If you’re planning a fun Sunday evening with the kids, there’s no better way to enjoy a cosy night in as a family than having your own movie night. But kids will be kids – some will have short attention spans and others will only be satisfied if they’ve got some tasty treats in hand!

Having a strong snack game is crucial as parents of young children, but if you’re fed up of the same old bags of popcorn and want to surprise your little ones with something a little different, these seven snack alternatives are sure-fire winners in the eyes of your prince or princess.

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Peanut butter and jelly doughnuts

Because we all enjoy that combination of sweet and salty, it’s scientifically proven! Peanut butter and jelly doughnuts are a really fun Sunday treat for the kids. Create a peanut butter topping for your doughnuts and pipe the middle of each doughnut with jam of your choice - it’s really that simple!

Tater Tots

A huge favourite over in the States, Tater Tots are kind of like a smaller, rounder version of a hash brown, almost like a potato croquette. They are crispy on the outside, providing that crunch and texture that kids crave, and fluffy in the middle. They’re brilliant for dipping in ketchup or mayonnaise; you could even coat them in a little chilli powder or paprika if your little ones can handle a bit of heat.

Chicken tikka nuggets

These are chicken nuggets, but not as your kids might know them! If you’ve already introduced your youngsters to Indian flavours, they’ll absolutely love the fresh-tasting chicken tikka marinade on some chicken pieces. Coat them in cornflour and lightly fry them and you’ve got an instant snack that’s very low on carbs and fat.

Sweet ‘n’ smoky candied almonds

Instead of giving your kids saturated fats as treats, why not give them some natural heart-healthy fats with these sweet ‘n’ smoky almonds? Coat them all evenly in a spicy, sweet rub using paprika, sugar etc and then glaze the nuts with an egg white to give them that nice crunchy exterior once they’re cooked. Be warned – these will make your kids thirsty so make sure you’ve got plenty of refreshments handy too!

Fully-loaded nachos

The perfect family sharing snack! You can throw together a bunch of tortilla chips, salsa, guacamole and top it with plenty of cheese in a standard oven tray. Whack it in the oven until the cheese has melted and the chips are crispy and you’re onto a winner.

Baked edamame

The last two movie night snacks are a little healthier than the rest of the snacks featured in this article, purely in the interests of parental balance. Edamame beans are all the rage now; they are crispy and sweet and packed full of protein. Why not bake a batch of these green soybeans for your little ones to munch on in between mealtimes?

Honey nut bites

Make your own chewy bites using a variety of dried nuts and fruits and raw honey. The honey will bind the nuts and fruits together into delicious little bite-sized balls. Pop them in the oven for a little while and you’ve got a really healthy, energy-packed sweet treat for you and the kids.


Hopefully these tried and trusted snacks have given you some inspiration when you’re planning your next home cinema night as a family. With just a little bit of creativity and forward planning you can come up with something that you’ll all enjoy eating together.