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30 fruit snack ideas for fussy eaters

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30 Fruit snack ideas for fussy eaters

If I have one piece of advice for parents of fussy eaters who want to increase the amount of fruit their child eats, it would be to serve it more often. This is true even if you have a child who currently eats no fruit.

The second piece of advice would be to create interest and interaction around fruit.

Even if you have a child who willingly eats fruit, making it more interesting and fun is always valuable:

1. Change – change helps to prevent boredom

2. Difference – serving foods differently scaffolds flexibility and confidence for a child

3. Interest – interest is the first step to wanting to interact with a food

4. Fun – introducing fun helps a child to relax around food and that is a key parameter in being able to eat more comfortably.

There are many different fruits and eating a wide variety is positive. If you have a child who only eats one or two, increasing the range is a great goal. This is particularly true if they are not fond of vegetables!

For a super selective eater, the first step may be different versions of the same fruit.

Let’s look at some ideas.

*please note that not all ideas are suitable for all ages and stages. Please choose only those appropriate for your child.

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Fruit snack ideas for fussy eaters

1. Change it up – the first step – particularly for a super selective eater – may be just changing up how you serve their fruit.

Many picky eaters have a favourite way for something to be served. Perhaps it’s apples cut in half or oranges into quarters.

A beginning step for change maybe presenting the fruit differently. However, springing things on a child can be confronting so perhaps introducing gently is a good idea!

With an apple, for example, you could cut into halves, quarters, slices, dice or grate.

2. Dried fruit. Dried fruit may be easier for some children as it doesn’t have the ‘wet’ texture of many fresh fruits. It’s also sweet but still packed with nutrients and fibre.

3. Tinned fruit. As it’s usually very soft I often think of canned fruit as being ‘pre-chewed’ like nuggets. It’s super easy to eat and requires little effort. Tinned fruit is a great option and a perfect addition to many dishes as well as great on its own.

During the winter when there is less variety, I often used tinned fruits.

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4. Frozen fruit. Like canned fruit, frozen fruit can be handy in the winter for providing options that otherwise wouldn’t be available. Or, in the summer you can deliberately freeze fruit.

Grapes and watermelon, for example, are perfect for freezing – just add a popsicle stick…

5. Puree. Many fussy eaters are okay with fruit out of a pouch, or the purees that are aimed at very young children. However, fruit purees can also be part of a gourmet meal, so that’s how I think of them.

Reframing can be a valuable exercise for parents. Instead of thinking “uh, my child only eats baby food jarred apple” it’s important to recognize they are eating fruit and that’s a positive.

For children who are not eating purees it can be a great way to change up fruit and serve as a fun snack, or dip.

6. Stewed fruit. Texturally this can be a challenge for some picky eaters. But it can also be easier to eat as, like canned fruit, it requires less chewing. I find it handy when some fruits are not available (supply of fresh fruit and veg is very seasonal in Aotearoa NZ).

My boys love stewed berries – perhaps with sweetener added – and some yoghurt, ice cream or cream.

7. Sauteed fruit. Sliced apples, peaches, or bananas, for example, can be sauteed in some butter and perhaps sweetener. Delicious. If you have a child who prefers crunchier textures cook for less time.

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8. Fruit juice. I know this can be controversial. Fruit juice has become quite a contentious issue as it is very high in sugar.

However, like most foods/drinks, it is about balance and perspective.

If your child is not eating fruit yet or has a limited few they are comfortable with, then using fruit juice can be a great way to introduce them gently to the idea and the flavour of fruit or new fruits.

Drinks like Kiwi crush are also a great way to help with sluggish bowels 😊

9. Fruit popsicles. You can freeze whole fruits to make spectacular looking popsicles. Or use fruit juice or fruit puree to make ones that are more subtle, but still chock full of fruit.

10. Smoothies or shakes. Drinking is often easier than eating for fussy eaters, so using drinks to build comfort and acceptance of fruit can be an easier first step.

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There are a million recipes to try!

11. Fruit salad. Mixing a few fruits in a bowl looks pretty and changes up foods. Adding some fruit juice can make it into a treat or enable it to be kept for a while as it prevents browning. You could even send in a pot in the lunchbox.

Small pieces are often easier to contemplate than big chunks too!

12. Fruit fritters. Frying fruit in a batter can be an awesome way to serve that’s a little bit different. It may even make it easier for a fussy eater to have a taste.

13. Fruit jelly. Serving fruit in a jelly makes it portable. It is also a great way to deliver a nutrient boost if using a good quality gelatin.

