Most kids benefit from eating at least five times a day. That’s a minimum of two snacks! If you’re always wondering what to serve your kids for snack that is healthy and fun, you’re in the right place.

Snack time is primetime for highlighting fruits and veggies in a fun-to-eat way. Because your child is likely hungry, it is also an opportunity to fill nutrient gaps and try introducing small amounts of new foods.

If you’re really focusing on nutrition, the goal for a filling and nutritious snack is to include protein, fiber, and fat. This trio keeps kids (and their caretakers) fuller for longer.

This list is broken down by flavors and textures to make it easier for pleasing your child if they have sensory preferences.

Genius Snack Ideas for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder

Crunchy Snacks

• Ants on a log (celery spread with nut butter and studded with raisins)

• Nut butter topped rice cake with sliced fruit (berries, banana, apple); try adding chia seeds or dried coconut if your little is up for it

• Loaded nachos with your choice of toppings: beans, cheese, salsa

• Crunchy bean bites – try Enlightened Roasted Broad Bean Crisps or Biena Chickpeas

• Mixed veggie sticks with dips (hummus, ranch dressing, yogurt)

Spicy Snacks

• Quick guacamole (roughly mash ⅓ avocado with lime juice, a few pinches of salt, and hot sauce) with favorite dippers – baby carrots, bell peppers, jicama, veggie chips are my go to

• Popcorn with a kick: pop on the stove with a slick of olive oil over medium heat. Serve dusted with chili powder

• Homemade edamame with salt, chili powder, red pepper flakes or these wasabi-coated packages for on the go

• Chips and salsa or loaded nachos

Sweet Snacks

• Fruit kebabs, you alternate with meat and cheese

• Fruit smoothie made with unsweetened yogurt

• Banana “ice cream” – blend ½ frozen banana, 1 tbs nut butter, ½ tsp cinnamon until creamy

Soft Snacks

• Yogurt stirred with 1 tsp cinnamon (1 tbs nut butter and/or 1 tsp honey optional) and served with pancake strip dippers

• Turkey and cheese roll up with a dab up hummus and a piece of crunchy lettuce

• Cheese quesadilla triangles with salsa

• Medjool dates pitted, sliced, and stuffed with spreadable cheese (ricotta and goat cheese work well here)

More Sensory Snacks for Kids with Autism

For even more snacks and sensory categories for kids with autism, SPD, and texture preferences check out my Sensory Snack Guides.

The Sensory Snack Guide for picky eaters have kid-approved snacks for kids’ most common sensory food preferences:

• crunchy snacks

• soft snacks

• smooth snacks

• salty snacks

• sweet snacks

• warm snacks

• cold snacks

• high sensory snacks (big texture or flavor for sensory seekers)

There you go! A variety of easy, healthy, and kid-approved snack options are organized for kids with sensory processing disorders or specific texture and taste preferences.