Last updated on October 17th, 2024
Traveling to Italy with kids can be overwhelming, especially when you’re worried about the witching hour setting in or your kids getting “hangry” after one too many historical landmarks.
Fret not! I am a mom of four living in Italy since 2012 and needless to say, I have had ample time to scope out, sample and come down to the absolute best kid friendly supermarket snacks to keep on hand – no matter where you are in Italy.
So don’t find yourself empty-handed when hunger strikes. Keep any (or many!) of these favorite kid-friendly supermarket snacks on hand during your trip to Italy with your kids!
All of these foods can easily be purchased at small supermarkets in convenient locations in any Italian city and are relatively easy to pack up and keep in your bag all day.
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Cookie Tubes
Plenty of Italy’s most beloved cookies come in travel friendly tubes that can easily be closed and opened. You can find a very popular Nutella version or Ringo (Italy’s version of an Oreo cookie) or less sugary oat or chocolate versions by Gran Cereale.
Drinkable Yogurt
Individual sized drinkable yogurts are a great protein snack for your kids to buy at supermarkets in Italy. They come in a variety of flavors and sizes. Although they shouldn’t spend too much time out of the refrigerator, they are great to keep on hand if you are going to be on the road for just a couple of hours.
Schiacciata or Focaccia
Schiacciata or focaccia (you may see it called differently depending on what region you are in) is Italy’s favorite flatbread snack enjoyed throughout all 20 regions. Look for it in individual rounds or small packages or order it from the deli. Try it all’olio with just olive oil or with classic Italian pizza toppings like olives, tomatoes, zucchini and onion.
Grocery Shopping In Italy: Need help navigating how grocery shopping is done in Italy? Read Grocery Stores In Italy – How To Grocery Shop On Vacation
Pizza
Pizza is a great kid-friendly snack to keep in your bag that won’t take their sugar levels to the next level. Look for pizza in the bakery section of any grocery store and order it by the square or pick it up already pre-packaged.
Tip: Ask for the pizza to be cut into a couple of pieces, making it easier to divide among several children, “Mi potrebbe tagliare la pizza in qualche pezzo più piccolo, per favore?” . If you need more help ordering, read Ordering Pizza In Italy.
Pizzette
Pizzette are small, bite size pizzas usually topped with pizza sauce and maybe cheese. Look for small boxes or packages of them from the bakery and snack on them all day.
Tip: Kid-friendly snacks such as pizzette are one of the best “sneaky” Italian snacks for when you really shouldn’t be eating (i.e. in a museum – I am not condoning this though!).
Granola Bars
Granola bars are more and more common in Italy although not historically part of the typical Italian merenda. You should find several kinds but be sure to read labels as many are chalk full of sugar! I like the Kelloggs protein version.
Fruit Pouches
Fruit pouches are one of the best kid-friendly Italian supermarket snacks to pick up if you have small kids. Look for them next to the dried fruit and nuts around the produce section. These are also great for babies in Italy.
Travelling with Your Bambino? Be sure to read
What Do Babies Eat in Italy?
Italian Baby Food – A Traveler’s Guide
Crostata
Italian kids love crostata, a shortcrust pastry filled with either chocolate or jam. You can buy individually wrapped single portions at any supermarket next to the breakfast cookies or in the bakery section.
Sausage Sticks
Look for small, pre-packed containers of mini-sausages to snack on or packages of Tyrolini. They are the best kid-friendly Italian snack to buy for a high protein boost. They may or may not be refrigerated.
Individual Cheese
Keep your eyes peeled for individually wrapped parmigiano cubes or Baby Bells, which can stay for quite some time at room temperature. Pair with some apples and you have a great, healthy snack for your kids while on the road in Italy.
I loved parmigiano cubes when I was pregnant in Italy and passed my love of them to my kids. Read more about my Favorite Snacks to Eat in Italy While Pregnant.
Italian Lunchables (Parmigiano Snacks)
Parmigiano has a small snack package that is similar to the concept of American lunchables. It’s a small snack box with a juice box, a square of parmesan cheese and a package of crackers. They also make a meat version and a sweet version too. They are kind of gimmicky but kids love them and they are fun.
Fagolosi
Grissini are long, hard breadsticks, similar in taste to a packaged cracker, available at any Italian grocery store. The most popular brand is called Fagolosi which makes other flavors such as sesame and rosemary flavored breadsticks. Look for individually wrapped packages for easy snacking.
Taralli
Taralli are small ring shaped crackers from Puglia flavored with olive oil, water and flour. They will be with the other crackers at any supermarket and just like Fagolosi, you can find them packaged in individual servings. Taralli are most popular in Italy as an aperitivo snack but you can eat them whenever!
Good To Know: Many of these kid-friendly Italian snacks also make great souvenirs from supermarkets in Italy.
Kinder Snacks
There is nothing more fun than a Kinder snack in Italy for kids. They make ‘fresh’ cold ones in the refrigerator section, which have a dairy base. Alternatively, they have regular packaged snacks next to the breakfast cookies. Kinder snacks are Italian junk food but they are always a homerun with kids (and we all want this while traveling with them!).
Individually Wrapped Breakfast Cakes & Sweets
Pre-packaged breakfast pastries and small cakes are huge in Italy, making them one of the best kid-friendly Italian supermarket snacks to try while visiting. They are individually pre-packaged and aren’t too messy.
Plumcake, similar to a yogurt tea-cake, is a popular one that comes in several varieties including chocolate chip and whole wheat.
Fruit
While fruit may not be as popular as some of these other kid-friendly Italian supermarket snacks, it’s an item that can be paired with many of my suggestions above to boost fiber. It’s also worth noting that your kids might be more keen on Italian fruit because it’s so flavorful! Easy to pack and eat fruits are apples, pears, apricots, plums, grapes and mandarin oranges.
You may also consider shopping at markets for fruits in Italy as the quality is much better than at supermarkets.
Learn more about Italian Markets:
How to Shop at Markets in Italy
10 Rules for Shopping at Markets in Italy
Incredible Food Markets in Italy
My Favorite Markets in Florence
Food Markets in Florence
Top Markets In Tuscany
Food Markets in Venice
Rialto Market in Venice
Kids in Italy: Curious to read more about eating with kids in Italy? Check out
Best Squares To Eat And Drink With Kids In Venice
8+ Kid Friendly Restaurants In Venice – From A Mom Of Four Living In Italy
Where To Get A Quick Bite With Kids In Florence (Without Going Out Of Your Way!)
Where To Eat With Kids In Florence
School Lunches In Italy – What An Italian School Lunch Menu Looks Like
Kid-Friendly Foods to Order at Restaurants in Italy
Dining Out With Kids In Italy – What To Expect + Tips
Italy’s Best Supermarket Snacks for Kids
School Lunches in Italy
