How to Create a Healthy Self-Serve Snack Drawer for Kids

Are your kids constantly asking for snacks?  Or burning through your snack stash at a rapid rate?  Try creating a healthy snack drawer, for them to help themselves to during the day.  They love the independence of choosing their own snack, and parents’ can put in the things they want their kids to eat. 

Spending a little time building out a snack drawer each week will:

• Save you money – buy in bulk and portion the snacks out, plus purchase less pre-packaged snacks
• Save you time – instead of spending time throughout the day rummaging in the fridge or cupboard for snacks, they will be ready to grab-and-go
• Save the environment – use reusable snack bags and yoghurt pouches, and make your own baked snacks and your single-use plastic use will be minimized

Here are our tips for creating an enticing drawer of healthy snacks.

1. Keep it simple – no need to get fancy, just chop up some fruit and veggies, and mix them together for a colourful option.
2. Change up the selections each week to ensure variety.
3. Keep portions small – kids are more likely to grab a veggie snack if it’s not too big and overwhelming.
4. Spice it up with dips – have a dip or two available to pair with the veggies (or fruit!). Kids love dipping!
5. Have the drawer in a convenient and easily accessible location. A clear container works well so they can see what’s inside.  One in the fridge and one in the pantry works well.
6. Use reusable bags – stock up on reusable snack bags like these so you can rinse and reuse them, reducing waste.

50 simple ideas to include in a healthy snack drawer:

Fruit

• Berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• Melon – cubes of rockmelon or watermelon
• Grapes – mix up colours
• Pineapple chunks
• Sliced apples (pre-soaked in lemon water to stop browning)
• Slices or segments of orange
• Cherries
• Peeled mandarin segments
• Dried fruit – apricots, apples, prunes
• Sultanas – boxes or buy in bulk and portion out
• Dried coconut or banana chips
• Fruit leather

Vegetables

• Baby carrots or carrot sticks
• Sliced cucumber or baby cucumbers
• Slices of capsicum or baby capsicum
• Baby corn
• Cherry tomatoes
• Celery sticks
• Raw or pre-steamed broccoli or cauliflower
• Corn cobs
• Sugar snap or snow peas
• Raw mushroom slices

Protein

• Hummus dip
• Yoghurt in reusable pouches
• Small containers of nut butter for dipping
• Hard boiled eggs
• Edamame beans
• Cubes of cheese
• Nut mix – cashews, peanuts, walnuts
• Seeds – pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds
• Trail mix – combination of nuts, seeds and dried fruit
• Protein bars – homemade or store bought
• Roasted chickpeas
• Homemade low-sugar custard in reusable pouches
• Frittata/egg cups
• Beef jerky

Wholegrain/Carbohydrates

• Popcorn
• Whole grain crackers
• Granola
• Muesli bars
• Bliss balls
• Homemade mini muffins
• Pikelets
• Scrolls
• Wholegrain cereal
• Corn chips
• Pretzels
• Wholegrain rice crackers
• Oat bars
• Low sugar homemade cookies

This idea isn't just for kids - the whole family will snack better when you have easy options to grab and go!  I'd love to know if you do this or are inspired to start - let me know over on Instagram  or Facebook!

Click here to shop our range of reusable snack bags and pouches.