14. Fruit gummies. Home-made gummies are super simple to make. Find the recipe here: https://theconfidenteater.com/blog/funfoodideasforfussyeaters/treat/home-made-gummies-nutrient-boost-recipe-for-fussy-eaters-and-picky-eaters/

15. Apple chips. Making dried apple chips is quite easy – if a little time-consuming – and makes for a different and portable snack.

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16. Fruit ‘sandwiches’.
Cut slices of fruit, add a favourite filling like peanut butter, jam or cream cheese and then put a second slice on top to create a ‘sandwich’. This can be a great way to make something a little different – and often more filling.

If you have a non-fruit eater who licks off the filling, that is still a plus.

17. Stuffed fruits. For example, dates stuffed with cheese, sliced bananas with a peanut butter filling or strawberries with cream cheese.

18. Fruit rings. Take the core out of an apple or pear, for example, and then slice into rings. Eat as is or add yoghurt, peanut butter or jam and then sprinkle with chopped dried fruit, choc chips or crushed nuts too.

19. Fruit pops or dippers. Cut apples, bananas, or kiwifruit for example, into small pieces and place on a stick. You can then offer a selection of things to dip into. Anything from chocolate sauce to seeds to yoghurt or honey.

Or you can do fruit pieces on a fork or use fingers to dunk into a favourite sauce or dip.

20. Fruit on skewers. Even though fruit on skewers is still fruit, it looks different, and it is amazing that even for adults it can encourage fruit eating.

Alternatively, you can use a cocktail stick (or a child-friendly version) and combine fruit with other favourite foods like a cube of cheese.

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21. Banana ‘ice cream’. A frozen banana whizzed in the food processor creates a very ice cream like result. You can go fancy and add cocoa for choc flavour or toppings like strawberry puree or choc chips.

22. Fruit ‘nachos’. Thinly sliced fruit arranged on a plate and drizzled with sauce – like caramel. See recipe here: https://theconfidenteater.com/blog/funfoodideasforfussyeaters/apples/apple-nachos-with-caramel-sauce-fun-recipes-for-fussy-eaters-and-picky-eaters/ This is an awesome snack! Additions like crushed nuts or choc chips are optional.

23. Fruit pizza. In season, you can use a round of watermelon with other fruits cut to be ‘toppings’. Or use a sweet pastry base topped with optional red fruit puree and/or cream cheese/cream/yoghurt plus fruit, or just topped with fruit.

I know a family whose daughter’s favourite pizza is jam and pineapple pieces on a regular base.

24. Fruit rainbows. Build part or all of a rainbow using different coloured fruits. It can be a great way to garner interest that supports eating.

25. Waffle iron fruit. Slice apples or pears, for example, butter, then cook in a waffle iron. It produces a great grilled pattern on the outside of the fruit.

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26. Fruit balls. There are special scoops that enable you to create balls from the flesh of fruit like melon or papaya. It looks so cool and is an excellent way to turn something ordinary into something a little special.

27. Serve in different containers. For example, using an ice cream cone to hold fruit makes it that little bit special and possibly even ‘treaty’. Or perhaps use a fancy bowl or a truck or a mini basket.

28. Fruit hedgehogs. I know these are totally 1970’s but still they look amazing. Take a fruit like half an orange and push little sticks into it with other fruits skewered along the shaft. The effect is like a hedgehog or porcupine.

29. Fruit art. Search the internet for fun fruit art. There are lots of ideas for different ways to serve fruit. Some are great for children to create on their own and some perfect for you to do. For example, racing cars made from a quarter of an apple with cocktail sticks for axles and grapes for wheels.

Or half a green apple with green grapes to create a turtle.

Or fruit boats made with either paper sails or slices of apple/pear/melon, for example.

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(With thanks to Wooden Earth for the fab photo*)

30. Fruit platters. Often chopping fruit into small pieces makes it more manageable. Children are drawn to bright colours even if they seem to only eat beige foods! Having a range of different fruits on offer can create a display that helps to hold interest.

This is not an exhaustive list, but hopefully provides a little inspiration for new ways to serve fruit. Any change is good. And remember, fruit has much the same nutrients and vitamins as veggies so if your child eats a wide range – even if the vegetables are a bit more of a challenge at the moment – it is great.

Please share with other families who may find these fruit snack ideas useful.

*Link to Wooden Earth here: https://www.woodenearth.com/collections/wood-trays

Judith, MA Cantab (Cambridge University), MSc Psychology (first-class honours), is working on a PhD, is an AOTA accredited picky eating advisor and internationally certified nutritional therapist. She works with 100+ families every year resolving fussy eating and returning pleasure and joy to the meal table.

She is also mum to two boys and the author of Creating Confident Eaters and Winner Winner I Eat Dinner. Her dream is that every child can approach food from a place of safety and joy, not fear.

Learn more about Judith here: https://theconfidenteater.com/about/

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