in the fridge where your kids can reach them. (Tip: Chop a few extra items at the same time you’re doing dinner prep if you’re using similar ingredients!)

I love this snack idea because the possibilities are endless. Peanut butter banana was also a common combo on top of the crackers (also tasty with a little sprinkle of cinnamon sugar). I still make these open-face cracker sandwiches today!

Nicki Sizemore of From Scratch Fast

Apple Pie Yogurt

One of my 5-year-old daughter's favorite snacks, which she makes herself, is to swirl applesauce into plain whole milk yogurt. She sprinkles the top with ground cinnamon and calls it “apple pie yogurt.” It seriously tastes like apple pie! I love that it’s a low-sugar snack that's packed with protein, and she loves that it tastes like a treat.

Cheese Toast

My 10-year-old couldn’t live without “cheese toast,” which she eats as a snack or as breakfast with fruit. She lightly toasts a piece of whole-grain bread, swipes on a bit of butter, then adds a slice or two of Organic Valley Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese. After another quick stint in the toaster oven, the cheese is melted and gooey, perfect with the crisp toast. I love that the cheese gives the snack a bit of protein and healthy fat to tie her through the morning, and she loves the flavor. (Actually, we all love the flavor—this is now a family staple!)

Smita Rao of Missrao

Mango Popsicles

The tropical deliciousness of mango and the goodness of milk combine to make this the perfect snack for you and your toddler. This recipe is simple to make and requires only three ingredients: mango, Organic Valley Whole Milk, and honey (optional*).

Mangoes are a summer favorite in our family, and the frozen treat is great for teething toddlers with sore gums. You can even involve your toddler to make this recipe.

Cut up one fresh mango into chunks or use one cup of frozen mango chunks. Add the mango chunks into a blender along with 1 cup whole milk and 1 or 2 tablespoons honey*. Blend until smooth and pour into a silicone popsicle maker. The texture of the popsicles will depend on the fineness of the blended mixture. Freeze overnight and enjoy on a hot summer afternoon.

Don’t have mangoes? This recipe works wonderfully with strawberries or mixed berries!

Don’t have a popsicle mold? You can make mini-sicles by pouring the mixture into ice cube trays, covering with clear plastic wrap or foil, then sticking toothpicks or half popsicle sticks through the covering and into each well of the tray. Freeze until solid, then pop the mini-sicles out and store in a plastic bag where they’re easy for you or your kids to grab.

*Important: Do not offer honey to babies younger than 1 year.