We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia, but I know many of you do, and I love hearing about the traditions that families share during this season. Even if turkey and pumpkin pie aren’t on our table, I can absolutely understand the joy of gathering with family, catching up with loved ones, and making food that feels special.
What I do know well is kids. When there’s a big family meal happening, little ones often get restless or hungry while waiting for the main food to be ready. That’s where simple snacks come in handy. Fun, colorful, and easy to grab, these snacks aren’t just about filling hungry tummies, they’re about keeping kids happy and part of the celebration.
Here are some easy ideas for Thanksgiving snacks for kids that you can set out for school parties, family gatherings, or just a cozy day at home.
Turkey Veggie Cups
This one is so simple and healthy. Take a small clear cup and fill it with carrot sticks, celery, and cucumber. Add a few pretzel sticks and arrange bell pepper slices in the back so they fan out like turkey feathers. Kids can grab their own cup and munch away without needing a plate.
Apple Slice Sandwiches
Sweet, crunchy, and just a little messy. Spread peanut butter or Nutella on an apple slice, sprinkle with raisins or mini chocolate chips, and top with another slice. They look like little apple sandwiches and are perfect for kids who like a mix of fresh and sweet.
Harvest Trail Mix
This one is perfect if you’re feeding a crowd. Mix together popcorn, pretzels, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and a few chocolate candies. It’s crunchy, sweet, salty, and kids can scoop their own into a little cup or bag.
Turkey Sandwich Bites
Make ordinary sandwiches feel festive by turning them into little turkeys. Use a round cookie cutter to cut the bread into circles, then fill them with turkey and cheese. For the feathers, tuck apple slices behind the sandwich so they fan out like a tail. Add two candy eyes on top and a small piece of cheese cut into a triangle for the beak. Kids will love the cute faces and the mix of sweet apples with their sandwich.
Pizza Turkey
If your kids love pizza (and honestly, most do), this snack will be a big hit. The idea is to make the pizza look like a turkey with all its colorful feathers. You can use a large pizza as a centerpiece or make smaller ones so each child has their own “turkey.” Start with your pizza base and sauce, then sprinkle with cheese. For the feathers, arrange slices of bell peppers, pepperoni, or even carrot sticks in a fan shape around the top half of the pizza. Add two olive slices or round pieces of cheese for eyes, and use a small triangle of red capsicum or tomato for the beak. If you have a strip of red capsicum, you can even add a little “wattle” under the beak to make it extra fun.
Turkey Doughnuts
Take a plain glazed or chocolate doughnut and turn it into a turkey face. Add candy eyes on the top, use a candy corn or a small triangle of orange icing for the beak, and a little red icing or a red jelly lolly for the wattle. For feathers, you can stick pretzel sticks or candy corns around the top of the doughnut so they fan out like a tail.
Final Thoughts
Even though Thanksgiving isn’t something we celebrate in my corner of the world, I think these snacks are such a fun way to make kids feel included in the holiday. They’re playful, colorful, and easy to put together without too much fuss. And really, whether it’s for Thanksgiving, a birthday party, or just a rainy afternoon at home, kids don’t mind what the occasion is. They just love snacks that make them smile.
