10+ Easy After-School Snacks
Here are 10+ Easy Ideas for After-School Snacks, and more! Schools are in session and that means preparing meals, and snacks for our kids. We believe that snacks should be fun, delicious, and high in nutrients. Plus, they should be easy to make and ready in minutes! So take a look at these ideas and get inspired.
10+ Easy After School Snacks…and Better
We know when kids get home from school, they usually come home ravenous and head directly to the fridge or pantry looking to grab something to snack on. Right?! And, we also know that keeping them away from junk food is tough these days.
But, if we can prepare some of these healthier options for snacks, ahead of time – it’s worth it! And it’s time saving, especially if you’re a working mom or dad.
The Benefits…
The benefits are wonderful, especially knowing they’re eating something nutritious rather than sugar-filled-processed foods. Eating snacks helps fuel their energy giving kids what they need to go out and conquer the day!
- Fruits and Vegetables: These contain essential vitamins and minerals vital for everyone’s health. Below are some great ideas to incorporate them.
- Control The Ingredients: Cooking at home allows you to control and customize the ingredients, and make substitutions for your family’s allergies. Common allergens like dairy, wheat, nuts, and even tree nuts, can be found in snack food, making it imperative to review ingredient lists of packaged food items. By preparing better snacks at home, you can customize your recipe to be “allergen-free.”
- Cost Effective: We all know that “pre-packaged snacks” are convenient, but convenience has a cost! Making these easy snacks at home can also be a cost-effective way to eating better. Buying key ingredients in bulk, like whole grain cereals, oats, dried fruits, chocolate chips, and kinds of seed butter, can be a cost-effective way to make snacks at home.
Quick Tips…
- Making your own snacks will avoid a lot of preservatives, added food coloring, and other unwanted chemicals in our kids foods.
- Healthy snacks will help keep their minds sharp.
- Help maintain stable blood sugar levels to improve focus, less crankiness, and better mood.
- It can also reduce the risk of overeating at main meals.
10+ Easy After-School Snacks…
Any of these 10+ ideas for easy after-school snacks can also be added as an “extra treat” in their lunch boxes! So, here are some great ideas!
1. Fresh Fruit with Berries and Dip…
Sweet and savory fresh fruit with yogurt is delicious anytime! Here are some additional suggestions:
- A Sweet Yogurt Dip: Use about 1/2 cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of strawberry preserves, or any flavor they prefer, then transfer to a small serving dish.
- Make Ahead: Place bite-size pieces of fresh fruit onto a serving platter, add some fresh berries too, and wrap with clear wrap. Chill before serving.
- Leave a Note: If they get home before you do, leave a little sweet note on top! Don’t forget to add some toothpicks or small forks for dipping.
More Fresh Fruit Ideas:
- Fruit Kabobs: Try alternating small grapes, blueberries, and strawberries on a skewer for a sweet and refreshing snack.
- Fresh Fruit Parfait: Make a simple mixture of yogurt and honey topped with blueberries, strawberries, and bananas.
- Fruit & Cheese Skewers: Make a variety of these skewers using some blackberries, cantaloupe, and strawberries with cubes of cheddar cheese, and arrange them on a skewer for an easy snack.
2. Vegetable Sticks with a Dip…
Fresh Vegetables: either pre-cut into sticks at your local supermarket or cut them yourself. This platter contains 3 carrots, 3 celery stalks, 1 red, 1 yellow, and 1 orange bell pepper. Cut each into 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch sticks.
- Make a colorful platter! And, add a dip in the center or on the side of the veggies.
- My kids LOVE of platter of fresh veggies with either a chickpea stew hummus dip, our healthy beet hummus, tzatziki sauce, or a simple sour cream dip. Yours will too!
- Make an easy dip! Try making an easy sour cream dip using a 1/2 cup of sour cream mixed with a few dried herbs.
3. (No-Bake!) Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies…
No-Bake Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies are thick, chewy, delicious little cookies. They are gluten-free, egg-free, and made in 5 minutes and on stove top! These freeze beautifully, too!
Recipe for: No-Bake Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
4. Liz’s Pita Pizza’s…
Make these pita pizza ahead and freeze some! Kids can pop them into the microwave or toaster oven. These are quick, easy and delicious for kids to make favorite pizza! Make a batch of them in your oven, then allow them to cool, and freeze.
Recipe for: Liz’s Pita Pizza Recipe.
5. No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites…
These are ideal for: Make ahead and Freeze! No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites are loaded with delicious ingredients, like dates, coconut, and shredded carrots. They’re simple, easy, and very tasty! Everyone will love them!
