Did you know that kids get roughly one-third to half of their daily calories from what they eat at school? That means what goes into their lunchbox matters a lot. Yet research shows that most Aussie kids still reach for discretionary foods like biscuits, processed snacks and sweet bars during school time.

The key is finding that sweet spot between healthy and yummy. With the right mix of whole grains, fruits, protein and healthy fats, school snacks can fuel growing bodies and hungry minds, without any lunchbox leftovers coming home.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up school snack ideas that tick all the boxes: easy to prep, nutritious and totally kid-approved. Ready to make snack time the smartest part of the school day? Let’s dig in!

Say Goodbye to Lunchbox Stress!

Tired of half-eaten school snacks coming home? Dr Nick Fuller’s Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids shows how to create balanced, appealing options that kids actually want to eat. With expert insights and easy-to-follow strategies, this guide helps make school-day nutrition simple and stress-free.

Wave goodbye to lunchbox battles. Grab your copy of Healthy Parents, Healthy Kids today and pack snacks that kids love and parents trust.

8 Healthy School Snacks Ideas for Kids

School days run smoother with the right snacks! These 8 healthy school snack ideas are easy to pack, nourishing, and guaranteed to keep kids fuelled and focused.

Mini Baked Oat Cups

These mini baked oat cups make the ultimate school snack for kids: wholesome, filling and naturally sweet without the sugar rush. Made with simple ingredients like oats, milk and fruit, they’re packed with fibre and slow-release energy to keep kids focused through the school day. Bake a batch on the weekend, store a few in the fridge for the week ahead and freeze the rest for busy mornings. Just pop one into the lunchbox, and by recess, it’ll be soft, tasty and ready to eat, no prep needed.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes 18 mini muffins

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients

• Olive oil spray, for greasing
• 2 overripe bananas
• 1 egg
• ½ cup milk
• 2 cups rolled oats
• Pinch of cinnamon
• ¾ cup frozen raspberries, thawed

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Use the olive oil spray to grease two 12-hole mini muffin trays. 

2. Add the bananas to a mixing bowl and use a fork to mash. Add in the egg and mash to combine with the banana. 

3. Add in the milk and the rolled oats. Stir until all ingredients are combined. 

4. Add in the cinnamon and the raspberries, and thoroughly stir through the oat mixture. 

5. Use a tablespoon to scoop the oat mixture into the muffin trays. Ensure that the oat mixture fills each muffin tray hole to the top. 

6. Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the oat cups have risen and are slightly golden on top. 

7. Let the oat cups sit in the tray for 5 minutes, then remove from the mini muffin tray and allow the oat cups to cool. Enjoy!

Spinach Muffins

These savoury spinach muffins are a smart and tasty school snack for kids, sneaking in extra greens without any fuss. Soft, cheesy and mild in flavour, they’re gentle on little tummies and perfect for lunchboxes. Packed with goodness from spinach and protein-rich cheese, they make a satisfying bite that keeps kids fuelled and focused through their school day.

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes 16 muffins

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes 

Ingredients

• Olive oil spray, for greasing
• 150-200g baby spinach leaves
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup Greek yoghurt
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup cheddar or mozzarella cheese, grated 
• 2 cups wholemeal self-raising flour

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Use the olive oil spray to grease two 12-hole muffin trays. 

2. Add the baby spinach to a large mixing bowl. Use scissors to roughly chop the spinach into small pieces. 

3. Add in the eggs, and mix well to combine. Stir through the Greek yoghurt, milk, and cheese. 

4. Gently mix in the flour. Try to mix until only just combined, as over-mixing will result in a tough textured muffin. 

5. Scoop the muffin mixture into the prepared muffin trays. 

6. Place into the oven and bake for 20 minutes until the muffins have risen and are slightly golden. 

7. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the tray. Allow to cool completely, then serve and enjoy!

Baby Banana Muffins

Soft, naturally sweet and perfectly sized for little hands, these baby banana muffins make an ideal school snack for kids. Packed with goodness from ripe bananas and other wholesome ingredients, they’re a tasty and nourishing treat that fits easily into any lunchbox. Light, fluffy and full of natural flavour, they’re sure to be a hit at recess time.

