30 Healthy Preschool Snacks Nut Free Kid Approved

Preschool Snacks

Packing a preschool snack for kids is one of those parts of parenting that’s often harder than it seems—especially if you aren’t sure how hungry your kiddo will be or what they might be in the mood for. This list of preschool snack ideas has an assortment of healthy, yummy ideas that you can use individually or mix and match to pack a more substantial snack—because some kids are hungrier than others in the afternoon. I know that many preschools have parents share snack duty, so this list will give you ideas in that situation, too. You’ll find shelf-stable snacks, fresh produce ideas, nutritious store-bought snacks, peanut-free options, and more to make packing snacks for preschool and daycare easier. (You may also like my favorite lunchbox ideas, bento lunch box ideas, peanut-free snacks for school, and birthday treats for school.)

Preschool Snack Ideas

My goal with this list is to offer a range of ideas that require little to no prep work on your part, are appropriate for preschoolers from a nutritional and chewing standpoint, and are foods kids usually like. There’s probably no snack that every single kid will eat, but I did my best! You can supply just one of these snacks or a combination of two of them for a balanced snack. If there will be milk served, one snack item may be enough depending on appetite. TIP: Find my favorite Healthy Kids Snacks to buy at the store, too.

Easy Homemade Snacks for School

These foods are great to keep in mind for sending snacks to any school since most kids will be hungry by mid-afternoon. They’re kid-friendly, no matter the age, and can be expanded upon as kids get older. Choose the ones that work best for your child’s situation.

Reusable Snack Containers

These three containers are ones that we’ve used for years for preschool snacks and find to be super durable and easy to clean (and the first two are shown in this post). Re-Play Stacking Snack Containers (these are the colorful ones shown above) and are sold in a set of 4 containers for about $13. Beaba Clip Containers (these are the clear containers shown above with the yellow and blue lids underneath) and are sold in a set of 6 for about $15. Bumkins Reusable Bags are great to use instead of plastic bags if you want a reusable option. I usually rinse ours out but you can also run them through the dishwasher or washing machine. A set of 2 bags is usually less than $10.

Best Tips for Preschool Snacks

Follow guidelines from your preschool or daycare on allergies or any other ingredient recommendations. Aim to include 1 or 2 food groups for balance and to keep the kids satisfied until the next meal. Trust the kids to eat as much as they need to fill their hunger cues. Remember that it’s okay to keep things simple. You don’t have to make snacks from scratch all the time! Rotate through favorites to expose the kids to a range of nutrients. Feel free to share this list with your preschool or daycare or parents association if you share snack duty with other families. You may also like my master list of Toddler Snacks and my Protein Snacks for Kids.

If you have any questions or additions to my list, please comment below. The more I hear from you all, the better I can make my content for your families!