Here's what kids snack on around the world

Kids all over the world have one thing in common: their love of snacks. But what they eat, whether it’s after school or at a birthday party, varies greatly in different corners of the world. Here are some beloved kids snacks around the world.

1. Israel: Bamba

Bamba is a peanut-flavoured puffed-corn snack resembling Cheetos. According to the manufacturer, 90 percent of Israeli families purchase Bamba on a regular basis. It’s even credited for that country’s low rate of peanut allergy, and spawned research that showed early introduction of peanut dramatically reduces the risk of developing a peanut allergy.

2. Netherlands: Open-Faced Buttered Sandwiches with Hagelslag

Hagelslag is chocolate sprinkles, so you can imagine why this is such a hit with Dutch kids—who even get to eat it for breakfast! According to survey conducted by Stuff Dutch People Like, a community of more than 500,000 and based on the bestselling book of the same name, the country eats hagelslag on more than 750,000 pieces of buttery bread per day and consumes more than 30 million pounds of sprinkles each year.

3. South Africa: Biltong

Biltong, which is a dried cured meat similar to beef jerky, is South Africa’s national snack, and babies there even cut their teeth on it. Unlike its jerky counterpart, biltong is cured in a highly nutritious way, with no artificial colorings, flavourings, preservatives, sodium nitrates, or MSG. Flavored with vinegar and brown sugar, Biltong is most often made with beef but can also be made with chicken, ostrich, and other types of meat.

4. Curry Fish Balls: Hong Kong

This common street food is made of minced fish boiled in mild curry and topped with a spicy chili sauce. While not necessarily an everyday snack, many kids in Hong Kong enjoy snacking on these from street vendors.

5. Brazil: Brigadeiros

One of the most treasured treats in Brazil is brigadeiros, sweet little balls made from condensed milk and powdered chocolate, and then coated with chocolate sprinkles. With only four ingredients and requiring no time in the oven, brigadeiros can be made in under an hour, and make their appearance at almost every kids’ birthday party.

6. Jordan: Pita Bread and Labneh

Labneh, strained yogurt similar to Greek-style yogurt, spread on pita bread or white bread and drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt is a hit with Jordanian children and a popular after-school snack.

7. Lebanon: Hummus and Fresh Khobz

This Middle Eastern snack has also gained popularity around the world: hummus and fresh bread. The hummus is usually made from boiled and mashed chickpeas blended with olive oil and spices. In Lebanon, children love dipping fresh khobz (Arabic bread) into the hummus blend.

8. Australia: Vegemite on Bread

Vegemite is a dark spread that Australian children love to eat on bread. Rich in Vitamin B, Vegemite is made from leftover brewers’ yeast extract and various vegetable and spice additives. It’s thick like peanut butter, but with a savoury taste that kids Down Under find hard to resist.

9. China: Dried Squid

In China, kids eat bags of shredded, dried squid much the same way other children enjoy potato chips. Dried squid is on the chewy side, but softer than beef jerky which makes it perfect for kids of all ages.

Read more:
10 packaged after-school snacks your kids will love
This is what kids' breakfasts look like around the world