40+ Daycare Snack Menu Ideas for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Meal planning is one of the most complex parts of daycare planning. You want something healthy, easy to prepare, age-appropriate and follows the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) guidelines. 

We’re sharing quick and healthy 40+ daycare snack ideas for toddlers and preschoolers. Plus, 6 tips to help you prepare your menu in a wholesome and inclusive way. Lastly, for the most interesting part, we have given ideas on how to make your daycare snacks enjoyable for special occasions. 

After reading this article, you can easily prepare a monthly snack menu for your daycare. So, let’s dive in!

Easy and Healthy Daycare Snack Menu Ideas

Here are 5 food categories that should be a part of your snack menu. They’re all nutritious and should be laid out throughout the week. You can do one category as your snack, or a mix of 2 will be more than enough as snacks are small portions. 

Your menu will be divided into weeks. You can rotate your week one menu after one or two weeks. This way, you won’t have to come up with a new idea for every day, and the kids won’t get bored eating the same thing. 

Fruits 

• Apples
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Blueberries
• Mango
• Watermelon

Serving options: Smoothies, popsicles, fruit skewers, diced fruits and fruit salad 

Veggies 

• Carrots
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Potato
• Spinach

Serving options: Veggie salad, purees, veggie sauce, skewers

Grains 

• Crackers
• Pretzels
• Oatmeal
• Granola
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Whole Wheat Pasta

Dairy

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Cheese 
• Butter
• Cream

Meat/ Protein Rich-Foods

• Meet
• Tofu
• Peanut Butter
• Almonds
• Eggs
• Turkey Slices
• Lentils

Daycare Snacks for Toddlers 

Here are 20+ nutritious daycare snack ideas for toddlers.

1. Whole grain crackers with cheese or nut butter.
2. Soft-boiled eggs and yogurt.
3. Banana muffins with milk. 
4. Trail mix with dried fruits, nuts and seeds.
5. Rice cakes topped with peanut butter or avocado slices.
6. Yogurt cups with sliced fruits such as apples or oranges.
7. Whole grain crackers with cheese slices.
8. Mini sandwiches with whole grain bread and lean protein like turkey or chicken.
9. Vegetable sticks (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers) with hummus dip.
10. Mini muffins made with whole wheat flour and shredded carrots or zucchini.
11. Homemade fruit popsicles made with pureed fruit and yogurt.
12. Cheese quesadillas made with whole wheat tortillas.
13. Mini fruit skewers.
14. Cottage cheese with diced peaches or pineapple.
15. Whole grain cereal with milk.
16. Veggie omelet muffins made with chopped vegetables and eggs
17. Fruit and yogurt parfait with granola.
18. Turkey or chicken meatballs.
19. Baked sweet potato fries.
20. Homemade veggie pizza on whole wheat crust.
21. Sliced avocado on whole grain toast.
22. Whole grain pita bread with hummus and cucumber slices. 
23. Crackers and frozen banana slices dipped in yogurt. 
24. Baked sweet potato wedges seasoned with cinnamon.

Daycare Snacks for Preschoolers

20 snack ideas for preschoolers

1. Veggie chips made from thinly sliced sweet potatoes, baked until crispy.
2. Mini whole wheat bagels with cream cheese or peanut butter.
3. Mini chicken sandwiches with milk.
4. Yogurt parfait cups with layers of yogurt, granola, and berries.
5. Mini sandwiches on whole grain bread with turkey or ham slices.
6. Apple slices with almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
7. Banana slices topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt and honey.
8. Trail mix with dried fruits, pretzels, and unsalted nuts.
9. Rice cakes topped with avocado slices and cherry tomatoes.
10. Cheese quesadillas made with whole wheat tortillas and shredded cheese.
11. Hard-boiled eggs sliced and served with whole grain crackers.
12. Homemade granola bars with oats, honey, nuts, and dried fruit.
13. Mini vegetable muffins made with shredded carrots, zucchini, and whole wheat flour.
14. Whole grain English muffin pizzas with tomato sauce and cheese.
15. Baked sweet potato fries with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
16. Mini chicken or turkey meatballs with marinara sauce or hummus for dipping.
17. Cottage cheese with pineapple chunks or mandarin oranges.
18. Mini pancakes made with whole wheat flour and topped with fruit compote.
19. Whole grain crackers with cheese cubes or fruits. 
20. Pretzels with veggies and fruits mixed in yogurt. 

Easy Recipes for Daycare Snack Menu

If daycare kids and their adult supervisors are looking for a quick snack they can all enjoy, look no further. Here are two tasty – and budget-friendly – recipes that everyone will love!

