The Best Hiking Snacks for Kids: 82 Tasty Ideas to Try in 2025
Discover the best hiking snacks for kids that provide lasting energy. From toddlers to teens, find the perfect portable snacks for your next family adventure.
Last Updated on 16 August 2025
Note: The below information is what works for us on our hikes. Do what works best for you, making sure to take into account any allergies you or your children have.
As a parent who’s navigated countless hiking adventures with my kids, I’ve learned to take snacks when we head out on our trips. There were a few times, in the early days, when I forgot to bring snacks, and a repeat just wasn’t worth it!
Bringing the best hiking snacks for kids can be the difference between a successful family adventure and an early retreat before your hike has even begun. And no one wants that!
In this guide, I’ll share the ultimate collection of kid-approved hiking snacks for children that have worked with my kids, keeping them happy, energised, and ready for the trails that await them.
Let’s read on to find out more!
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Why Choosing the Best Hiking Snacks for Kids Matters
Children can burn up to 200 calories an hour hiking or running outside, meaning playing outside during the day can see them burn around 800 calories.
According to figures from the American Heart Foundation, children aged between 1-3 need to consume 900 to 1,000 calories a day. It’s recommended that girls aged from 4-18 should eat between 1,200 and 1,800 calories a day, while for boys the same age, it’s 1,400 to 2,200.
With young children burning so many calories an hour when they’re active and their stomachs being smaller, they need constant refuelling to keep their energy levels high. The best hiking snacks for kids should combine complex carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, fibre, minerals, vitamins, and water for a steady energy release.
What Makes the Perfect Hiking Snacks for Kids?
After years of trial and error, I’ve developed a “snack checklist” for our family adventure.Â
Here’s our go-to list for our kids’ hiking snacks:
Top 10 Energy-Boosting Hiking Snacks for Active Kids
- Chocolate Chip Energy Balls
- Custom Trail Mix
- Homemade Flapjacks
- Apple Slices with Almond Butter Packets
- Cheese and Crackers Combo
- Dried Banana Chips
- Sliced Carrot Sticks and Houmous
- Roasted Chickpeas
- Nut-Free Energy Bars
- Frozen Grapes
My eldest daughter loves dried banana chips and mini marshmallows, whereas my youngest has a fondness for sliced carrot sticks and houmous!
Quick and Easy Hiking Snacks for Toddlers
Hiking with toddlers snacks requires special consideration, requiring soft, safe options for little mouths.
Here are some of the things we’ve taken on our hikes:
- Mini rice cakes
- Soft fruit pouches
- Individual cheese triangles
- Banana pieces
- Soft breadsticks
- Mini cheese cubes
- Puffed corn snacks
- Apple slices
- Mini crackers
- Dried apple rings
- Rice puffs
- Mini oat biscuits
- Mini pretzels
Safe, Choking-Hazard-Free Options
- Quartered grapes
- Soft cheese portions
- Large rice cakes
- Banana slices
- Mini muffins
- Cooked pasta shapes
- Soft crackers
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Satisfying Snacks for School-Age Hikers (5-12 Years)
School-age kids are great hiking companions who like more adventurous flavours. This is the sweet spot where you can start having fun with portable kids snacks and introduce new tastes.
Here’s what we bring for our eldest, who’s quite experimental with her food:
- Mini pretzels with houmous pots
- Cheese and pickle sandwiches
- Mild salami with crackers
- Trail mix with wasabi peas
- Mature cheddar with oatcakes
- Apple slices with almond butter
- Mini cheese and crackers combo
- Mini boxes of raisins
- Cheese strings
- Individual trail mix portions
- Wholemeal wraps
For longer hikes, the best hiking snacks for kids at this age work best when they provide steady fuel for extended adventures.
- Homemade flapjacks with nuts and seeds
- Cream cheese and ham wraps
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Peanut butter sandwiches
- Mixed nuts and dried fruit
- Mini meat pies
- Cheese and apple slices
- Homemade granola bars
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Fuel for Teen Hikers
While it varies as to how many calories teenagers burn in an hour, a rough estimate is between 300-600. With so many calories burned, kids’ hiking fuel for this age group needs to be substantial and appealing.
