Healthy Camping Snacks for Toddlers

This autumn, our little family has been packing up the car and going on many-an-excellent-family-adventure. We have been taking advantage of the lingering fall sunshine, the dry conditions, the smaller crowds and the lifted fire bans. Nothing speaks comfort to a campsite quite like a campfire can.

If our kids were to write this list, they would most likely share the one item I’m guessing most North American kids would say is the best camping snack for the last 4+ decades – S’mores! But you’ll notice we titled this post ‘Healthy Camping Snacks’, so we’ll go beyond the classic marshmallow and graham cracker gooeyness to share some other tasty – yet nutritious – snacks that you’re kids will be lining up and asking for s’more.

Camping with toddlers is an adventure in itself, but finding the right snacks can make the trip much smoother. Believe you me. Whether you’re hiking, exploring nature, or setting up camp, healthy snacks are a must to keep your little ones energized and happy.

In this guide, we’ll share some of our favorite toddler-friendly snacks that are easy to prep at home or on-site, good for fussy eaters, and emphasize reusable packaging to help minimize waste.

Easy, Nutritious, and Earth Friendly

When you’re out in nature, it’s important to stay mindful of your environmental impact. Opting for healthy snacks helps keep your toddler nourished, while reusable packaging and minimal waste contribute to a cleaner, pack out what you pack in – more sustainable camping experience. Here are some ideas to keep your camping trips fun, delicious, and eco-friendly.

Prep-at-Home Healthy Camping Snacks for Toddlers

Homemade No-Bake Brownie Bites

Simple, 7 ingredient, quick n’ easy to whip-up, delicious and oh so nutritious miracle balls! I’ve been making these puppies for nearly 10 years! Inspired by the Minimalist Baker, these are our go-to. They are refined sugar free, taste just like an indulgent chocolate brownie, are rich in Omega 3’s and antioxidants. You’re kids will have no idea how good these actually are – for their health.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Pack: In a reusable zip-loc or silicone bag or stainless steel or glass container.
• Zero Waste Tip: Buy ingredients in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
• Makes: Approx 14 balls

Recipe:

• 1 ¼ cup medjool dates (~14 dates, measured after pitting // if dry, soak in warm water for 15 minutes, then drain and pat dry)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder plus more for rolling (or sub carob for chocolate-free / caffeine-free)
• 3 Tbsp hemp seeds
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped raw walnuts
• 1 ½ Tbsp almond butter (creamy salted // or sub other nut or seed butter of choice)
• 1 pinch sea salt (use more or less depending on saltiness of nut butter)
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. To a food processor (or high quality blender) add pitted dates, cocoa, hemp seeds, walnuts, almond butter (or other nut/seed butter), salt, and vanilla. Note: If you don’t have a food processor, you can try using a blender, but dates can be tough for blenders due to their sticky nature, so use a low speed if possible and pulse instead of blending.
2. Pulse until the mixture is well blended and starts to clump together (~30 seconds – 1 minute). If it’s too dry or crumbly and it doesn’t stick together when pressed between two fingers, add more nut butter or pitted dates (just ensure your dates are sticky and fresh, or it will only further dry out the mixture.)
3. With an ice-cream scoop, scoop out 1 ½ Tbsp amounts and gently roll into balls.
4. Enjoy immediately as is, or roll in extra cocoa, cacao, or carob powder for an extra chocolaty exterior. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer up to 1 month (often longer). Let come close to room temperature before enjoying for best texture.

Tip: I often double the recipe, and divide it into 2, creating different flavours. One of my go-to’s is Mint chip, which I make by adding about a teaspoon of peppermint extract with small chocolate chips. I’ve also tried adding orange extract with candied orange peel, chocolate chips with candied ginger, and almond extract with slivered almonds, and rose extract with rose petals (but not for the kids, they seem to like the mint-chip along with the OG recipe).

Homemade No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Bites

Food in ball form is easy, and seems to be the perfect, bite-sized snack for toddlers, so here’s another for our list! Made with more simple ingredients like oats, nut butter, and a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup, they provide a healthy dose of energy. You can add whatever you like such as chia seeds, chocolate chips, dried fruits, flaxseeds or protein powder for an extra nutritional boost.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Pack: In a reusable zip-loc or silicone bag or stainless steel or glass container.
• Zero Waste Tip: Buy ingredients in bulk to reduce packaging waste.
• Makes: approx 30 oat balls

Recipe:

• 2 + 3/4 cups rolled oats or quick oats
• 1 + 1/4 cup natural peanut, almond butter or other nut butter
• 3/4 cup honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup flaxseed, hemp hearts and/or chia seeds
• Optional: 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and/or dried fruit

Instructions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl

2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

3. With an ice cream, cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop n’ roll into small ball and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

4. Refrigerate until ready to eat or freeze before packing them for your adventure!

These stay fresh for up to a week or 6 months in the freezer.

Tip: You can also blend the oats into an oat flour to make them more smooth for fussy eaters, you may just have to adjust the wet ingredients, adding a little more peanut butter until they stick and form easily.

Veggie Sticks with Hummus

Veggie sticks are a classic camping snack, and when paired with hummus, they become a nutrient-packed treat. Slice up carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers and/or celery at home and store them in a reusable container.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Pack: Veggies in a beeswax wrap or silicone bag; hummus in a small reusable container.
• Zero Waste Tip: Opt for homemade hummus and store in glass or stainless steel containers.

Recipe:

• 1 can chickpeas
• 2 tbsp tahini
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt to taste

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Store in a reusable container and refrigerate until you’re ready to hit the road. We omit the usual cumin (and any other spices) in this recipe to keep it simple for the simple palette of a toddler.

