Homemade Snack Ideas for Kids

Preparing quick and healthy homemade snacks for children is not only super practical but also economical. By opting for homemade alternatives, we ensure that our little ones enjoy themselves while benefiting from a balanced diet . There is nothing like fresh fruit cut into small portions, accompanied by a drizzle of honey or a touch of plain yogurt to satisfy their taste buds and their nutritional needs .

Homemade muffins, made with wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, fresh eggs, and dark chocolate chips, are also a delicious and nutritious option . By making these choices, we encourage our children to eat well to grow well, while offering them irresistible flavors.

Homemade alternatives for balanced snacks

Homemade marble cake offers an undeniable advantage for children's healthy snacks. By preparing it at home, you have total control over the ingredients used, thus eliminating the additives and preservatives often present in industrial versions. By replacing refined sugar with healthier alternatives such as maple syrup or honey, and by integrating wholemeal flours, you enrich this delicacy with a much more interesting nutritional value.

Additionally, by varying the types of chocolate or adding fruit purees, you can personalize this classic to meet each child's preferences, while ensuring they are offered a balanced treat.

Healthy homemade marble cake (no butter – no added sugar)

Ingredients :

3 eggs

200 g applesauce without added sugar

Vanilla extract

100 g flour

½ sachet baking powder

1 pinch of salt

100 g dark chocolate dessert chips

Mix all the ingredients, except the chocolate. Divide the dough in two. Add the chocolate melted in a bain-marie to one of the preparations.

Pour successive layers of plain and chocolate batter into the mold of your choice. Bake at 180°C for about 25 minutes.

Vary the molds into individual donut-shaped or cupcake-shaped ones to impress your children.

Homemade cake: a healthy and nutritious snack for children

In a world where processed snacks are often filled with sugar, saturated fats and additives, it is crucial to find healthy alternatives for our children. This is where homemade cake comes in, offering a delicious, nutritious and easy-to-prepare solution for a balanced snack.

The benefits of homemade cakes

1. Ingredient Control: Baking your own cakes allows you to control your ingredients and avoid the preservatives, artificial colors and flavors often found in industrial products. By choosing quality ingredients, such as wholemeal flour, unrefined sugar, and organic eggs, you can ensure a healthier diet for your children.

2. Less sugar and saturated fat: Homemade recipes reduce the amount of sugar and saturated fat. By using natural alternatives like honey or maple syrup to sweeten your cakes, and replacing butter with healthier oils like coconut oil, you create delicious and healthy desserts.

3. Nutrient Rich: By incorporating fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds, homemade cakes become an important source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. For example, an apple and walnut cake can provide vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, and essential fatty acids.

Oatmeal and chocolate cookies

2 mashed bananas

100g of oat flakes

70g of dark chocolate pieces

Mash the bananas. Add the oat flakes and the large dark chocolate chips. Form small piles. Bake for 20 minutes at 180 degrees.

Quick and tasty ideas to satisfy small hunger pangs

Healthy and tasty madelaines

300g flour

180g butter

100ml of milk (cow/soy/oat)

80g sugar

1/2 sachet of yeast

1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

6 eggs

Mix all the ingredients, melting the butter first. Place a plate on your container and then place the dough in the fridge for 1h30 (or overnight for a well-risen version). Oil the madeleine mold and bake at 180° for 12 minutes.

For a more indulgent version, coat the bottom of the madeleines with melted chocolate.

Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is an exceptional choice for a healthy snack for children. Prepared with fresh apples and without added sugar, it is a natural source of vitamins, fiber and antioxidants essential for the growth and development of our little ones. By controlling the ingredients, we eliminate the additives and preservatives present in commercial versions, thus offering a much more nutritious snack.

Plus, its versatility allows you to adapt it to your preferences, whether it's adding a touch of cinnamon for extra flavor or combining it with other fruits for a variety of tastes and textures. Homemade applesauce is a perfect homemade snack!

Preparing apple or other fruit compote is simple. Peel the fruit, remove the seeds, cook over low heat. When the fruit is cooked, blend to obtain a fine texture. Let cool to room temperature, then store in a cool place.

