9 New Healthy Snacks for Kids

Kids love fruit snacks, but they're usually low in fruit and high in added sugar. Not this brand: Each whimsically named flavor (like cherry-go-around and much-ado-about mango) is made exclusively from fruit. No fruit juice in these snacks!

Made with organic corn and chickpeas, these crunchy chips are packed with fiber and iron. In fact, 11 chips supply more than a quarter of the energy-boosting iron that 4- to 8-year-olds need daily. There are several varieties, but we bet kids will love the "original" flavor paired with salsa or hummus on the side for dipping.

Per 11 chips: 118 calories, 6 g fat (1 g saturated), 79 mg sodium

These aren't your typical pretzels. The puffed shape makes them less dense, so they're lower in calories than traditional rods and twists. Plus, they also have less sodium than many other packaged snacks because the company uses just a sprinkle of flavorful sea salt. You can buy them in a family-size bag, or 100-calorie packs that are great for summer camp lunches and road trips. Make sure to only serve it to kids ages 4 and older—bite-size snacks can be a choking hazard for younger children.

Per 10 squares: 100 calories, 1/2 g fat (o saturated), 205 mg sodium

These sweet and delicious bars have just a single ingredient: dried figs! Each bar supplies about 10 percent of the calcium that 4- to 8-year-olds require daily (Plus they kick in some iron and heart-healthy antioxidants too!).

Per bar: 107 calories, 1/2 g fat (0 g saturated), 5 mg sodium

These crunchy bites are a great way to introduce your kids to a new fruit—the plantain, a variety of banana popular in other parts of the world. Using an Ecuadorian recipe, the company crisps them in vegetable oil and tosses on a little sea salt. The result: a snack that's packed with potassium and vitamins A and C.

Per 15-20 chips: 150 calories, 9 g fat (4 g saturated), 120 mg sodium

Because this brand contains just three ingredients—popcorn, salt, and canola oil—it's way healthier than some of the other popcorns on the market. Make sure to only serve it to kids ages 4 and older—popcorn is a choking hazard for younger children.

Per 3 cups: 140 calories, 8 g fat (1/2 g saturated), 110 mg sodium

The main ingredient in this low-fat, cracker-like snack is bean flour, so it's packed with protein and fiber. It's also a good option for kids who need to follow a gluten-free diet. Your child will likely prefer the sea salt flavor, but grab the cucumber dill chips for your own stash.

Per 22 chips: 110 calories, 3 g fat (0 g saturated), 17o mg sodium

A healthy cheese puff? This version is about as close as you can get—with ingredients like organic cornmeal and real Cheddar cheese. The puffs are baked instead of fried, so they have 65 percent less fat than typical versions. And because it's hard for kids to know when enough is enough, opt for the pre-portioned packs.

Per 3/4 oz. bag: 100 calories, 3 1/2 g fat (1/2 g saturated), 160 mg sodium

Made with nuts, flax, pumpkin seeds, and dried berries, this snack is like eating trail mix in bar form. But unlike most bars that appeal to kids, this one is not overly sweet. Thanks to 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber, it should keep your kid full for a while.

Per bar: 100 calories, 9 g fat (1 g saturated), 10 mg sodium

Copyright © 2010 Meredith Corporation.