Recipe: No-Bake Carrot Cake Bites
6. Baked Chicken Nuggets…
Kids love chicken nuggets! Make your own chicken nuggets-healthy way! Make ahead and freeze these too. Idea for an easy dinner too! And, a great way to give them some protein before they run out to their after-school activities. Keep them in the freezer so they can just pop into the oven or microwave.
Recipe: Baked Chicken Nuggets
7. Carrot and Spinach Dip…
Carrot and Spinach Dip is a simple dip you can easily make homemade with only a few ingredients. Serve with fresh veggie sticks, seed crackers, or tortilla chips on the side will help keep them full while they wait for dinner.
Recipe: Carrot and Spinach Dip
8. Simple and Easy Spicy SALSA…
Homemade salsa is super easy, super fresh, and always tastes the best! Make it mild or make it spicy! Add some sour cream on the side, and serve with organic, whole-grain tortilla chips!
Recipe: Simple and Easy Spicy Salsa
9. Spinach and Kale Bites… (Trader Joe’s Copycat)
These are everyone’s favorite and most popular! Spinach and Kale Bites are delicious bites filled with spinach, kale, and Parmesan cheese. Trust me, these are SO good! They’ll never notice they’re eating something so good for them!
Recipe: Spinach and Kale Bites!
10. Apples, Cheese, and Grapes with Caramel Dip…
Another idea! I saw this package at our local supermarket called Publix and thought it was a great idea. It’s a bit expensive, so you may want to make it yourself. Grab a platter or a plastic container, add some sliced apples, red grapes, and cubed cheeses, and serve it with a caramel sauce. Try these with yogurt too. Your kids will go bonkers!
Here’s a tip: Toss apple slices with a teaspoon or two of lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Then keep them chilled until ready to serve.
11. Apple-Oatmeal Cookies…NO SUGAR & NO BUTTER!
Apple-Oatmeal Cookies..NO Sugar and NO Butter!.. are made with cinnamon, fresh apples, oats, and chocolate chips. They’re the delicious cookies you won’t mind giving them to your kids! Even adults – like me, love ’em!
Recipe: Apple-Oatmeal Cookies
12. Best Chickpea Hummus Recipe
Try our Chickpea Stew Hummus recipe. It’s loaded with a simple mixture of fresh vegetables simmered, then pureed with chickpeas into a luscious creamy texture. Topped with paprika for a smoky flavor! Everyone will go bonkers over this hummus. It’s Delicious!
Recipe: Best Chickpea Stew Hummus
Additional Easy Ideas for After-School Snacks…
- Mint Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
- Cinnamon Sweet Potato Muffins
- Spinach and Cheese Squares
- Mini Peanut Butter and Nutella Sandwiches
- 10 Best Muffin Recipes
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Pudding
Hello Friends! Are you cooking and baking with us? If you try any of these 10+ easy ideas for after-school snacks, let us know and leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you! 🙂
Stay Healthy and Happy! 😉
Thanks for stopping by!
xo anna and liz
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Baked Chicken Nuggets are my favorite, but I love all of your tips.
Thanks Jamie!
I always love your creative ideas. wish you good luck for more interesting work. 🙂
Thanks Mattie! Have a great weekend!
So many fun ideas!
thank you Barbara!
I don't want to think about back to school quite yet but I have to! Having healthy and hearty food for kids with their busy days is so important to their wellbeing. These are great suggestions. They're all healthy but they're all a treat!
We hear ya Monica! Thanks for stopping by!
Xo
Wouldn't mind all of them myself! Great ideas, ladies!
Great collection of after school treats here! My only dilemma is that I know my kids will want every one of them; which to try first?!
I hear ya Dan! Lol,… thanks for stopping by!
It’s important to give the kids a variety of food to eat to avoid it to become boring. Good post.
Thank you for your lovely comment and for stopping by!
Great post, I think I'll try some of these ideas for myself since my kids are grown, and I love that fruit and cheese box you found at the supermarket!
Thanks Sue ! They caught my eye while shopping in the produce section and I thought they were ideal for busy moms. Right ? Anyway thank you for leaving a lovely comment! Enjoy!
This post makes me want to go back to school … sort of! We adore hummus and that fruit tray is gorgeous. The salsa photo is really calling my name. All pictures are beautiful but that one stunning. Great ideas – great recipes!
Thanks Tricia! I enjoy making these snacks for my teens and especially for my little grand babies every time I go up North to visit !
Still loving these recipes – and the pita pizzas are calling my name today!
My kids would have loved to come home to any of these delicious snacks.
I know what you mean Barbara. It's funny, I still use the veggies with dip when family comes over for dinner. It holds them over so they pick at the food while I'm cooking.
These are great healthy snacks for anyone!
We agree! They are good for everyone! Have a great day.