These 3 Snacks Will Save Your Sanity Before Lunch

Snow is falling, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and you’re officially out of ideas by 10:07 a.m. Sound familiar? Whether you’re stuck inside for a snowed-in weekend, looking for ways to keep kids busy after school, or just need a little more variety when it comes to snack time, we’ve got you covered!

We asked Melanie Marcus, Dole’s Culinary Trained Registered Dietitian, to weigh in on her favorite kid-friendly recipes that help keep little hands engaged and hungry bellies happy.

“I don’t know about you, but at my house it seems like someone is always asking for a snack!! I have to laugh, because we finish one snack and approximately 2 minutes later, someone is standing in front of the fridge asking for a cheese stick or rummaging through the pantry looking for goldfish. Basically, someone is always hungry! When time allows, I take this opportunity to engage them in a food-related activity.

There is a lot kids can learn from in the kitchen, from coordination to math to exploring the senses. Preparing foods with children can not only distract them from ongoing snack time, but also educate them as well!

Fun, kid-friendly recipes can be a great decoy to increase time between snacking, and they’re also the perfect solution when hunger strikes. Here are a few from our Dole’s Princess Collection that I’m really liking right now!”

Maui Pizza Rollups:  I love these because they take a food I know my kids will devour (pizza!) and pair it with pineapple, a fruit packed with vitamin C.
Kids love them for the fun pinwheel shape, the familiar pizza flavor, and that little pop of sweetness from the pineapple.  Let the pineapple-on-pizza debate continue!

Veggie Tea Sandwiches:  These make my list because they swap the traditional cream cheese spread for a cashew-based version that’s creamy, flavorful, and loaded with veggies.

Kids love them because they get to use a cookie cutter to create the “glass slipper” shape, then build their own masterpiece by topping it with sliced cucumber, radish, carrots, zucchini, or tomato.

Fudgy Coco Cake Pops:  I triple love-love-love these because they’re made with wholesome ingredients, unlike many cake pops that are packed with saturated fat and refined sugar. Our version is naturally sweetened with bananas and dates, held together with almond flour and sunflower butter, and finished with extra flavor and texture from cocoa powder and coconut flakes.

Kids love them because they look like a treat and taste like one too. Even better, they can help roll and shape them, add the sticks, and decorate with cocoa powder and coconut.

Published February 1st, 2026