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Looking to entice the children with nutritious plant-based snacks? For delicious and fun vegan snacks that your kids will love, keep reading to find out which plant-based store-bought snacks to buy or which healthy snacks to make at home.
Plus, if you are short on time to screen nutrition labels for sugar or salt, then you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve done all that heavy lifting for you!
Kids are often hungry and tired after school. So snacks need to be simple, quick and tasty. In this list of easy vegan snacks, you’ll find baby snacks, options for toddlers and older children, as well as gluten-free snacks and vegan party snacks for those special occasions.
Vegan baby snacks that are also quick and easy
The British Dietetic Association supports well planned vegan diets for babies and children of all ages.
Regardless of whether your baby starts weaning at 4 months or at 6 months they’ll soon become confident eaters.
To meet their growing requirements, look for plant-based baby snacks that are fortified with important nutrients needed for the normal development of their brain, eye and body.
The following snack ideas include a healthy dose of plant-based calories, protein, vitamins and minerals for their growing needs. These are also quick vegan snacks for babies and toddlers.
Soy yoghurt with berries and chia seeds
The trick is to select unsweetened calcium-fortified soy yoghurt to reduce your baby’s intake of hidden sugar from shop bought vegan snacks. A bonus if it’s also fortified with iodine and vitamin B12.
Avoid organic varieties of yoghurt as these are unfortified with calcium, vitamins B12 and vitamin D.
A tablespoon or two of plant based yoghurt will be plenty, to begin with as a plant-based snack for kids.
Add a couple of berries and a light dusting of chia seeds on top. It really can be as simple as that to make a quick and easy healthy vegan snack for your baby or toddler.
Worried about offering soy to your child? Then see Do I Recommend Soy Foods For A Boy?
Why we like this snack: a source of calcium, fibre, plant-based omega 3 fats and vitamin B12
Pear or apple slices with smooth peanut butter
If you don’t have a lot of time and your fridge is empty, fruit and nut butter is an excellent plant-based snacks for kids.
Slice a soft pear or an apple into lengthwise thin slices and dip it into smooth nut butter.
To begin with you can ‘thin’ out the peanut butter with breast milk or a plant-based milk alternative of your choice.
We are sure that older babies will love dipping the slices of fruit into the nut butter themselves.
Just remember to slice fruit lengthwise to reduce your baby’s risk of choking.
Why we like this plant-based snack: it is a great source of fibre and healthy fat!
Rice cake
Rice cakes are an easy go-to vegetarian snack if you need to throw something in your bag. Offer it on its own for your baby to munch or why not spread a thin layer of peanut butter? For a gourmet version add sliced bananas for a nutritious high calorie plant-based snack at home.
Why we like this snack: a vegan friendly snack with a source of complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein and fat
Breadsticks with hummus
You can either buy breadsticks or make your own and serve it with homemade hummus. Hummus is very easy to make, you just need olive oil, tinned or boiled chickpeas, tahini and mild spices like ground cumin.
Top tip check the salt content of shop-bought breadsticks as some brands are high in salt and won’t be suitable for babies. You can also toast a piece of bread and slice it for an instant plant-based snack for travel or at home.
Why we like this snack: encourages self-feeding and is a source of carbohydrates, protein and iron. Perfect for babies adopting baby-led weaning.
Vegan protein snacks for toddlers
Crispy Chickpeas
Ingredients
1 can chickpeas, drained
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
pinch of salt and pepper
Methods
Drain a chickpea can, rinse and dry. Toss with olive oil and add any spices you like.
Bake at 200 degrees celsius for 25 minutes or until the chickpeas are crispy. Serve cold or warm.
Why we like it: an excellent source of plant-based protein, iron and carbohydrates for growing vegan kids. This plant based snack also makes a fab option for parties.
Seeded toast with avocado and seeds
If your child prefers savoury snacks, why not offer a slice of toast with mashed avocado as a tasty plant-based snack? Sprinkle seeds for a boost in healthy fats.
Serve this snack with a glass of plant-based milk to include a source of protein and calcium!
Why we like this snack: nuts and seeds double up as a source of plant-based fats and protein for vegan kids
Unsalted nuts
A small portion of nuts can be a delicious way of meeting your child’s iron, selenium, zinc and protein requirements.
When preparing the plant-based snack, choose a mix of almonds, cashews, pistachios, brazil nuts and walnuts. You can roast a large batch in the oven and store it in an airtight container.
Top tip: avoid offering whole nuts to children under the age of five to reduce their risk of choking. Instead, chop it into smaller pieces for a nutritious and healthy vegan snack.
Why we like this snack: high in protein, source of zinc and selenium (when brazil nuts are used)
Vegan party snacks for toddlers and older children
Vegan energy balls
Ingredients
100g of walnuts or almonds
200g dates
3 tablespoons of raw cacao
1-2 tablespoons desiccated coconut
Methods
In a food processor, add the nuts and process until you have ground nuts.