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes 24 mini muffins

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients

• Olive oil spray
• ½ cup milk
• Juice of ½ a lemon
• 2 large overripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup Greek yoghurt
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 ¾ cups wholemeal self-raising flour
• Sprinkle of cinnamon 

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Grease two 12-hole mini muffin trays with olive oil spray, then set aside. 

2. Add the lemon juice to the milk and set aside.

3. Place the bananas into a mixing bowl. Use a fork to mash the bananas until smooth.

4. Add in the eggs and mash into the banana until well combined. It is ok if a few small lumps remain.

5. Add the Greek yoghurt and olive oil to the banana mixture. Pour in the milk and lemon juice mixture. Mix until well combined. 

6. Add in the flour and cinnamon, then mix gently until just combined. Mixing gently and avoiding overmixing the muffin batter will result in a light and spongey muffin texture. 

7. Spoon the muffin batter evenly into the mini muffin tins. Place into the oven and bake for 15 minutes, until risen and lightly golden brown. 

8. Remove the muffins from the oven. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the trays. Allow the muffins to cool completely, then serve and enjoy!

Berry Frozen Yoghurt Drops

These berry yoghurt drops are a fun and fruity school snack for kids, bursting with natural sweetness and a hit of protein and calcium. Made with creamy yoghurt and colourful berries, they’re light, refreshing and perfect for adding a pop of colour to any lunchbox. You can mix in your kids’ favourite fruits for endless flavour combos that are as tasty as they are nutritious.

Type: Vegetarian, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes approx. 30 

Prep Time: 5 minutes (+ 2 hours freezing time)

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• ½ cup mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries – frozen also works, just allow to defrost slightly)
• 1 cup Greek yoghurt

Recipe

1. Prepare 2 flat baking trays by lining with baking paper. 

2. Add the berries and the yoghurt to a small blender. Blend well until smooth.

3. Use a teaspoon to dollop spoonful’s of the yoghurt mixture onto the baking trays. Continue until all the yoghurt mixture has been used. 

4. Carefully transfer the trays into your freezer, ensuring that they are sitting flat and level. 

5. Allow to freeze for at least a couple of hours. Once frozen, remove the yoghurt drops from the trays and place into a container, then return to the freezer. 

6. Serve the yoghurt drops frozen and enjoy!

Banana Oat Bars

These chewy banana oat bars are a naturally sweet and satisfying school snack for kids (and parents too!). Made with wholesome ingredients like oats and bananas, they’re packed with slow-release energy to keep kids fuelled and focused throughout the school day. Soft, chewy and delicious, they’re the perfect lunchbox treat that feels like a dessert but delivers real nourishment.

Type: Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Kid Friendly, Baby Friendly, Snacks

Makes 15 bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes 

Ingredients

• 2 overripe bananas
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons honey, plus extra to serve (optional)
• 1 heaped tablespoon natural 100% peanut or almond butter
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup wholemeal self-raising flour
• 1 tablespoons pumpkin seeds (pepitas), plus extra to serve (optional)
• 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds, plus extra to serve (optional)
• 2 tablespoons goji berries, or other dried fruit

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a square baking tin with baking paper.  

2. Add the bananas to a mixing bowl and use a fork to mash. Add in the egg and mash to combine with the banana. 

3. Add in the olive oil, honey and peanut butter, and mix well to combine. 

4. Gently stir through the rolled oats, flour, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and goji berries. 

5. Pour the batter into your square baking tin. Place into the oven and bake for 30 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch. 

6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the tin. Once cool, remove from the tin and slice into 15 bars. 

7. Optional: drizzle with honey and sprinkle with extra pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds before serving. Enjoy!

Date Choc Bars 

These chocolate-stuffed dates are a fun and wholesome school snack for kids, offering a naturally sweet twist on a classic treat. Soft, chewy and full of fibre and healthy fats, they provide a steady energy boost to keep kids going strong through the school day. Pop a couple into the lunchbox for a delicious bite that feels like dessert but packs real nourishment.

Type: Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 10 dates

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes (+2hrs refrigeration) 

Ingredients

• 10 Medjool dates
• 10 almonds, roasted
• 10 teaspoons 100% natural peanut butter
• 120g 80% dark chocolate
• ¼ cup slivered almonds, roasted and chopped

Recipe

1. Use a small knife to slice each date open length wise and remove the pit. You don’t want to cut all the way through the date, just along one side so that you can remove the pit. 

