With many daycares, preschools, and schools requiring peanut-free snacks (and some even tree-nut-free snacks), this list of options is here to help. I have ideas to buy from the store and to make at home so you never run out of yummy, nutritious snacks to pack for the kids.

peanut-free snacks on countertop

Peanut-Free Snacks

One of the first things we learn when starting at a new school or daycare is which snacks we can and cannot send. I’m always looking for an easy-to-reference list of kid-friendly snacks that are nutritious, easy to find, and foods my kids actually liked.

Often, the lists that came home included a lot of candy. No shame to candy, but that wasn’t exactly what I was looking for when trying to pack a snack to help my little stay full until mealtime. These ideas are here to help.

Easy Snacks for School

Whether you need snacks for daycare, preschool snacks, to go with camp lunches, or regular school, the ideas here check all of the boxes. I’ve included options for crackers, pretzels, puffs, snack bars, dairy-based snacks (like yogurt and cheese), fruit-based snacks, and a few homemade snack options.

The majority of these are available at any grocery store, though I’m also including links in case you prefer to order online.

(You may also like after school snacks, easy healthy snacks, and road trip snacks.)

Table of Contents

Labels to Look For

To verify that the snack is nut-free, keep an eye out for phrases like “May Contain Peanut or Tree Nuts,” “Manufactured in a plant with peanut or tree nuts,” “Contains Peanut or Tree Nut Ingredients.”

If your child has a life-threatening food allergy, BE SURE to double check all package labels as they may change from the time of publishing this post.

TIP: If you need to avoid coconut, be sure to look for that on the label, too.

nut-free crackers, pretzels and puffs in grid of 6

Crackers, Pretzels, and Puffs

Here are a few of our favorite crunchy snack options to pack for snack.

nut-free snack bars in grid of 6

Snack Bars and Bites

These bars and bites are all great options for kids snacks. Add milk or cheese to make any of these a little more filling if needed.

nut-free yogurt, milk, and cheese in grid of 6

Yogurt, Cheese, and Milks

If you have a kiddo who can’t do dairy, look for a non-dairy equivalent. There are so many great options now.

  • Yogurt tubes (like Siggis, GoGurt, and more)
  • Yogurt pouches (such as one from Stonyfield and Trader Joe’s)
  • Cheese sticks (Horizon Organic, Crystal Farms, Kraft, Organic Valley, Sargento, Sorrento, Land O Lakes, Tilamook, etc.)
  • Babybel
  • Laughing Cow
  • Milk box (Horizon, local dairy brands)
  • Nondairy milk box (Ripple)
  • Chocolate milk box
  • Yogurt Melts
  • Moon Cheese
nut-free fruit snacks in grid of 6

Fruit Snacks

Sure, processed fruit snacks aren’t the same as fresh fruit, but they are a convenient and easy option to pack as a snack. And they deliver a lot of nutrients, so they are a handy option to have in the mix.

nut-free homemade snacks in grid of 6

Peanut-Free Homemade Snacks

Here are some options of snacks to make at home and pack and send. These are all easy and don’t have nuts. (For the first Granola Bars recipe, use sunflower seed butter!).

