Healthy Kids Birthday Party Food Ideas

August 27, 2019
Sweets and treats are an inevitable part of kids parties—that’s part of the fun! But you can squeeze in some healthy finger foods and nibbles along the way to help curb the sugar rush. Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly party food recipes to try.
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Saucy Pita Dippers

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This easy kid-friendly snack is a fun way to sneak in whole grains.

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Green Goddess Dip with Crudites

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Green Goddess dip is perfect for raw veggies like cukes, celery, carrots, and more. This one is packed with fresh herbs like tarragon and parsley.

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Cornmeal-Crusted Chicken Nuggets with Blackberry Mustard

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Tossing chicken tenders with cornmeal gives these chicken nuggets great crunch without deep-frying. Blackberries (or raspberries, if you prefer) combined with whole-grain mustard make for a sweet-and-savory dipping sauce. Serve with: Steamed broccoli and carrots.

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Parmesan Broccoli Bites

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Almond flour (aka almond meal) makes the coating on these broccoli "fries" extra-crunchy and flavorful. Find it in the gluten-free section of large supermarkets and natural-foods stores.

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Classic Deviled Eggs

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We love the taste of dill relish in the filling of this deviled egg recipe, but if you like a sweeter deviled egg‚ opt for sweet relish instead. Our secret to healthy, creamy deviled eggs with fewer calories is to swap out half the full-fat mayo for nonfat Greek yogurt.

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Hummus-Covered Pretzel Rod

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Hummus adds a flavorful protein punch to a pretzel rod for a fun, healthy after-school snack that the kids can even help with.

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Oven Sweet Potato Fries

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Making oven fries out of sweet potatoes brings out their inherent sweetness.

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Soy-Lime Baked Buffalo Wings

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Make this baked Buffalo chicken wing recipe at home to save 138 calories and a whopping 598 milligrams of sodium compared to the same number of deep-fried wings. If your market sells its chicken wings whole, you'll want to separate each into a "wingette" and a "drumette" so they cook evenly. They're easy to split apart with a sharp knife. Serve with carrot sticks, celery and ranch (or blue cheese) dressing.

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Sweet Potato Skins with Guacamole

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Top crispy sweet potato skins with guacamole for a healthy take on classic potato skins in this easy crowd-pleasing recipe.

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Tropical Snack Mix

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Sweet, salty and simple, this tropical treat is a perfect on-the-go snack for a quick energy boost.

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Honey-Peanut Popcorn

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This healthy snack recipe tosses together crunchy popcorn, salty peanuts and a touch of honey for the perfect sweet-salty snack to satisfy that afternoon, or evening, craving.

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Cucumber Cups with Deviled Ham Salad

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Swap crostini for cucumber cups to hold ham salad in this easy appetizer recipe. Bring these healthy, crunchy bites to your next potluck or serve them at brunch and watch them disappear.

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EatingWell's Pepperoni Pizza

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Pepperoni pizza gets a healthful makeover with whole-wheat pizza dough and a flavorful tomato sauce that, thanks to the addition of pumpkin puree, provides extra beta carotene and fiber. We've topped the pie with low-fat turkey pepperoni, but if you like, use your favorite sliced vegetables instead.

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Mini Greek Pizza Muffins

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All the flavors of a Greek pizza make these savory muffins bite-size treats for adults and kids alike.

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Mini Cheese and Turkey Melts

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This satisfyingly melty low-carb snack is packed with protein--and flavor.

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Rainbow Fruit Kebabs

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Eating clean doesn't have to be boring! This fruit-salad-on-a-stick is the natural way to get in on the rainbow trend for a fun healthy snack or no-added-sugar dessert.

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Hawaiian Turkey Sliders

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Grilled pineapple tops flavorful turkey burgers to give this easy slider recipe Hawaiian flair.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan Meatballs

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Turn classic chicken parm into meatballs with this easy load-and-go appetizer recipe with a cheesy surprise inside. Making meatballs for a party? Switch your crock pot to "warm" for serving all party long.

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Homemade Ranch Dressing with Veggies

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Make a big batch of homemade ranch dressing to keep on hand for dipping crisp, raw vegetables anytime for a healthy snack both kids and adults will enjoy.

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Mini Cucumber Caterpillars

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Kids will love eating their veggies when you turn mini cucumbers into fun caterpillar treats ready for dunking in their favorite dip!

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Sausage Balls

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These homemade sausage balls are a healthy riff on the original--we add riced cauliflower for moisture and a veggie boost, whole-wheat flour stands in for prepared biscuit mix, and sharp Cheddar adds flavor. Serve these sausage balls for brunch, as an appetizer, or mix them with your favorite marinara for dinner.

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Garlic Hummus

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This classic hummus recipe couldn't be easier--just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Enchilada Dip

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A quick fresh-made blender enchilada sauce makes all the difference in this slow-cooker recipe for Mexican cheese dip. Serve it straight from the crock pot, with tortilla chips, to keep it warm and gooey.

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Crunchy Popcorn Cauliflower

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A cunchy, savory pretzel-pecan coating turns roasted, caramelized cauliflower into an irresistible appetizer or kids' snack that mimics flavored popcorn. Serve this popcorn cauliflower straight from the oven with a dipping sauce and watch these tasty little bites disappear.

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Pineapple Nice Cream

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All-fruit, dairy-free and with no added sugar--these are the hallmarks of "nice cream," a healthy alternative to ice cream. This pineapple nice cream has tropical flavors, thanks to a hit of mango and lime. It takes just minutes to make this naturally sweet frozen dessert in the food processor or a blender. Enjoy it alone, or top with fresh fruit and toasted coconut.

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No-Bake Monster Pita Pizza

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This no-bake pizza is so easy to make, and it's even more fun to eat! Kids will love the spooky "monster eyes" made from cucumbers, cheese and beans for this cute Halloween snack.

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Italian Meatball Rolls

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Balsamic mushrooms add an extra layer of flavor to this healthy makeover of the classic melty sandwich.

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2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

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Whir up frozen bananas into an “ice cream” without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.

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