Be original and try out good combinations like apple, pear and chestnut or apple, pear, basil and cinnamon. Don't hesitate to offer your children a yogurt with a layer of compote.

Energy balls for children's snacks

I love making them and my daughters love this nourishing and healthy snack. The base of energy balls is blended dates. You can add whatever you want! My favorite recipe is: 250g of dates (don't forget to remove the pit), 50g of hazelnuts, 50g of chia seeds, 2 teaspoons of peanut butter, 100g of large chocolate chips and grated coconut for coating.

In a blender, add the dates, hazelnuts, chia seeds, peanut butter. Blend for a few seconds at high speed, the mixture should be finely chopped. Add the large chocolate chips then blend again in reverse to mix but not chop. The dough should be a little sticky. Take balls of dough that you form in the palm of your hands. Roll these balls in the grated coconut. Set aside for 30 minutes in the fridge to firm them up then enjoy. You can keep them for up to 3 weeks in the fridge.

Vary the pleasures by forming energy balls with what you have in your cupboards. Almond, hazelnut, walnut, grated coconut, dried apricot, raisin, pistachio, cashew nut, chocolate powder, cranberry...

Our 5 best energy ball recipes in our article right here.

Preparing homemade snacks rather than choosing industrial cakes has many advantages, both in terms of health and quality.

By making your own snacks, you have complete control over the ingredients used, which allows you to choose fresh and natural products, without preservatives or chemical additives . Homemade snacks are generally less sweet and contain less saturated fat, thus contributing to a more balanced diet and preventing obesity in children.

In addition, cooking together can become a fun and educational activity, strengthening family ties and instilling good eating habits in children. Finally, homemade snacks allow you to vary the pleasures and experiment with new recipes, thus offering a healthier, tastier and more economical alternative to industrial products.

Homemade Kangoo like in our childhood but better

For the shortbread:

250 g flour

125 g butter

90 g icing sugar

½ tsp baking powder

1 egg

1 sachet of vanilla sugar

The ganache:

200 g dark chocolate

5 cl of liquid cream

Heat the liquid cream then pour it over the chocolate. Smooth the mixture then spread on a plate and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Using a knife, form 3 cm x 7 cm chocolate rectangles on baking paper. Let them harden in the fridge.

Preheat your oven to 180°C.

In a large bowl, mix the melted butter, icing sugar and vanilla sugar.

Add the egg and mix. Sift the flour and yeast then mix again to obtain a dough. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest in a cool place for 30 minutes.

Roll out the dough to 6 to 8 mm thick on a floured work surface. Cut into 13 x 7 cm rectangles. Place a chocolate bar in the center. Fold the edges. Place the shortbread on a baking sheet covered with baking paper.

Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Let the shortbread cool on a rack before serving.

Banana Treat

For this quick recipe , you need banana / peanut butter / dark chocolate. Cut the bananas into slices, put a little peanut butter on half of the slices. Cover with the other banana slice. Put in the freezer for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate. After 30 minutes, place chocolate on top of the little banana sandwiches. And there you have it, it's ready.

I love this super tasty and quick recipe. An ideal idea for snacks on the go. Kids love bananas. Peanut butter contains good fats (unsaturated fatty acids), it is also rich in bad fats (saturated fatty acids) . Like all good things, it should be consumed in moderation.

Homemade cereal bars are an ideal option for children's snacks , combining tasty taste and balanced nutrition. Easy to prepare, these homemade snacks allow you to control the ingredients, ensuring the absence of preservatives and artificial additives often present in industrial products. Rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals , they can be personalized according to children's preferences, by adding dried fruits, honey, or chocolate chips. Not only are these cereal bars delicious, but they also provide the energy needed to support children in their daily activities, while promoting healthy eating habits from an early age .

Homemade cereal bars for children's snacks

250 g of oat flakes

150 g applesauce

4 tbsp liquid honey

100 g chocolate chips

some flaked almonds

Preparation :

Preheat your oven to 170°C (gas mark 6-7).

In a bowl, mix the oatmeal, applesauce and honey.

Then add the chocolate chips and the flaked almonds, then mix again.

Fill your molds with this preparation, packing it down well.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Leave to cool before unmolding and enjoying...