Start with Mama’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge:

1. Simply melt 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips and ¼ cup butter in a saucepan over low heat.
2. Add 1 cup of peanut butter and stir until your mixture is creamy.
3. Pour the fudge into a greased 8×8 inch pan, and cool it in the fridge or freezer.
4. Then cut it into squares.

Or if you’re looking for something that perhaps packs a more nutritional punch.

Try the Apple Sandwiches:

Spread a smear of peanut butter onto thinly sliced apple slices and place them together like sandwiches. Both recipes are easy to make ahead at home or pre-assembled at daycare, leaving plenty of time for cookies and play!

6 Tips to Make Nutritious Snack Menu for Daycare

A healthy daycare snack menu means your portions are nutritious and filling for kids. 

1. Make your every week balanced by alternating the 5 categories we discussed earlier. 
2. Use healthy ingredients like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables whenever possible.
3. Look for recipes that are low in added sugars and trans fats and high in essential vitamins and minerals that keep kids energized throughout the day.
4. Provide alternate options for any dietary allergies, or avoid those foods. 
5. Create fun shapes and characters from items like fruit slices or cucumbers to make the snacks look more appealing to your little daycare students!
6. It’s also important to pay attention to portion sizes – when snack time comes around.

Special Occasion Snacks

Even when their parents cannot be present, it is crucial for children attending daycare to feel valued. Sending special treats during momentous occasions can be an enjoyable and memorable way of helping your child.

Think of all the occasions you could send something extra special – birthdays, holidays, the first day of school, and more!

Thanksgiving Themed Daycare Snacks

Make the most of Thanksgiving by providing daycare kids with delicious and enjoyable snacks! To make it more fun, why not prepare apple-cinnamon muffins, bite-sized turkey sandwiches, mini pumpkin pies, sweet potato fries or roasted acorn squash?

Further, spark their creativity by cutting out shapes from nutritious ingredients such as carrots and celery. Get imaginative and craft snacks into an art form with a Fall theme.

For instance, you are transforming apples or cheese slices into pumpkin shapes, crafting sandwiches in the form of turkeys and even creating a cornucopia filled with fresh fruit! Above all else – enjoy yourself! Incorporating healthy Thanksgiving treats into your daycare will undoubtedly bring joyous smiles from the little ones.

Halloween Themed Daycare Snacks

Halloween is the perfect time to get creative with snacks for daycare! Instead of providing sugary treats, you can make healthy and festive snacks that are just as fun.

For example, carve an orange into a jack-o’-lantern shape, stuff it with yogurt or hummus, and add some eyes, nose and mouth with colorful fruits and veggies. Or try making a simple ghost snack with banana slices, mini chocolate chips, and some marshmallow fluff for the eyes!

For something even simpler, use cookie cutters to make spooky shapes out of sandwiches or cheese slices.

Importance of Snacks in Daycare

Daycares are an essential part of many families, giving a safe and educational atmosphere for kids to form relationships and learn. Therefore, daycare snacks should be nourishing and healthy.

Incorporating vegetables into the snack offering helps children foster sound dietary habits by introducing them to wholesome food choices from a young age.

This early exposure also helps build a positive relationship with vegetables that have been shown to carry into adulthood.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Sensible Snack?

4 Best options for healthy snacking are:

1. Fruits and vegetables.
2. Whole grains. 
3. Nuts and seeds.
4. Low-fat dairy products.

Which Snack Is Not Allowed?

In daycare, it’s important to ensure that the snacks provided are healthy and safe for all children. Since kids can be picky eaters, some snacks may not be allowed due to potential food allergies or dietary restrictions. Some of the most common snack items that are not allowed in daycare include:

1. Candy or sugary treats.
2. Peanut Butter or other nut butter and products containing nuts.
3. Unpasteurized juices or dairy products.
4. Processed meats such as hot dogs and lunch meat.
5. Certain fruits and vegetables, such as whole grapes or sliced apples, may pose choking hazards.

How Do You Pack Snacks for Daycare?

Packing snacks carefully to avoid any spillage, you can follow these guidelines:

1. Cut the food into smaller bites.
2. Arrange food to make it look more attractive.
3. Get a tight-lock lunchbox.
4. Use a lunchbox with several compartments.
5. Send hot or cold food items in a thermos. Put ice packs for cold food like yogurt.
6. Carefully mark your child’s name and possible allergies on the top of the box.

Conclusion

Daycare snacks are an essential part of a child’s day, providing them with the energy and nutrients they need to power through their activities. With a bit of planning, it’s easy to prepare a healthy and delicious snack menu that satisfies the parents and the kids’ nutrient requirements. 

Remember these tips when choosing snacks for daycare: Go for nutrient-rich foods, ensure they’re filling, and simple is often the best. And remember to include a few treats now and then!

Happy snacking!