2. Stuff one roasted almond into each date, in place of the pit. 

3. Add one teaspoon of peanut butter into each date, adding it into the middle cavity where you have stuffed the roasted almond. 

4. Gently pinch each side of the date together to stick the edges together slightly.  

5. Place the dates into the fridge whilst you melt the chocolate.  

6. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place into a heatproof bowl. Place into the microwave and heat in 15 second increments. Remove the chocolate from the microwave and stir before heating again. 

7. Once the chocolate is just melted, remove from the microwave and stir until smooth. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate as it will turn lumpy. 

8. Remove the dates from the fridge. Use a fork to dip one date into the melted chocolate. Ensure the date is evenly coated in a thin layer of chocolate, and allow any excess to drip from the fork back into the bowl. 

9. Place the date onto a plate lined with baking paper. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until all the dates are coated in chocolate. Sprinkle the dates with the slivered almonds. 

10. Place the dates into the fridge for at least 2 hours until set. Once removed from the fridge, serve immediately and enjoy!

Apple Slice Donuts

These colourful apple slice ‘donuts’ make a fun and healthy school snack for kids that’s as playful as it is nutritious. Crisp apple rings are topped with creamy peanut butter or yoghurt, then sprinkled with granola, seeds or a few dark chocolate chips for crunch. They’re cool, crunchy and naturally sweet, the kind of snack kids get excited to find in their lunchbox.

Type: Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Contains Nuts, Kid Friendly

Makes 10 ‘donuts’

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 0 minutes 

Ingredients

• 2 large pink lady apples
• 3 tablespoons natural 100% peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons of assorted toppings

Recipe

1. Use an apple corer to remove the core of each apple. 

2. Place the apple on its side so that the empty core is parallel to your chopping board. Trim off both ends of the apple, then slice the apple into 5 even slices.  

3. Place the apple slices cut side facing up onto a flat chopping board or plate. 

4. Spread the top of each slice with peanut butter. 

5. Sprinkle the assorted toppings on top of the peanut butter. 

6. Serve the apple ‘donuts’ immediately and enjoy!

Banana Oat Cookies 

These soft and chewy banana oat cookies make a wholesome school snack for kids that’s naturally sweet and satisfying. Made with just four simple ingredients, they’re perfect for keeping little tummies happy between classes or during recess. You can swap the chocolate chips for chopped dark chocolate, almonds or walnuts for a fun twist, a tasty, fuss-free treat kids will love finding in their lunchbox.

Type: Vegetarian, Contains Nuts, Snacks, Kid Friendly

Makes 15 cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes 

Ingredients

• 2 large overripe bananas
• ½ cup natural 100% peanut butter
• 1 cup rolled oats
• ¼ cup dark chocolate chips 

Recipe

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. 

2. Add the bananas to a mixing bowl and use a fork to mash. 

3. Add in the peanut butter and oats and mix well to combine. Leave the mixture to sit for 5 minutes to allow it to thicken.

4. Scoop tablespoons of the mixture onto the prepared baking trays. Use a spoon to flatten and shape the mixture into a rough circle.

5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the cookies. 

6. Place the cookies into the oven and bake for 15 minutes, until set and slightly golden. 

7. Allow to cool on the baking trays, then enjoy.

Summing Up

When it comes to school snacks for kids, a little planning goes a long way. Choosing snacks made from real, nourishing ingredients helps keep kids energised, focused and ready to learn, all while teaching healthy habits that can last a lifetime. From fruity bites to savoury muffins and chewy oat bars, these easy ideas prove that lunchbox snacks can be both fun and wholesome.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our other lunchbox-friendly ideas like Nutritious Lunchbox Meals for even more delicious, stress-free options.

Stay informed with fresh tips, expert guidance, unique deals, and tailored support!

Click Here

Meet Dr Nick Fuller

My Story

As a father, I know first-hand that raising healthy and happy children is tricky. Children are fussy, particularly at the end of the day when they are shattered. We also live in a society where companies seek to profit from what we feed our kids; incorrect and damaging advice is pushed on us and marketed towards our children, and we have no time.

But with these recipes and resources, you and your children can enjoy simple and well-founded food and lifestyle choices for lifelong health.