45 Easy Snacks for a Toddler Birthday Party

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!

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

Savory Party Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Here are some great options:

16. Chex Mix
17. Cheezits
18. Chicken nuggets
19. Chips
20. Fries/Potato wedges
21. Goldfish
22. Hot dog bites
23. Fried mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce
24. Pigs in a blanket
25. Pizza Rolls / Bagel Bites
26. Popcorn
27. Pretzels
28. Rice Cakes
29. Quesadilla triangles
30. Wheat Thins

Sweet snack ideas

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

31. Animal Crackers
32. Brownie Bites
33. Candy
34. Candy bars (Mini sizes)
35. Chocolate covered raisins
36. Cupcakes
37. Fruit snacks
38. Graham crackers
39. Ice cream bar
40. Jell-O
41. Marshmallows
42. Muddy Buddies
43. Otter popsicles
44. Pudding Cups
45. 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!