15 Gluten Free Snacks for Kids (Adult Approved Too!)

These gluten-free snacks for kids are easy, healthy, tasty, and made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Perfect for staving off “hangry” after-school tummies, they’re kid-friendly and parent-approved, too!

Before I share the recipes with you, let’s talk about guidelines for choosing and preparing healthy gluten-free snacks for kids that will fuel their after-school activities, without ruining their appetite for dinner.

Limit Processed Foods

Whole foods tend to be the most nutritious, but it is okay to choose a few convenience foods you can trust. We know it’s not realistic to make everything from scratch! For example, it is great to keep hummus, nut or seed butter without added oils and sugars, low-added-sugar yogurt, or crackers (I always keep these Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers on hand.)

Include a Fruit or Veggie

Snack time is a great opportunity to present fruits and veggies in different ways. Fruit isn’t just for breakfast, and veggies shouldn’t only be served with dinner. Try a fruit salad, a fruit parfait, a fruit smoothie, veggies with dip, or experiment with veggies cut into different shapes or cooked versus raw.

Keep Added Sugar Low

A little sugar is appropriate to enhance flavor and encourage a positive outlook on food and food choices without restriction. But a high sugar snack will give your kids a quick burst of energy and lead to a crash shortly after. 

Make It Last Until Dinner

Include a source of fiber, protein, or fat to increase satiety and help them feel satisfied until dinner. Fiber, protein, and fat take longer to digest than simple carbs and can help prevent energy crashes. 

Choose Certified Gluten Free Ingredients If Needed

If your child needs to follow a strict gluten-free diet for celiac disease, make sure the ingredients you choose are truly gluten-free.

Although there are many whole grains that are naturally gluten-free, cross-contamination with gluten-containing grains is always a possibility. This applies to pulses (e.g., lentils, chickpeas) as well as nuts and seeds.

While products labeled “gluten-free” should contain less than 20 ppm of gluten, some have been found to contain gluten. If you are unsure about a product, Gluten Free Watchdog is an excellent website for checking whether it is truly gluten-free.

Gluten-Free Snacks for Kids

1. CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE CHERRY SMOOTHIE

This Chocolate Cheesecake Cherry Smoothie is packed with protein~perfect for a healthy breakfast or post-workout snack! Made with only 5 ingredients and super easy to make, it’s a healthy, delicious grab-and-go meal or after-school snack.

2. GLUTEN FREE SNACKS FOR KIDS | AIR FRYER FALAFEL W/ HOMEMADE TZATZIKI

Enjoy a batch of easy Air Fryer Falafel topped with tangy homemade Tzatziki Sauce. Or add to a gluten-free pita for a tasty, handheld snack!

3. AMAZINGLY ADDICTIVE ARTICHOKE SQUARES

These Cheesy Artichoke Squares are gluten-free, vegetarian, and absolutely delicious! (And an all-time reader favorite recipe on The Spicy RD.) Make a batch ahead of time. They store well in the fridge for a few days, or even longer in the freezer-just reheat and eat when you’re ready for a nourishing snack-I promise you, everyone will devour them!

4. EASY GLUTEN-FREE SNACK | BANANAS FOSTER PARFAIT

This Banana Fosters Yogurt Parfait was a favorite of both my kids for breakfast or an after-school snack. It features lightly sweetened pan-sautéed banana slices on top of Greek yogurt, plus a yummy cinnamon/walnut/flaxseed topping. You’d never guess it, but the sauteed bananas take this to a new level of deliciousness!

5. ZUCCHINI PIZZA BOATS

These Zucchini Pizza Boats from My Millennial Kitchen are as easy as they come. Four ingredients, 5-minute prep time, and cooked in 15 minutes. You get a nourishing, delicious, and SUPER easy gluten-free snack that’s kid-friendly and parent-approved!

6. ENERGY BITES WITH APRICOTS, CASHEWS, & COCONUT

These Healthy Energy Bites, lightly sweetened with dates, are a delicious no-bake treat! They’re super quick and easy to make with wholesome ingredients, including apricots, cashews, coconut, citrus zest, and spices. Gluten-free, paleo, and vegan-they’re perfect for anytime you need a quick energy boost!

7. GLUTEN-FREE SNACKS FOR KIDS | SALMON CUCUMBER ROLL UPS

These Salmon Cucumber Roll Ups from Tasting Page are a delicious way to boost your kiddos’ omega-3 intake. Not only are they super easy to make, but they’re also made with a plant-based dill sauce instead of cream cheese, perfect for kids (or adults!) who need to eat gluten-free AND dairy-free.

8. PISTACHIO AND POMEGRANATE FROZEN YOGURT BARK

This colorful and healthier Pistachio and Pomegranate Frozen Yogurt Bark from Recipes from a Pantry is an easy-to-make yogurt snack or dessert that the whole family will love. It needs only 4 common ingredients and a few mins to make. Don’t have pomegranate and pistachios on hand? Swap in your kid’s favorite fruit and nuts for an equally delicious version!

9. GLUTEN FREE SNACKS FOR KIDS | TURKEY ZUCCHINI SWEET POTATO BITES

Looking for the perfect gluten-free snacks for kids? These Turkey Sweet Potato Bites from Frugal Nutrition are delicious and simple! Packed with protein, they’ve also got a dose of belly-filling fiber from the veggies. So delicious!

10. DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE BITES

Have a kid who’s a certified chocolate lover? Make a batch of these gut-healthy (they’d never know it!) Chocolate Brownie Bites featuring cocoa powder AND melted dark chocolate. They also have a secret ingredient rich in resistant starch!

11. GLUTEN FREE SNACKS FOR KIDS | CRISPY BAKED SWEET POTATO WEDGES

When the fry craving hits…Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Wedges to the rescue!!! These salty-sweet thyme-baked sweet potato wedges from Desi-licious RD are full of flavor and super easy to make. You’ll need 10 minutes prep time, then pull ’em out of the oven after baking, and your kids will devour them!

12. HEALTHY CHOCOLATE DIP + FRESH FRUIT

This Healthy Chocolate Fruit Dip from Whole New Mom is just the thing for satisfying your chocolate craving. Great with fruit, or even simply eating off of a spoon. Bonus — it’s low-carb and dairy-free, too, and you can easily make it nut-free if needed. So delicious!

13. GLUTEN FREE SNACKS FOR KIDS | PIZZA ROASTED ALMONDS

It only takes 5 minutes to prep these savory Pizza Roasted Almonds from Vegan Yack Attack. Rich in protein and fiber, a handful of these yummy nuts will hold your kiddos over until dinner time!

14. PALEO CHOCOLATE MUFFINS

These Paleo Chocolate Muffins from The Crowded Table are grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free, and SO delicious! All you need is one bowl and 30 minutes to enjoy these decadent paleo protein muffins. As IF you needed an excuse to eat more chocolate. Ha, ha!

15. SMOKY SPICED CHILI LIME POPCORN

Fair warning. You may become ever so slightly obsessed with this Smoky Spiced Chili Lime Popcorn. But that’s ok, because as far as healthy snack cravings go, this one is 100% Spicy RD approved! Go easy on the red cayenne pepper if your kids aren’t into heat, or crank it up a notch if they are. So easy and delicious!

Let’s Chat! What are your favorite easy gluten-free snacks? Which of these recipes do you want to try first?