20 Easy Back to School Snacks Kids Will Actually Eat
Back-to-school season always seems to come with a million things to remember. There are school supplies to buy, schedules to figure out, forms to sign, and somehow we also have to keep the kids fed through all of it. If your kids are anything like mine, packing the exact same snack every single day gets old pretty quickly. Having a few easy back to school snacks stocked in the pantry makes busy mornings so much easier.
Whether you need individually packaged snacks to toss into a backpack, something to add to a lunchbox, or an after-school snack your kids can grab on their own, there are plenty of options that don’t require much planning at all.
Here are some easy back to school snack ideas to keep in rotation this school year.
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MadeGood Granola Bites
MadeGood Granola Bites are one of those snacks that are incredibly easy to keep on hand. They’re already portioned into individual bags, and you could just toss one into a lunchbox or backpack.
MadeGood currently offers flavors including Chocolate Chip, Strawberry, and Trail Mix, so it’s also easy to switch things up instead of sending the exact same flavor every day. MadeGood describes its snacks as organic, gluten-free, allergy-friendly, vegan, and nut-free, which may make them a convenient option for families navigating school snack rules. Always check the individual package and your school’s allergy policies before sending any snack to school.
Try these:
Crunchy Granola Squares
For kids who prefer something crunchy over a chewy granola bar, MadeGood’s Crunchy Granola Squares are another easy option. They’re small enough for lunchboxes and after-school snack bags, and the different flavors give you a little variety throughout the week.
You can find them in flavors like:
Buying two or three flavors and letting kids choose which one goes into their lunch can also make packing lunches a little easier.
Granola Bars
There’s a reason granola bars are a back-to-school classic. They don’t need refrigeration, they’re easy to throw into a bag, and kids can eat them pretty much anywhere. MadeGood has several granola bar varieties, including traditional chocolate chip flavors and fun options like Cookies & Creme.
Some to try:
Keep a box in the pantry for lunch packing and another in a basket where kids can easily grab their own snack after school.
Chocolate-Dipped Granola Bars
Sometimes the snack your child actually eats is better than the snack that comes home untouched. Chocolate-dipped granola bars can feel a little more like a treat while still being easy enough to pack for school.
MadeGood Chocolate Dipped Cookie Crumble Granola Bars are an easy option for kids who usually reach for something sweet after school. These could also be saved for Fridays or days when your child has sports or another activity immediately after school and needs something quick to grab.
Mini Cookies
Cookies aren’t necessarily something you need to pack every day, but they’re nice to have around when you want to add something fun to a lunchbox. Mini cookies work especially well because you can pair them with something more filling instead of making the cookie the entire snack. Consider pairing them with a cheese stick, strawberries, yogurt, or a banana.
Fruit and Granola
Fresh fruit is one of the easiest ways to round out a packaged school snack. Instead of trying to create elaborate Pinterest-worthy lunchboxes every morning, pair one packaged snack with something simple.
Try combinations like granola bites and grapes, granola square and apple slices, granola bar and banana, cookies and strawberries, and granola bites and a clementine. It’s easy, gives kids a little variety, and takes almost no extra prep.
Cheese and Crackers
Cheese and crackers are another simple back to school snack that can be packed in dozens of different ways. Use cheese cubes, sliced cheese, string cheese, or mini cheese rounds along with your child’s favorite crackers.
If the snack will be sitting in a backpack for a while, make sure you’re using an insulated lunchbox and ice pack for anything that needs to stay cold.
Yogurt
Yogurt is especially helpful for after-school snacks when kids walk through the door announcing that they’re starving. Keep individual yogurt cups or tubes in the refrigerator and let kids add their own toppings like granola, berries, banana slices, mini chocolate chips, or cereal
You could even make a small yogurt snack station in the refrigerator so older kids can put their own snack together.
Popcorn
Popcorn is inexpensive, easy to portion, and perfect for kids who want a crunchy snack. You can buy individual bags for the simplest option or divide a larger bag into reusable containers for the week. Pair it with fruit, cheese, or another snack if your child needs something a little more substantial.
Pretzels
Pretzels are another pantry staple worth keeping around during the school year. They’re easy to toss into reusable snack bags and can be paired with cheese, fruit, hummus, or another dip depending on where and when your child will be eating them. Mini pretzels and pretzel sticks also work well for younger kids because they’re easy to portion.
Applesauce Pouches
Pouches are popular because there are no spoons required, almost no mess, and kids can easily open them themselves. Keep applesauce or fruit-and-veggie pouches in your snack drawer for mornings when you’ve completely forgotten to pack something until you’re already trying to get everyone out the door.
Fresh Fruit
Don’t underestimate the easiest snacks. Bananas, apples, clementines, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and other fruits require very little prep and can easily be paired with a packaged snack.
One trick that helps during busy school weeks is washing and portioning fruit right after grocery shopping. When it’s already ready to grab, you’re much more likely to actually use it.
Veggies and Dip
If your kids will eat veggies with dip but suddenly act like they’ve never seen a vegetable before when it’s served alone, you’re definitely not alone. Try packing baby carrots, cucumber slices, mini sweet peppers, celery, and snap peas. Then add hummus, ranch, or another favorite dip.
MadeGood also recommends adding color, crunch, and dips to school lunches as a simple way to make fruits and vegetables more appealing to kids.
Make a Back to School Snack Station
One of the easiest ways to make school mornings less hectic is to create a designated snack station. Clear out one pantry bin, basket, or drawer and fill it with individually packaged snacks that are approved for school. Then create a second area in the refrigerator for cold snacks.
Your pantry snack station might include:
- Granola bites
- Granola bars
- Crunchy granola squares
- Pretzels
- Popcorn
- Applesauce pouches
- Crackers
- Mini cookies
Your refrigerator section could include:
- Yogurt
- Cheese sticks
- Washed fruit
- Cut vegetables
- Individual dips
If your kids are old enough, they can choose one item from each section and pack their own snack. That is one less thing for you to do in the morning, which is always a win.
Keep Back to School Snacks Simple
You don’t need to make homemade energy bites, cut fruit into cute shapes, or create elaborate lunchboxes every morning for your kids to have snacks they’ll enjoy. A stocked pantry, a few reliable favorites, and enough variety to keep everyone from getting bored can go a long way.
MadeGood has an especially large selection of school-friendly snack options, including bars, granola bites, cookies, crackers, crispy squares, and crunchy granola squares. Keeping a few different varieties on hand makes it easy to grab something on those mornings when getting everyone dressed, fed, and out the door already feels like enough of an accomplishment.