Apple Chips

We have been blessed with a yard full of apple trees. This year we’re experimenting with what to do with all the not-so-perfect to the picky-toddler-eye fall harvest. Our kids seem to love the idea of the apple chip, whether store bought or made at home. If like us, you find yourself with an abundance of apples, take a peak at this recipe for details on the types of apples to use along with the process.

Fruit Leather

Homemade fruit leather is another fun way to use up our funny lookin’ apples, plus it’s a healthy snack that most toddlers love. You can make it using just fruit and a little water, without any added sugar. It’s also a great way to minimize food waste by using up overripe and funky fruit.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 4-6 hours drying time)
• Pack: Cut into strips and wrap in parchment paper, stored in a reusable container.
• Zero Waste Tip: Use locally sourced, seasonal fruits when possible.

Recipe:

• 2 cups pureed fruit (apples, strawberries, or peaches work great)
• 1-2 tbsp water

Spread the pureed fruit thinly on a baking sheet and bake at the lowest oven temperature (or use a food dehydrator) until fully dried. Once done, cut into strips and wrap in parchment.

Mini Sandwiches with Whole Grain Bread

Mini sandwiches are great for a more filling snack. You can make them ahead of time using whole grain bread and your toddler’s favorite fillings like mashed avocado, hummus, or natural peanut butter. Cut them into toddler-friendly pieces and store them in reusable containers.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Pack: In a reusable sandwich wrap or beeswax wrap.
• Zero Waste Tip: Use bread from a local bakery to avoid plastic packaging

Easy-to-Prep Campfire Snacks

Campfire Banana Boats

Banana boats are a fun and delicious snack that can be customized with your toddler’s favorite toppings. They’re also great for minimal waste as bananas come with their own biodegradable packaging!

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Zero Waste Tip: Use toppings like organic dark chocolate, dried fruit, or nuts from bulk stores.

Recipe:

• 1 banana (per toddler)
• Dark chocolate chips or nut butter
• Optional: Chia seeds, crushed nuts, dried fruit

Slice the banana lengthwise, leaving the peel on. Stuff with chocolate chips or nut butter and wrap in foil. Heat over the campfire until melted and gooey.

Popcorn Over the Fire

Anyone remember Jiffy-Pop? Believe it or not, it’s still around and can be found on many grocery store’s shelves. We like to make our own much healthier DIY jiffy-pop to eliminate waste and for the clean simple ingredients. Popcorn is a fun and interactive snack that all toddlers seem to love. It can be made right over the campfire, all you need is some kernels and a lightweight, camp-friendly popper (or an old-fashioned pot with a lid).

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Zero Waste Tip: Buy kernels in bulk and use a reusable container to store them.

Recipe:

• 1/4 cup popcorn kernels
• 1 tbsp olive or coconut oil

Heat the oil in the pan over the fire, add the kernels, and cover. Shake until popped, and then sprinkle with a little salt or nutritional yeast for a healthy topping.

Easy-to-Prep Camp Snacks

Smorgasboard

Our kids love healthy snacks especially when we arrange them on small cutting boards or plates and call them Smorgasboardey’s. Use whatever you have on hand, and arrange it just so. Have fun, get creative and enjoy! We often use sliced cheese, nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, crackers, hummus and veg, pretty much everything we have here on this list!

Fresh Fruit and Nut Butter

Fresh fruit like apples, pears, or bananas paired with nut butter is a super simple snack that requires no prep and is packed with nutrients.

• Prep Time: None
• Zero Waste Tip: Bring reusable containers for the nut butter and compost the fruit cores when possible.

DIY Trail Mix

Create your own healthy trail mix with a blend of nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and even a few dark chocolate chips. This snack is easy to pack and perfect for on-the-go energy.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes (at home or at camp)
• Pack: In a reusable silicone bag or small jar.
• Zero Waste Tip: Purchase all ingredients in bulk to avoid plastic packaging.

Reusable Packaging Ideas for Camping

To stay eco-friendly on your adventures, consider packing your snacks in reusable containers. Here are some of our favorite sustainable packaging options:

• Silicone Food Storage Bags: Perfect for storing veggies, fruits, or sandwiches. These durable bags are great for on-the-go snacking and easy to clean.
• Stainless Steel Containers: Ideal for storing dips, spreads, and prepared snacks like energy bites or hummus. They’re lightweight, durable, and plastic-free.
• Glass Re-useable Containers: Not as lightweight as the silicone bag or Stainless steel, but still great if it’s what you have and if you’re car camping and weight doesn’t matter.
• Beeswax Wraps: A sustainable alternative to plastic wrap, perfect for wrapping sandwiches, fruits, or veggie sticks.
• Mason Jars: Great for dry snacks like trail mix, fruit leather, or popcorn kernels. Mason jars are reusable and keep your snacks fresh.

Final Thoughts

We ain’t perfect, that’s for sure. While we have these recipes as an outline, they are just a suggestion. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do and that may be buying a store-bought bag of chips and granola bars. If packing up the gear while keeping your toddlers entertained, weren’t enough of a chore, try making all your snacks and food from scratch. Something I can admit we have not done, on any of our trips.

As our kids have gotten older, and as we’re getting more seasoned on camping and packing for the whole family, we have found more space to do a little bit more with each trip. Providing healthy camping snacks for toddlers doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little planning and a focus on reusable packaging, we enjoy and do our part to preserve the great outdoors while keeping our little ones happy and nourished.

So pack up yur’ gear, prep some delicious snacks, and get ready for an excellent adventure your whole family will soon never forget! And perhaps, create campfire memories with good ol’ marshmallows. Everything in balance.