Then add raw cacao to the date and nut mix.
Mix until well combined.
Next, shape into small balls and coat in desiccated coconut if you wish (optional).
Refrigerate and serve cold.
Vegan flapjack
Adapted from BBC GoodFood Flapjacks to reduce the sugar per 100g (makes 16 bars).
Do the kids want this vegan snack bar alternative daily?
You learn from testing recipes. So to cut back on the sugar, tweak the recipe by reducing the sugar further and increase the dried fruit proportionately for a delicious healthy version of a vegan granola bar.
Ingredients
140g of vegan spread
100g of soft light brown sugar
2 tablespoons of golden syrup
175g of rolled oats
75g of chopped nuts (almonds cashew, walnuts)
75g of dried fruit mix (cranberries, raisins, apricot)
Method
- Heat the oven to 150 degrees and line a 20cm square baking tin with baking paper.
- In a saucepan, over medium heat, melt the vegan spread, sugar and 2 tablespoons of golden syrup.
- Remove from the heat and add the rolled oats, chopped nuts 75g of dried fruit( raisin, cranberries, apricot).
- Transfer to your square tin and pack the mix in with the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 30 to 35min until lightly golden and crisp around the edges.
- Leave to cool and slice into squares.
- The vegan flapjack can be stored for about 3 days in a food container.
Vegan Easter Hot Cross Bun
The original full recipe can be viewed on BBC Good Food Vegan Hot Cross Bun.
Easter hot cross buns are delicious so we are happy to share with you this vegan snack version.
It is a delicious snack, perfect to share with the family during the weekend. Please note the preparation time is 35 minutes and 2h 45min proving.
Vegan healthy snacks
Colourful fruit salad
The fruit salad is a healthy vegan snack bursting with fibre, B vitamins and vitamin C.
Simply peel any fruits from your fruit bowl. Tasty options include banana, kiwi, apple, orange, pears and grapes. Why not add chopped mint or 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon for a refreshing twist?
What we like with this snack: it is a source of B and C vitamins which have a role in immunity
Kiwi Fruit smoothie
Ingredients
3 peeled green kiwi fruit
1 can pineapple pieces
1 mango, peeled, stoned and chopped
Methods
Pour all of the ingredients into a blender and blitz until smooth. Pour into two glasses. For variation, why not add berries and layer the drink to create a rainbow effect?
Why we like this snack: brilliant for baby or children with constipation
Vegan gluten free snacks
Home-made vegan popcorn
Ingredients
75g popcorn kernals
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Chopped rosemary (optional)
Methods
Click here to find out how to make the Wild Rosemary Popcorn.
Plant-based store-bought snacks
Corn thins
Another delicious plant-based snack that can be transported easily in a bag.
Serve on its own or topped with mashed avocado, sliced tomatoes and cucumber for a healthy vegan snack.
Why we like this plant-based snack: a source of plant-based omega-3 fats
Proper Corn Kids
These are a fun idea for parties as the serving sizes are small. Although this plant-based snack brand appears to be low in salt, it is moderate for fat and sugar. The source of sugar is added sugar from raw cane sugar.
Why we like this plant-based store-bought snack: one serving provides only 53kcal per packet. Ideal for parties.
Vegetable crisps
Plant based snacking can include store bought snacks. If the kids love crisps keep portion sizes appropriate for their small bellies.
Although these are vegetable based, crisps contain added salt and are high in fat.
Top tip: why not make your own? This enables you to control the amount of added fat from vegetable oils.
W.K Kellogg by Kids Strawberry Apple Carrot
This cereal based food could be ideal as a plant-based snack for travel. If your kids like crunchy foods, this could be a healthy snack alternative to crisps when eaten on its own.
Why we like this plant-based snack: low in salt and is based on fruit and vegetables
Cons: contains free sugars
Jordans Kids Crispy Oaties
Some children simply want a sweeter snack. If so, this is another vegan snack to buy for the kids.
The crispy oaties can be served with plant-based milk and fruit for children who need vegan high-calorie foods.
Why we love it: quick and easy snack, perfect for busy days. Served with plant-based milk alternative, is also a source of calcium.
Top tip: it contains added sugar in the form of sugar and honey (3.6g per portion) which is almost equivalent to one plain digestive biscuit (2.2g). You can add plain rolled oats to lower the overall amount of sugar if this is eaten regularly.
Bottom line
If you are looking for plant-based snacks, then there’s plenty of choices available for plant-based snacking. With plant-based diets surging in popularity, its time to relish the options available. From regular cereals, fruit with peanut butter to homemade baking and shop-bought snacks, there’s plenty of options to encourage healthy snacking even for a picky eater!
Need personalised advice for your child on a plant-based diet? For 1-2-1 personalised advice, book a free initial call to arrange an initial expert appointment.