Make Snacktime Fun with These 5 Easy Snack Tray Ideas

Jun 25, 2019 | Baby and Kids, Food

If snacks are life in your house, then this post is for you. Mix up your snack-time routine with these yummy and EASY snack tray ideas that are fun for the whole family!

snack tray with popcorn and candy, from Fun Cheap or Free

Do you have young kids who are constantly and consistently on the verge of absolute hangriness (hungry + angry)? Same! We know that feeding them can be an epic, uphill battle! Are we being a touch dramatic? YES, but it is also genuinely tough to keep up with the kids' metabolisms. Phew!

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So, below you'll find one of the greatest mom-hacks of all time. Let's fight the good food fight together and keep everyone (mostly) sane and well-fed. Using just a muffin tin and a good theme (you'll see below), you can feed all the kids and have some fun. We like to call these the “Save Your Day Snack Tray,” and we're going to share five options. Let's get to it!


THE AFTER-SCHOOL SNACK TRAY

after school snacks in a muffin tin, from Fun Cheap or Free

Say hello to the OG snack tray. This one is for kids who like to keep it simple. Grab all their favorite snacks and load up your muffin tin! (Pssst… use cupcake liners for easy cleanup!)

We always like to add in fresh fruit and veggies where we can, but crackers and pretzels are completely perfect here, too.

MORE ADD-INS TO TRY

  • Pretzels
  • Goldfish
  • Peanut butter sandwich
  • Cubed ham or deli meat
  • Cheese
  • Grapes
  • Carrots

Pro Tip: This snack tray option pairs well with playdates, pool hangouts, and lazy summer days.


THE YOGURT BAR SNACK TRAY

yogurt muffin tin snacks, from Fun Cheap or Free

This snack tray is perfect for kids and moms alike! Start with a base of your favorite yogurt and add toppings to your heart's content. We are particularly granola-minded over here, but chopped-up protein bars are great for the younger kids who can't quite handle the extra crunchiness of the granola. Any kind of berry will play nicely with the yogurt, so feel free to drop those in as well!

ADD-IN IDEAS:

  • Granola
  • Blueberries
  • Protein bar (cut up)
  • Banana chips
  • Yogurt pretzels
  • Craisins

Pro Tip: This snack tray pairs well with slow Saturday mornings and easy-peasy brunches.


THE SUNDAE TOPPER SNACK TRAY

ice cream sundae bar in muffin tin, from Fun Cheap or Free

We are moving from the healthy yogurt version of a sundae (a.k.a. a parfait) straight to one of our favorite indulgences of all – ice cream sundaes. Hey, life is all about balance, right?! This snack tray is so drool-worthy that you'll feel like a Pinterest mom without all of the effort.

You'll also save loads of money compared to going out and buying everyone in your family their own individual ice creams where every topping costs extra. Win-win!

ADD-IN IDEAS:

Pro Tip: This snack tray pairs well with the post-barbeque lounge and Friday nights spent at home.


THE ADULTS-ONLY SNACK TRAY

meat and cheese muffin tin snack tray, from Fun Cheap or Free

Cheers to eating your weight in snacks after the kids are in bed! (We know you do it, too.) Making a snack tray for kids is fun, but for adults? Ooooh, the options are endless and completely customizable. We love a good charcuterie board, and if someone could bring one to our bedside each night while we binge-watch the show of the moment, that would be a dream come true.

While we can't offer that level of service (sorry; we're not UberEats), this tray is an easy alternative. We are currently pistachio-obsessed and have leftover sausage from a BBQ we recently hosted. You guys know we hate wasting food, so we started there with this snack tray and added some of our other favorite savory treats. It was delicious!

IDEAS FOR WHAT TO ADD:

Pro Tip: Pairs well with sleep-deprived parents who should be headed to bed but also need downtime. Can we get an amen?!


THE MOVIE-NIGHT-IN SNACK TRAY

candy and popcorn in muffin tin, from Fun Cheap or Free

Family movie night is a staple activity in our house, and we can't possibly watch Cars for the hundredth time without sustenance. Terribly sweet, possibly over-the-top sugary, is how we choose to make it through. #IfYouKnowYouKnow

Our favorite snacks revolve around gummy candies and chocolate, which is what we've chosen to load our snack tray up with. And popcorn, always lots of popcorn.

ADD-IN IDEAS

  • Oreos
  • Peanut M&Ms
  • Watermelon Sour Patch Kids
  • Popcorn
  • Mini candy bars
  • Gummy bears

Pro Tip: This tray pairs well with an animated film and extra late bedtime.


WHAT ARE YOUR SNACK TRAY IDEAS?

There you have it! Five super easy, crazy good snack trays for the kids (and you)! The next time hanger strikes, you'll know what to do.

Do you have other ideas? We'd love to hear all about them, so drop a comment below!

image with text that reads "easy ways to make a snack tray", from Fun Cheap or Free

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Want more snack ideas?

Keep calm and snack on!

4 Comments

  1. LeighAnn Harlan

    Wow so many great ideas! I hadn’t thought to use a muffin tin as a snack tray! We will definitely be trying this. Maybe for a family movie night! I’ve got 5 littles in my house so they’ll love this.

    Reply
    • FunCheapOrFree

      Yes, they’re such fun ideas! Give it a try, I’m sure that the whole family will love it!

      Reply
  2. Sam

    These ideas are convenient and inexpensive. In case you don’t know, you should know that popcorn is very dangerous for children under 8 years old. It is a severe choking hazard and can cause pneumonia due to the popcorn being stuck in their lung.

    Reply
    • Fun Cheap or Free

      Thank you for pointing that out!

      Reply

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