My kids have yet to reach their teenage years; however, we have friends with older children who’ve joined us on hikes before. This is what they bring with them:
- Protein-packed wraps, such as chicken, cheese, and avocado combinationsÂ
- Peanut butter and banana sandwiches (a definite favourite)
- Trail mix with chocolate
- Mini meat pies or pasties
- Cheese and crackers plus salami
- Granola with dried fruit
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Bagels with cream cheese
- Protein smoothie bottles
- Sushi rolls
- Avocado and crackers
Seasonal Snack Strategies for Year-Round Hiking
Living in the UK means experiencing all four seasons, and sometimes all in one day!
My seasonal snack strategy has changed over the years, mainly through making every possible mistake you can imagine. From chocolate that turned messy during a July hike in the Peak District, to needing filling food over the colder winter months.
Summer Hiking Snacks for Children
- Cucumber and cream cheese wraps
- Watermelon cubes
- Frozen fruit pouches
- Rice cakes with houmous
- Coconut water
- Trail mix
- Cheese strings
Winter Warming Energy Snacks for Hiking
- Hot chocolate in thermos flasks
- Warm soup in insulated containers
- High-fat energy bars
- Nuts and seeds mix
- Warm porridge in wide-mouth flasks
- Cheese and crackers
- Homemade flapjacks
I learned about the importance of warm foods during a cold February hike in the Cairngorms. Even though I had packed healthy hiking snacks, my youngest was cold and miserable until I produced her favourite flask of warm soup. One minute she was an unhappy child, and the next she was chatty and energetic. Now I always pack at least one warm option for winter adventures. For myself, I love a hot cup of tea in a flask.
Spring and Autumn Hiking Snacks
Here are some snacks we take with us during the spring and autumn, as they tend to last a bit longer:
- Individual portion wraps
- Mixed nuts and dried fruit
- Apple slices with nut butter
- Homemade granola bars
- Cheese and crackers
- Trail mix variations
- Mini rice cakes
- Banana chips
I also keep a few emergency backup snacks in my backpack, such as mini chocolate bars, mini boxes of raisins, banana chips, and dried dates. I keep these in a separate part of my backpack that’s easily accessible. They aren’t part of the main snacks and are only for use as a backup, or if we’ve run out of food.
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Rehydration Options
While my kids will drink water, I see more fluid consumption when their water is flavoured. Here’s how we make the water more appealing for them:
- Fresh fruit slices, such as lemon, lime, orange, or cucumber added to water bottles
- Frozen berries
- Mint leaves
- Fruit ice cubes
- Coconut water
- Diluted pure fruit juice, 1 part juice to 4 parts water
- Fresh ginger slices
Water requirements: As a general rule, adults should drink around 8 cups or 8 litres of water a day; however, they need to consume more during physical activities such as hiking to replenish lost fluid through sweating. For children, hydration levels are similar to adults, but this will vary depending on the age, size, and activity they’re doing. As a rule of thumb, during physical activity, children should drink 4-6 ounces of water every 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hiking Snacks for Kids
Choosing the best hiking snacks for kids is the way forward if you want to create enjoyable outdoor experiences that will last a lifetime. From energy-packed kids trail mix to mess-free snacks for little ones, the right snacks transform challenging hikes into adventures children want to repeat.
Remember, every child is different. Experiment with these healthy trail snacks and find what works for your family. Start with tried-and-tested options, gradually introduce new flavours, and always pack backup plans. The key is preparation, variety, and understanding your children’s individual needs.
Ready to plan your next family hiking adventure? These best hiking snacks for kids strategies will transform your outdoor experiences, keeping everyone happy, energised, and eager for the next trail adventure!
For more outdoor inspiration, check out our related guides:
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- Here’s the Best Family Camping Gear You Need in 2025
- The Best Guide to Rainy Day Camping Activities for Kids in 2025
Happy hiking!
Have you found this best hiking snacks for kids guide useful? What do you take on your hikes? What works best for your family? Is there anything we should add to our list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