Easy Homemade Granola Bars
We like to have these granola bars as a snack or toddler breakfast with milk or a smoothie—and they're an excellent lunch box component too. You can make them plain or choose a flavor to add!
Easy Homemade Granola Bars
stack-of-homemade-granola-bars
Granola Bites (No-Bake, 3-Ingredients)
A crispy dry granola, like this cinnamon flavor from Kind, works best in this recipe.
Granola Bites (No-Bake, 3-Ingredients)
granola bites in reusable bag
Easy Cheese Crackers Recipe
Mix up this easy-to-work-with cracker dough, then let the kids help roll and cut their way to the yummiest homemade cheese crackers recipe. These crackers have whole grains and a delightfully crisp texture. So good!
Easy Cheese Crackers Recipe
cheese-crackers-on-white-plates
Favorite Yogurt Muffins
This is an epic of a basic muffin recipe that you can then add flavor to in all sorts of ways—from fruit to veggies to chocolate chips. The batter is packed with protein too, so the muffins are great for breakfast or snack. (The allergy-friendly substitutions are listed in the Notes section at the bottom.)
Favorite Yogurt Muffins
yogurt-muffins-in-flavors-on-countertop
Healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins
Loaded with whole grains and protein, these healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins are a really great standard recipe to turn to whenever you're in the mood!
Healthy Chocolate Chip Muffins
chocolate-chip-muffins-on-white-plate
Favorite Applesauce Muffins
Perfectly spiced and just sweet enough, these Applesauce Muffins are a yummy breakfast or snack. We like these on their own, topped with nut or seed butter, or even with a smear of cream cheese. See what your littles like!
Favorite Applesauce Muffins
mini applesauce muffins on pink plate
Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana
These healthy spinach muffins taste like a delicious banana muffin, but with the added nutrition of a big handful of spinach. These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge or freezer to serve.
Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana
spinach banana muffins on pink plate
Lower Sugar Banana Bread (SO Good!)
Be sure to use super ripe bananas—the more black and brown spots, the better the flavor and sweetness will be!—for the best results here. Adapted from The Salty Marshmallow
Lower Sugar Banana Bread (SO Good!)
baked-lower-sugar-banana-bread
Easy Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt
Learn how to make the best fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt with all kinds of fruit flavors—and with less sugar and for less money than buying it at the store. Scale this up or down according to how many servings you're planning to make. The directions here are for one small toddler-size serving.
Easy Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt
fruit-on-the-bottom-yogurt-in-containers
Easy Fruit Cups
Transform diced fruit into delicious homemade fruit cups that rival store-bought in terms of flavor and cost. You can make more cups or less, according to your preference.
Easy Fruit Cups
homemade-fruit-cups-in-glass-jars
Soft Roasted Chickpeas with Cinnamon
This roasted chickpeas recipe is an easy and delicious way to add nutrition to your toddler’s diet. If you start with dried beans in this salty-sweet snack, make sure to cook them until they are very tender. If making these for a kiddo under one, use maple syrup instead of honey or skip the sweetener altogether.
Soft Roasted Chickpeas with Cinnamon
roasted chickpea recipe

TIP: You can see all of my Nut-free Recipes. Variations are often in the Notes section at the end of the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some snacks that are peanut-free?

Made Good and Enjoy Life brands make snacks that are free from the top allergens. You can also look at fruit snacks, freeze-dried fruit, cheese sticks, pouches, and puffs as options.

What snacks are peanut and tree-nut-free?

Made Good and Enjoy Life brands make snacks that are free from both peanuts and tree nuts. You can also consider fresh fruit including apples, bananas, and clementines as easy options. And cheese products like cheese sticks, milk, and yogurt.

Always read the package for specifics on each product.

Best Tips for Success

  • Check all packaging for the specific labeling you need for your child to ensure peanut-free snacks.
  • Double-check with your childcare facility, school, or organization for the requirements for peanut-free snacks or tree nut-free snacks since they do vary considerably.
  • Try to include a fat and/or a protein to help your child stay full until the next eating opportunity.

I’d love to know if you have a nut-free snack to add to my list, so please comment below to share!

This post was first published July 2021.

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  2. Hi! Just wanted to let you know, Ritz cheese crackers have a “contains peanuts” warning on them. They are not allergy friendly

    Reply

  3. Thank you for the big list! Here are some more ideas: popcorn, enjoy life seed & fruit mix (trail mix made with seeds instead of nuts), yogurt with cereal as a topping to add (example kix), raisins, biena chickpea snacks (my kid likes the honey roasted flavor), simple truth organic sprouted raisin bread (frozen) – I toast it & add sunbutter, whisps (baked cheese bites), even when prepackaged is requested our school also allows whole fruit banana, apple, cuties. I also found a brand called Zee-zee’s on Amazon I’m about to try. Particularly excited for the sunflower seeds! Their packages are cute and would make a good birthday treat to share with classmates.

    Reply

    1. Oh yes, they are peanut-free (they do have coconut). I added them, thank you for the reminder!

      Reply