20 Foods That Are Crunchy to Prevent Fussy Eating

Looking for foods that are crunchy? Whether you’re trying to prevent fussy eating or love crunchy food, this list has the best foods with a crunchy texture!

In one of our previous posts on fussy eating, we mentioned that one of rather ways to beat this is to see who can find the crunchy foods, and make their vegetables or fruit make the loudest noises.

We have had great success in making a game of eating our greens like this: so much so that our healthy eating charts usually get a tick in every colour box!

It’s a great sensory game for younger children, but be careful it doesn’t get too competitive; Stuntboy is always keen to ensure his lettuce is the best and crunchiest around!

So, with this in mind, I asked the kids what they felt were the crunchiest foods they like, and these are some of their suggestions. I added a few extra healthy crunchy snacks, although you’ll see a few sweet treats here, too!

20 Foods That Are Crunchy to Tempt Picky Eaters

There are so many crunchy foods out there and these are our favorite snacks to practice crunching.

1. Carrots

This root vegetable have a great crispy texture when eaten raw. I love to serve these with homemade hummus for some extra fiber.

2. Bell Peppers 

Raw peppers are a great healthy snack. Serve them with nut butter or homemade ranch dressing.

3. Cucumber 

Cucumber has such a neutral, mild flavor, so it’s a great way healthy snack. This selection of lunchbox recipes from Lawrence.com includes a great noodle recipe for the kids with some lovely crunchy cucumber.

4. Lettuce

Although not every type of lettuce is known for being crunchy, varieties like romaine have a nice crisp texture. Invite the kids to help you cut up their favorite raw vegetables to make a yummy salad for the whole family.

5. Cookies 

This sweet treat has a nice crunchy bite. We love iheartnaptime.net at KiddyCharts, and not least because they have a rather fantastic list of super cookie recipes to try out!

6. Apples

Apples are one of our favorite crunchy fruits and they can be enjoyed in so many different ways. This is an amazing dip for apples. It might be a little sweet with toffee and caramel, but it’s a nice special treat with a great flavor.

7. Smarties or M&Ms

Candy-coated chocolates are such a fun treat with a crispy crunch shell! They’re delicious on their own or add a little crunch to these crispy M&M cookies.

8. Celery

Although my kids are reluctant to eat celery, they’re one of the best crunchy snacks. Try offering your celery slices with one of these superb macadamia nut snacks for a little extra flavor. They’re also delicious with cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning 

9. Pears

My little one loves pears, particularly for tea after school. Cooked pears are naturally soft and have a somewhat gritty texture. Try serving raw pear slices for added crunch. This peanut butter yogurt dip is a fun way to enjoy fresh pears without a ton of extra sugar.

10. Bag of Chips or Crisps 

Also known as chips in the US, crisps are a great crunchy snack. Whether you enjoy potato crips or sweet potato chips, have fun making the crunchiest crunching sounds you can! Tortilla chips have a huge crunch factor, too. Try serving them with homemade queso for a perfect late night snack.

11. Pastry 

Crisp flaky pastry adds a delicate crunch to croissants, pain au chocolat, turnovers, and more. Try making these quick apple turnovers with applesauce.

12. Cereal

Breakfast cereals start crunchy but soften as they absorb milk. Practice snacking on dry cereal like Cheerios or cornflakes. Invite the little ones into the kitchen to make homemade granola. It’s a great way to add texture to your yogurt, but you can easily control the ingredients.

13. Dried Nuts

Get some healthy fats like toasted pumpkin seeds or whole almonds. It’s so much fun crunching sunflower seeds in the shell, but try this snack outside! We also like to addd some crunchy peanut butter to toast for a little extra bite.

14. Crackers

There are so many types of crunchy crackers out there and you can serve them with cheese, meats, or your favorite dips. Homemade crackers are easy to make and are a fun way to invite your kids into the kitchen.

15. Trail Mix

Trail mix offers a variety of textures including crunchy and chewy. Plus, it’s a great way to introduce new foods. Try making your kid-friendly trail mix with cheese crackers, pretzels, candy-coated chocolates, dark chocolate chips, and other treats.

16. Hard Candies

If your little one has a sweet tooth, practice crunching on lollies, butterscotch, or other hard candies. This is best to wait to do until your child is a little older and can’t choke on the small pieces.

17. Kale Chips

Although this green veggie might not seem too exciting, kale chips come in a variety of flavors. They’re high in fiber, naturally low carb, and surprisingly tasty. Make your own kale chips on a baking sheet for a delicious snack.

18. Snap Peas

These spring vegetables are a great option to get your child eating crunchy things! They’re naturally sweet and it’s fun seeing the little peas inside of the pod.

19. Onion Rings

Pop some frozen onion rings in the air fryer for a crunchy, savory snack. Not all kids like the flavor of onion, but the breading and frying make these appealing to people of all ages.

20. Popcorn

Popcorn is an inexpensive, healthy snack high in fiber. Get yourself an air popper and toss your fresh popcorn in olive oil and a little salt. If your kids like different flavors, you can make or buy popcorn seasonings for tons of flavor.

Do you have any more foods that are crunchy you’d like to recommend? Share a comment to expand this list!

I hope you like these recipes, go and explore some more on Pinterest too, and why not follow KiddyCharts on there was well – we do our best to keep you entertained!

Cover image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Helen Neale

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, website editor and a qualified counsellor with experience of working with both children and adults.She is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapists, with her own private practise. She also freelances with her local Mind organisation.Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, use those grey cells at the same time, and supplement her counselling income.KiddyCharts has reach of over 680k across socials and the site. The site works with big family brands to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. She is a specialist counsellor for neurodivergent individuals and brings this expertise to her resources and the site. She is also an ADHDer herself.KiddyCharts gives 51%+ profits to charities, focused on supporting mental health and a community in TanzaniaHelen has also worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!

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