The 11 Best Trader Joe's Snacks for Kids (According to Real Parents)

My daughter is just shy of 1 year old, so she’s not fully immersed in the snacking game (yet). But she’s been loving these peanut butter puffs, aka Bambas, since we introduced PB around 6 months. PureWow’s Director of Special Projects Rachel Bowie, Executive Editor Dara Katz and Senior Director of Branded Partnerships Alyce Tassoni all agree, telling me their kids love them too. “Not only are they friggin’ delicious,” Katz says, “but they’re a great way to continually expose kids to peanuts on your allergen journey without thinking too much about it.”

VP of Design and Branded Content Angela Pares tells me she is a big fan of the freeze-dried fruit slices for her kid, specifically the strawberry and apple varieties. Crunchy and tart, these fruit snacks contain real fruit and nothing else, and the way they melt in your mouth is unbeatable. (They’re also good for baking—add them to homemade granola, crush them up into cookies or make homemade ice cream shell!)

Pares, along with Tassoni, is also a fan of Trader Joe’s string cheese, which is made from a mild, mozzarella-style cheese out of Wisconsin. In my opinion, this is a no-brainer kid (and adult) snack. Psst: It’s also available in an organic version.

Parents of young kids know that pouches are a way of life (and they’re also pretty dang expensive). I love that these apple-banana pouches contain real fruit and no added sugar, and they’re less than $3 for a pack of four. Plus, they’re great for tossing in a bag or lunchbox and running out the door.

“My daughter loves the fruit leather buttons,” PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint says. “She loves that they taste like gummies and peel off in a button shape in a satisfying (and shareable) way. I love that there are no added sweeteners.” (And sure, I may not be a kid…but I agree that these fruity bites are delicious.)

Branded Content Director of Special Projects Rachel Gulmi says her son loves the peanut butter and cheese versions of these mini sandwich crackers, and now TJ’s has a flavor with a twist, inspired by its popular Everything But the Bagel seasoning.

Gulmi also cites these soft, chewy bars as being a hit with her son. They’re made with an oat-y almond butter filling, coated in chocolate and sweetened with fig paste, so they’re surprisingly low in sugar and not too sweet.

These ultra convenient peanut butter snack packs (which Gulmi mentions are a favorite in her household) are both inspired by and ideal for lunchbox meals. You get a portion of peanut butter–filled crispy wafer sticks and a sidecar of sticky-sweet raspberry fruit dip (not to mention 8 grams of protein per pack).

Hummus is a classic snack option, but Trader Joe’s does it right. The plain version of the dip comes in a big tub and is practically begging to be paired with pretzels, carrot sticks and pita chips alike. (Or, if you’re my 11-month-old, you can shovel it into your mouth by the handful.)

My daughter is a fiend for yogurt—I like to buy the plain, whole milk kind and serve it with fresh fruit. Hot tip: If you want to make it more portable, you can buy reusable silicone snack pouches and keep a few filled in the fridge.

Executive Editor Alexia Dellner tells me her kids love the store’s dried mango, which is made from naturally sweet mangoes from Mexico. “It basically tastes like candy,” she explains—and what could be bad about that?