Simple Daycare Snack Ideas Your Kids Will Love

These homemade snacks are easy to prepare and all your daycare kids will love them.  I have included the recipes for each of them.  

You will have to let me know which ones are the biggest hits for you in the comments below.

Homemade Granola Bars

These are so easy to make with only a few ingredients and all the kids will love them!  You can make a small batch or a bigger one. 

Store them either in the refrigerator or freezer.  If they are left on the counter, they become way too soft.

My kids and daycare kids go nuts over these!  I usually make a double batch and they seem to vanish before my very eyes.

27. Book/Magazine

This is another fan favorite and all the kids gobble it up.  Apple Crisp is easy to make. 

It is tasty all year long, but we really love it in the cooler months.  There are usually 7 kids eating the apple crisp and there are little to no leftovers every time.

I freeze apples every fall so we can make apple crisp anytime we want.  To do this, slice them and fill up a quart freezer bags, just the amount we need.

Here is the recipe for Grandma Johnny’s Apple Crisp.

Smoothies

You will hear cheers of joy every time smoothies are on your snack menu!  This is easily paired with your homemade granola bars, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or crackers.

My kids and daycare kids always want me to make a double batch when we have smoothies.  Our favorite of year to have these is when it is warmer outside.

Here is the recipe for Smoothies.

 Ingredients

• 1 cup Frozen Fruit
• 1 Banana
• 1 cup Yogurt (regular and Greek both work)
• 1 cup Milk
• Optional add on ingredients, found on Target: ¼ cup Oatmeal, ¼ cup Peanut Butter, 1 tsp-tbsp Chocolate Syrup (depending on how much you like)

 Directions

Place all ingredients into a blender.  Blend until the fruit is smooth and everything is mixed.

A few notes on my smoothie-making experience.  I usually use about 2 cups of milk, or just enough so my blender doesn’t overflow when it is turned on. 

This makes enough for my 4 kids to have a larger smoothie.  It also makes enough for my kids and daycare kids, 7 total, to have a smaller smoothie.

Peanut Butter, Banana, and Chocolate Chip Sandwich

If your kids love peanut butter sandwiches, they are going to love this little twist of a sandwich.

Even my kids that don’t love bananas that much on their own, love this sandwich.

It is so simple to make.

Spread peanut butter on the bread.  

Slice a banana and add some to the peanut butter bread.  If you are using 1 slice of bread, only place the banana on ½ the bread.  Add some chocolate chips.  

Fold up and enjoy.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

I am pretty sure you know how to make these but just in case you don’t…

 Spread peanut butter on a slice of bread.  Next spread jelly or jam on top of that, fold the bread in half, and place it on a plate for your kiddo.

There are so many snack options that you can buy at the store.  Try your best to keep them healthy and keep the cookies and chips to a minimum. 

My daycare kids and my kids love all of these.

Cereal

Granola Bars

All Kinds of Fruit

Apples, Pears, or Bananas with Peanut Butter

Fruit Sauce Cups

Vegetables - we love to have them with a dip like ranch or hummus.

Fig Bars - Our favorite brand is Nature's Bakery.

Cliff Bars

Crackers - Holy moly, there are so many options when it comes to crackers.  However, the kids like the bite sized ones the best.

Yogurt - It is cheaper to buy bigger containers of yogurt and dish it into smaller cups.

Cheese Sticks

Bagels - I know this is considered breakfast food but why not have it any time of the day?

Snick Snack - At our house, this means sandwich meat, slices of cheese, and crackers of your choice.  Some of the kids eat all of it separately and some stack them up like little sandwiches.

Always try to have healthy drink options on hand for your daycare kids.  Keep the juice and any kind of sugary drinks to a minimum.

For the most part, you should stick to milk and water.  I mean, that is what kids should be drinking the most anyway.  If this is what they are offered over and over again they will drink it.

From time to time, we do some special drinks like hot chocolate and lemonade.

If you do decide to go with the hot chocolate, make it more like lukewarm chocolate.  We love this hot chocolate mix.

Lemonade or a variation of it is also a tasty option when the weather turns warmer.  These flavor packs have my kids and daycare kids drinking a ton more water.