Best Snack Bars for Toddlers (12 Months+): Dietitian-Approved Picks
Did you know the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends offering your toddler three meals and one to three snacks per day once they turn 12 months old? The amount of snacks you offer your child will depend on their schedule and nutritional needs.
While whole-food snacks like fruit, veggies, nut butters, and cheese are always ideal, it’s totally normal (and helpful!) to keep a few packaged toddler snacks on hand for busy days. As a pediatric registered dietitian, I’ve searched high and low to find the best and most nutritious snack bars for toddlers 12 months and older — so you don’t have to spend hours reading labels in the snack aisle.
Disclaimer: We have tons of baby and toddler-friendly homemade snack recipes in our 101AfterOne Book + App. Gain access to that here.
Below are my top picks for nutritious, lower-added sugar snack bars that meet my criteria for optimal toddler nutrition. Some of the links in this blog may be affiliate links, and I will receive a commission if you purchase using my links.
✅ What to Look for in a Healthy Toddler Snack Bar
When choosing a snack bar for your little one, here are the key things I look for:
- No or minimal added sugar – Learn more about added sugar here
- Low sodium – Read my post on sodium for kids
- No artificial sweeteners – Find out why here
- Rich in nutrients toddlers need, like iron, vitamin D, calcium, fiber, and omega-3s
- Simple, whole-food ingredients you can easily recognize
- Clean Label Approved snacks are a bonus! (See the Clean Label Project)
🥇 Top Dietitian-Approved Snack Bars for Toddlers
1. Once Upon a Farm Soft Baked Bars
These bars have the simplest ingredients ever — dates, coconut oil, and apples.
✅ No added sugar
✅ Minimal sodium
✅ No artificial sweeteners
✅ A touch of iron and calcium
They’re soft and easy to chew, making them perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. A great option for lunchboxes or daycare snacks.
2. Cerebelly Smart Bars
I’m a huge fan of Cerebelly — they’re science-based and formulated to meet kids’ high nutrient needs.
Each bar provides DHA, iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin E, and iodine, all nutrients that support brain and body development.
✅ 3 g protein
✅ 0 g added sugar
✅ No artificial sweeteners
Balanced, nutrient-dense, and a great on-the-go option.
Code: THEBABYDIETICIAN for 35% off first time orders.
3. Good & Gather Snack Bars (Target)
These are a budget-friendly pick that doesn’t sacrifice quality.
✅ Simple, whole-food ingredients
✅ No added sugar
✅ Minimal sodium
They provide sustained energy for playtime or errands — and you can grab them easily at Target.
Find all my favorite Target snacks here.
4. Dino Bars
If your child has dairy or nut allergies, Dino Bars are a lifesaver.
✅ Nut-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free
✅ Organic and non-GMO
✅ Only ~1 g added sugar per bar
✅ No artificial sweeteners
They’re soft, mess-free, and ideal for little hands. Keep them refrigerated for best freshness. Read my thoughts on organic products here.
5. Wolf Bars
Another excellent choice for allergy-friendly families — Wolf Bars are free from all top nine allergens.
✅ No artificial ingredients
✅ 2 g added sugar
✅ 3 g protein + 2 g fiber
✅ Small amounts of calcium and iron
They’re nutrient-dense, taste great, and require refrigeration to stay fresh.
Code: babydietitian provides a discount when purchasing.
6. Beech-Nut Oaty Bars
These five-ingredient bars are perfect for toddlers 12 months+.
✅ No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
✅ 0 mg sodium
✅ 0 g added sugar
They’re simple, wholesome, and ideal for little snackers — though I’d love to see a bit more fiber, protein, or fat for staying power.
Find all my favorite Target snacks here.
7. Sprout Organic Oatie Bars
If you’re worried about your child consuming adequate protein, these are for you!
✅ 4 g protein per bar
✅ 0 g added sugar
✅ Balanced macronutrients
✅ 1 mg iron per bar
A solid choice for days when your toddler’s meals have been heavy on fruit but light on protein. Read my full blog post on protein needs here.
8. Once Upon a Farm Refrigerated Oat Bars
These might be my top pick overall for both nutrition and ingredient quality.
✅ 5 g fiber
✅ 4 g protein
✅ 2 mg iron
✅ Organic and non-GMO
Made with clean ingredients and no artificial additives, these bars must be stored in the refrigerator, but are absolutely worth it for their nutrient profile.
💡 Final Thoughts
Choosing healthy packaged snacks for your toddler doesn’t have to be stressful. The key is focusing on low-sugar, nutrient-dense, and minimally processed options that support your child’s growth and energy needs.
These dietitian-approved snack bars make balanced snacking easy — so you can feel good about what’s in your child’s lunchbox, backpack, or diaper bag. If you need more snack ideas that include puffs, melts, cereals, and more – grab my full Dietitian Approved Packaged Snack Guide.
Want more? My course is a 100% evidence-based approach to starting solids in a way that encourages a healthy dietary pattern from the start.
Check out the Starting Solids 101 Course now!
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Cinthia Scott is a Registered Dietitian (RD) and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 10 years experience in the field of dietetics. Cinthia focuses on ensuring optimal nutrition in the first 1000 days of life to ensure optimal growth and development as well as set the stage for long-term health. Cindy is an author, starting solids expert, and advocate for caregivers receiving evidence based education and support surrounding breastfeeding and starting solids.
Cinthia is co-author of the 101beforeone Starting Solids Book, “101beforeone -baby-led feeding cookbook,” and is the founder and owner of The Baby Dietitian LLC which is her private practice built to provide virtual 1:1 services for caregivers surrounding infant nutrition, toddler nutrition, and breastfeeding support. Cinthia is also the creator of the Starting Solids 101 Program which provides caregivers 1:1 support from a Pediatric Dietitian on how to provide optimal nutrition from the start and create healthy eating habits that will last their whole lifetime. To work with Cinthia, you can access her services here.
Cinthia provides tons of free information for parents on her social media accounts as well.
- Instagram: @The.Baby.Dietitian
- Tiktok: @The.Baby.Dietitian