Store Bought And Homemade Dairy Free Snacks For Kids

Unfortunately, my toddler has a cow’s milk allergy. She is also a big time snacker. As such, I am always on the lookout for healthy dairy free snacks for kids.

While my toddler constantly changes her mind about what she likes and does not like to eat, here are some of our tried and true dairy free store bought snacks and dairy free homemade snacks.

While some of our homemade snacks require a little prep work, most of them are easy to put together in just a few minutes. And for those days where homemade snacks aren’t on the menu, we keep a cupboard full of mostly healthy packaged store bought snacks.

Please note that I am not a medical professional or nutritionist and that this post is for informational purposes only. I’m a mom and this is what I give my kids, but this list may not be for everyone. Individual questions and concerns regarding allergies and other health concerns should be directed to a doctor.

Homemade Dairy Free Snacks For Kids

Making snacks at home is a great opportunity to teach kids about food prep and making healthy choices. Plus, putting a simple snack together can be a fun activity for young kids and give them a boost in self-confidence and a sense of independence.

So, here are some of our favorite dairy free kids snacks to make at home! 

Homemade Chia Seed Pudding

This homemade chia seed pudding recipe needs to be made a few hours before snack time so the chia seeds can fully hydrate, but it’s so easy to make.

Mash a banana, add some dairy free milk and chia seeds, and stir it all up. I let it sit in the fridge overnight, and it’s ready to go the next day. My kids love it.

Simple Banana Spinach Smoothie

My kids love this incredibly simple spinach with fruit smoothie. With the perfect ratio of spinach, banana, and watered down orange juice, this dairy free smoothie is a kid favorite!

Tropical Broccoli Smoothie

Smoothies are the easiest way to get veggies into a picky eater’s diet.

Broccoli is not typically an ingredient most people would think of when it comes to smoothies, but a broccoli laden smoothie has a unique and fresh taste! This tropical broccoli smoothie is so refreshing with tropical fruits, coconut milk, and broccoli.

White Bean Smoothie

Beans for a kid’s snack? Yep, that’s right. I give my kids beans for snack time in the form of this simple and tasty dairy free white bean smoothie.

Apple Sticks with Almond Butter

Drizzle some almond butter on apple slices or fill a small dish with almond butter for dipping. This simple snack reminds me of caramel apples, especially when we use sweet and juicy Cosmic Crisp apples.  

I usually warm up the almond butter to smooth out the consistency and make it more dippable.

Apple Chips or Apple Slices with Pumpkin Dip

It’s pumpkin season year round in our house with this simple pumpkin dip made with alternative vegan heavy cream. I give my kids fresh sliced apples or Trader Joe’s apple chips to go with this flavorful dip.

Nut Butter and Flax Seed Meal on Banana

Sprinkling a little flax seed meal on a banana with peanut butter is an easy way to get a little nutritional boost during snack time.

Homemade Kale Chips with Nutritional Yeast

Full disclosure, my kids do not particularly like kale chips, YET. I think homemade kale chips are amazing though and I know my kids’ tastes are always changing, so I’m going to keep offering them. Plus, they’re so easy to make at home. I’m still trying to find a perfect kale chip recipe, so I’ll update this post with a link when I find one!

Homemade Granola

This homemade granola recipe that’s grain-free and lightly sweetened with honey is delicious and nutritious. For my two-year-old, I lightly grind any large chunks or nuts, and give this to her as is, or over yogurt, oatmeal, or cream of wheat.

Deviled Eggs

Making deviled eggs is usually more involved than I like, but when I include my kids in the production process it turns into a great afternoon activity. My five-year-old loves being a part of the process, and my 2-year-old even has a good time peeling and mashing hard-boiled eggs. 

Pumpkin Dairy Free Yogurt Parfait

This pumpkin yogurt parfait (make it with a dairy free yogurt for the dairy free version of course) is a hearty homemade snack that takes just a few minutes to put together.

Peanut Butter and Strawberry Dairy Free Yogurt Bowl

The classic peanut butter and berry flavors combo works great as a yogurt bowl! I mix a dollop of peanut butter into plain dairy free cashew or coconut yogurt, and add a bunch of chopped strawberries. 

Tuna Fish and Vegan Cream Cheese on Wheat Thins

My kids love Trader Joe’s Vegan Cream Cheese Alternative spread on wheat thins and topped with tuna fish.

Smoked Salmon or Lox on Crackers

Not all kids will go for smoked salmon or lox, but if they do, they really do! My toddler chows down on smoked salmon with crackers or by itself. 

Trader Joe’s has a great variety of smoked salmon and lox to choose from.

Carrot Raisin Muffins

Muffins do not have to be loaded with butter and sugar to be a tasty treat for kids. My toddler and preschooler eat a whole batch of these carrot raisin muffins made with unsweetened applesauce in a couple of days. Sometimes I add some dairy free chocolate chips to sweeten the pot.

 Jam Spread on Tofu

Jam spread on tofu seemed like an odd idea to me at first, but my kids are big fans of this simple snack.

Fruit Salad

My kids love chopping up fruit with their kid-friendly knives and eating a big old bowl of fresh fruit.

Homemade Apple Granola Bars

These homemade apple oat bars are pretty easy to make and my kids love them. As I try to move away from packaged processed snacks, these homemade bars are a great option.

Tortilla Chips And Guacamole

My picky toddler will not eat plain avocado, but she loves homemade guacamole with tortilla chips. I mash up a ripe avocado and add some salsa to it, and she goes to town.

Crackers With Hummus

Crackers with hummus dip is a simple snack and easy way to add some variety to snack time. I have had to try out a few different flavors of hummus before finding one my toddler loves.

Dairy Free Store Bought Snacks For Kids

More than once I have bought packaged snacks at the store that I assumed were dairy free, only to inspect the label later at home and see “contains milk” at the end of the ingredient list.

Since my toddler has a milk allergy, this makes me so nervous. So I tend to stick to just a few store bought snacks that I know are dairy free.

Lara Bars

I like that dairy free Lara bars do not have a long list of mysterious ingredients. So if I’m going to give my kids store-bought bars, these are among my top choices. 

Turkey Jerky

We always buy the original or teriyaki flavored turkey jerky from Trader Joe’s. While it is a bit high in sodium, I like that my kids get a little protein in and that it’s so packable.

Chomps Beef Sticks

Chomps beef sticks are not my cup of tea, but they offer a nice little dose of protein without a lot of other added ingredients. So, we keep a bag of Chomps on hand to throw in our snack bag for outings.

Mamma Chia Pouches

I stopped buying fruit and veggie pouches for my kids, but I still like to buy Mamma Chia pouches from time to time. They’re available at most big grocery stores.

I like that my kids get some chia seeds into their diet, and pouches are such an easy packable snack. We make homemade chia seed pudding, which my kids also love, but non-refrigerated grab and go snacks are always great to have on hand. 

Unsweetened Dried Fruit

Unsweetened apple chips, mango, cranberries, raisins, dates, and figs are among some of our favorite dried fruits to have on hand when we are out and about. I do not give my kids a ton of dried fruit because of the sugar content, but all things in moderation.  

Dry Cereal Snack Cups

I love these snack cups with lids by WeeSprout to pack dairy free dry cereal as a quick pack and go snack option. I always check the nutrition label on dry cereal boxes to make sure there are no dairy ingredients.

What are some of your favorite dairy free snacks for kids? Would love to hear in the comments below!