Trader Joe’s one of our family’s favorite grocery stores for a reason. Get your groceries, florals, everything you’ll ever need for a cheese board, budget-friendly wine, and the best snacks for kids. Fresh fruit and veggies are my preferred snack options but it’s not always possible to have them on hand, and kids want to have a little fun, too. We don’t always have the time, resources, or energy to prepare homemade snacks, and the Trader Joe’s snack aisle is filled with all kinds of kid-friendly, healthy snacks. It’s easy to get overwhelmed wandering the aisles of Trader Joe’s stores, so I’m sharing a roundup of our favorite TJs kid-approved snacks. 

But how do you possibly choose which Trader Joe’s snacks to buy when the aisles are lined with endless options? Which ones are worth it? Which ones will your kids love? From sunflower seeds to thai lime chips and olive crisps, the snack options are truly endless. Love a cheese puff? Tortilla chips? Dark chocolate peanut butter cups (they’re heavenly)? TJs has you covered.

The Best Trader Joe’s Snacks

I shared my favorites from the beloved grocery chain here. But then I became a mom, and the love went to another level. Trader Joe’s is more than everything but the bagel seasoning. Easy meals and great snacks are reason enough to shop there, but the great prices, stickers, a tiny shopping cart for your kids to push (and fill), and friendliness of the staff take it to another level. From trail mix and cheese bites to peanut butter pretzels and granola bars, your local Trader Joe’s has it all. 

There are the snacks we go back to time and time again, and a few new gems that made the cut. The store near our new house is even bigger than our old TJs and is only a few minutes away. If you’re a parent or a person that loves a good snack, these are the products you need to try. Also, just throwing this out there in case you’ve missed them. Try the Trader Joe’s chocolate and sea salt and turbinado sugar almonds. They are the best. My girls love Trader Joe’s (or as my 4 year old calls it, Trader Jones). Here are our favorite snack foods. 

Freeze Dried Fruit

Freeze dried fruits are one of the best trader joes snacks and a favorite in our house. Some dried fruits have added sugar so if that’s a concern, be sure to check those labels. But these are a great snack with zero added sugar. And if you want to make them more fun for a toddler or preschooler, call them chips. My 2 year old loves strawberry chips and thinks they are a treat. They’re great on-the-go, too. The apple slices are great and my 4 year old loves the soft and juicy mango slices. Your taste buds will thank you.

Plantain Chips

I love these things so much. Have a salty craving? These are my favorite snack, but they’re great for kids, too. They are the perfect snack and a great substitute for potato chips. If you’re trying to eat healthy but find yourself craving a salty or crunchy snack, give these a try. My favorite way to eat them is with a little guacamole, and bonus: they are paleo friendly and have clean ingredients.

Teeny Tiny Cucumbers and Hummus 

The perfect healthy snack for kids and sure, they’re “just” cucumbers. But these tiny cucumbers are more fun than regular cucumbers because they’re tiny. Duh. Just look how cute they are. Serve them with guacamole or hummus, chop them up in salads, and they’re the perfect size for lunchboxes, too.

Organic Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers

These are one of the best trader joe’s snacks for kids. They’re small and delicious, and you can get them with peanut butter or cheese in the center. The crispy golden brown crackers are so good and remind me of ritz, and while both options are great, I’m here for the peanut butter crackers. 

Organic Fruit Sauce Crushers

Looking for an easy on-the-go snack with simple ingredients, and one that won’t make a mess? These organic fruit sauce crushers are the best. They come in quite a few flavors and some even feature veggies mixed in. My younger daughter loves her applesauce pouches, so I always try to have 1-2 in my bag just in case. 

Organic String Cheese

String cheese isn’t groundbreaking. But the organic Trader Joe’s version is priced better than the organic string cheese at Whole Foods. Both my kids love it, and it’s great for a quick, easy snack. 

Cereal Bars

These fruit bars are one of Trader Joe’s most popular snacks for a reason. They come in a variety of flavors and are soft and delicious – kids love them. They’re a great option for toddlers, too. Grown-ups do, too. 

Out of This World Ice Pops

Both my girls love these ice pops. They remind me of my childhood, are so fun to have around their birthdays (end of June and early July) and there’s just something I love about ice pops. 

Blueberry Dream Frozen Dessert Bars

These frozen pops are such a treat. 

Cinnamon Graham Crackers

Another one of our favorite things and the addition of cinnamon sugar may sound simple (and I suppose it is) but wow – they are good. They’re sweet but not overly-sweet and definitely feel more like graham crackers than cookies. Both my girls love these sweet graham crackers sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I do, too. They are delicious! Treat yourself and make s’mores with them. They’re so good!

PB&J Bars

Trader Joe’s version of a PB&J – these are a soft, easy-to-eat snack for kids. They are not school-friendly since they contain peanut butter but they’re easy to throw in your bag or have on the go. 

Honey Wheat Pretzel Sticks

Pretzel nuggets make me nervous for younger toddlers since they can be swallowed whole. So if your kids are a little younger, I prefer these pretzel sticks since they’re easier to hold and bite. I used to get these all the time – they are crunchy and a little bit sweet, and so good with peanut or almond butter.

Mini Hold the Cone Ice Cream Cones

I went through a (short) phase in my late 20s when I’d wake up and have one of these in the morning because I could. Five year old me would have been so proud. But in all seriousness, both my girls love these. If you have a sweet tooth, they are the perfect size mini ice cream cone. Have the whole thing without feeling like you’re overindulging – they are tiny and delicious. 

And a few favorites that aren’t pictured

Cheese crunchies

Roasted seaweed snacks: These are one of those healthy snacks that you love or hate, but I love them. They’re crunchy, salty, and so good. 

Plain greek yogurt with no sugar added fruit preserves

Sea salt and turbinado sugar almonds: I am not a big chocolate person but these are unreal. 

Sour cream and onion rings are one of those crunchy snacks that taste like childhood. I don’t buy them often but they’re pretty good. 

TJs. Dark chocolate peanut butter cups are, in my opinion, a million times better than Reeses. And they’re a TJs favorite for a reason.  I know this falls in the treat category over snacks but if you’re craving chocolate, this is it. They’re made with slowly roasted Virginia peanuts and smooth, dark chocolate from cacao beans. And they’re sweet (but not too sweet) and salty, and are a heavenly treat to have on-hand. 

Chocolate covered pretzels: These come covered in milk and dark chocolate, and are a favorite treat of ours. Both versions are great, the chocolate is delicious, pretzels perfectly crunchy (and salty). While I am not a big chocolate person (I know I keep saying that) when mixed with salt or peanut butter I think I do like chocolate after all. 

And my kids’ favorite (ok, mine too) the seasonal raspberry star and heart cookies. These are maybe everyone’s favorite in our family. The shortbread cookie is soft, chewy, and baked to perfection with the most delicious raspberry filling. They’re really dangerous since I could easily eat way too many. Sadly, these only typically exist around Valentine’s Day and Christmas.