45 Easy Snacks for a Toddler Birthday Party

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This list of finger foods for a toddler birthday party has everything from salty, to sweet, to healthy snacks. Check out this list of mess-free foods that the kids will love.

Ok let’s be real, toddler birthday parties are tricky to plan food for! Here are my top suggestions for party snacks that will satisfy the kiddos.

When planning snacks for toddlers, here are some things I like to keep in mind:

  • Portion Sizes/How much can they realistically eat? Mini sizes are a yes!
  • Beware of super strong flavors – garlic, dark chocolate, spice, etc.
  • What are they picky about? – What aren’t they picky about might be a better question, haha!
  • Messiness level – The less mess the better.
  • Be mindful of choking hazards – We don’t want our little ones getting hurt during the party.

Toddlers are so fun, but they can definitely be a handful. Meals can become stressful when everyone is hungry and wants something different. Add a spread of any number of the following items to your toddler’s gathering, and you are sure to have smiling kids. These food items are super easy to prep and hit the spot!

A toddler sitting at the table of brightly colored toddler birthday party. He is smiling and very happy because there are great options for finger foods at the toddler birthday party.

FAQs About Finger Foods

  • What makes great finger food? 
    • Great finger foods are generally small, bite-size portions. They can be eaten without creating too much mess and can be easily transported.
    • The perfect finger food can also be served in individual cups. Plastic or paper cups are such a good idea for a really fun way to serve food to toddlers! Pre-portioning several different foods is also a great way to offer options for a variety of tastes. This is especially important when serving toddlers!
  • Can I serve other foods too? 
    • Of course! Although finger foods tend to work well for toddler parties, since little kids eat smaller portions.
  • What are some great finger foods that are also very affordable for toddlers?
    • Things like popcorn, hot dogs, pretzels, and marshmallows are great options for little hands. Other items such as in season fresh fruit and veggie cups are also tasty options for a toddler’s birthday party!
    • If you want to take it up a notch, consider mini burgers or spring rolls. Each of these is a great option, especially if you’ll be having little guests AND their parents! These are also still very affordable…you know, because they’re mini sizes!

Benefits to Serving Finger Foods at a Toddler Birthday Party

Here are some of the top reasons you will love having these items on your child’s birthday party menu. 

  • Lots of Variety – You can have lots of options, which is great for fussy eaters. 
  • Quick to Prep – Most finger foods take very little time to prepare. 
  • Low Cost – You can control what kind of foods you serve and how much. Less expensive foods = less expensive party 
  • Great for Allergies – If your child or one of their friends has a food allergy or intolerance, it’s easy to accommodate them with a variety of finger foods. 
  • Less Waste – With finger foods, it’s easier to serve children the amount they will actually eat.
  • Very Customizable – Finger foods are easy to tailor to a particular party theme. You can cut some foods into cute shapes using cookie cutters! 
  • Less mess – Most of the items on this list are not very messy. I tried to avoid most foods that would drip, spill, or be sticky. But I mean, you’ve got to have cake and ice cream!

Healthy Party Snacks for Kids

Giving our kids healthy food makes us feel like a good parent. So, it’s natural that you’d want to include some fresh produce or natural food items at your party. 

These are healthy finger foods that you can serve at the party and feel great about.

  1. Applesauce
  2. Apple slices with caramel or peanut butter
  3. Bananas
  4. Fruit and dip
  5. Carrots with ranch dressing
  6. Cheese and crackers
  7. Cheerios
  8. Cheese sticks
  9. Cucumbers
  10. Cut up melon
  11. Grapes
  12. Yogurt
  13. Lunch meat and cheese pinwheels
  14. Mini PB&J sandwiches
  15. Veggie cups
Different types of veggies in individual cups, pre-portioned and in bite sized pieces for easy serving at a toddler birthday party.

Savory Party Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Here are some great options:

  1. Chex Mix
  2. Cheezits
  3. Chicken nuggets
  4. Chips
  5. Fries/Potato wedges
  6. Goldfish
  7. Hot dog bites
  8. Fried mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce
  9. Pigs in a blanket
  10. Pizza Rolls / Bagel Bites
  11. Popcorn
  12. Pretzels
  13. Rice Cakes
  14. Quesadilla triangles
  15. Wheat Thins
Salty and savory finger foods that toddlers would enjoy at a toddler birthday party. There are pieces of popcorn, potato chips, pretzels and pigs in a blanket.

Sweet snack ideas

Of course, it wouldn’t be a real party without something sweet for the kiddos to enjoy!

  1. Animal Crackers
  2. Brownie Bites
  3. Candy
  4. Candy bars (Mini sizes)
  5. Chocolate covered raisins
  6. Cupcakes
  7. Fruit snacks
  8. Graham crackers
  9. Ice cream bar
  10. Jell-O
  11. Marshmallows
  12. Muddy Buddies
  13. Otter popsicles
  14. Pudding Cups
  15. Yogurt Covered Raisins

Want more finger foods? See our list for any party HERE!

Hopefully, this list helps you figure out some fun and tasty toddler party foods to serve at your toddler’s next birthday party! If you have more ideas of foods I missed, leave them in the comments below!

Happy toddlers at a toddler birthday party facing a table with party decorations and lots of finger foods available for them to choose from.

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