At my daughter’s preschool, parents are asked to bring in a healthy snack that corresponds with whatever letter the kids are learning that week. When the letter is “A” or “C,” it’s a no-brainer: cut up some apple slices and peel a few clementines and you’re good to go. But we got “D” a couple of weeks ago, which gave me pause, and reminded me that it’s only going to get harder when the class gets to, say, “K.” So I did what all moms of our generation do: I took to the internet and googled “D snacks for kids” and lo and behold these adorable (and easy to execute!) dolphin bananas came up. Seriously, how did our mothers accomplish anything without Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration?
It turns out there are plenty of fun, healthy snacks ideas out there for you to modify to your liking or just straight up copy (no judgment here). Here are 10 animal-themed snacks that I culled from various sources to get you started. (Food stylists, I have a whole new appreciation for you!)
These popped up in my Facebook feed a few weeks ago and I made them for my daughter’s birthday celebration at school. Super cute and infinitely healthier then cupcakes.
What you’ll need:
• One slice of bread
• Greek yogurt
• Three slices of banana
• Two slices of strawberry
• Three blueberries
• Nut or seed butter
• A teddy bear shaped cookie cutter
Toast the bread, then use the cookie cutter to make a teddy bear shape. Spread nut butter onto the bread, and use yogurt to add the fruit to make the ears and face.
These are excellent for a classroom snack or birthday party because they require hardly any effort and the wow factor is serious.
What you’ll need:
• 1 banana, unpeeled, sliced about halfway down
• 1 goldfish or cheddar cracker
• A handful of blueberries
• A black marker
• A small paper cup (I used paper coffee cups and cut the tops off)
Carefully slice the “stem” of the banana and insert the cheddar cracker. Draw an eye with the magic marker and place the banana in the cup. Add blueberries for the “water.”
Again, file this one under ridiculously easy.
What you’ll need:
• 1 string cheese
• A food marker, or a couple of mini chocolate chips and a dab of honey
With a kitchen scissors, carefully slice the bottom of the string cheese until you have eight “tentacles.” Draw two eyes with the marker or use the honey to make the mini chips stick.
These insects are a little more involved but worth the effort.
What you’ll need:
• 1/3 of a celery stalk
• Hummus or nut or seed butter
• 1 slice, cucumber
• 2 pieces of round cereal (I used Nature’s Path Peanut Butter Panda Puffs)
• A food marker
• Two pretzel sticks
Carefully slice off the bottom of the celery stalk so that it lays flat. Spread the hummus or nut butter inside the stalk. Draw eyes onto the cereal then place them, the cucumber and the pretzel sticks into the hummus or nut butter.
A quick and fun snack for the littles using supplies you probably already have in the pantry.
What you’ll need:
• 1 half of a red apple
• Nut butter
• 6 raisins
• 2 pretzel sticks
Carefully cut one slice out of the center of the apple half to create the bug’s body. Dip raisins in nut butter and stick them to the apple, skin side up. Gently poke two holes in the top of the apple and insert the pretzel sticks
Can you even stand the cuteness??? Plus, it’ll give you a reason to introduce your kids to kiwis.
What you’ll need:
• 1 kiwi slice
• 1 piece of apple cut into a triangle
• A food marker
Slice the bottom of the kiwi slice, creating two “legs.” Slice the right side off as well creating a straight line. Stick the apple triangle up against the kiwi and draw a face on it.
For when you draw the “W” at school. You’re welcome.
What you’ll need:
• 1 round frozen waffle
• Cream cheese or nut butter
• 2 apple slices
• Blueberries
• O’s cereal
Toast the waffle. Spread the cream cheese or nut butter on it, use the berries to make the eyes and nose, the cereal to make the beard and the apple slices for the tusks.
My kids eat apples by the bushel. These little turtles make a basic snack a little more exciting.
What you’ll need:
• ½ of a green apple
• 5 grapes, cut in half
• 2 mini chocolate chips
Stick the grapes to the sides of the apple to create arms and legs. Carefully poke the chips into the apple to create eyes.
There are several versions of butterfly snacks on the Internet. This one is super simple and the perfect size for little hands.
What you’ll need:
• 2 pretzel thins
• Nut butter
• 1 banana slice
Spread the nut butter on the banana slice and use the pretzels to create “wings.”
These were a huge hit with my kids! (Though they still didn’t eat the spinach.)
What you’ll need:
• 1 banana, peeled
• A dozen pretzel sticks
• 2 mini chocolate chips
• Spinach leaves
Arrange the banana on top of the spinach. Use the pretzel sticks to create legs along the sides of the banana. (You may need to break them a bit to get the right length.) Add the chips for eyes.
Photo credits: Michelle Hainer
