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
Adam
Wednesday 5th of September 2018
The blog is really nice thanks for sharing.
Tina
Wednesday 29th of June 2016
Wow so many nice recipes. I hate carrots somehow yet I find nice recipes with it. Thanks for sharing
yummyfoodrecipesindia
Tuesday 3rd of May 2016
Perfect and healthy food recipes list. Appreciate your collection of 12 crunchy recipes with respective followed by making direction. Good food recipes ideas.
dorsy
Monday 2nd of May 2016
much needed this article.i will follow and give feedback .
Jasmine
Thursday 28th of April 2016
Thank you for sharing amazing recipe with us. :)