I don’t know about you, but I find the hardest food dilemma to solve after the dreaded, “What’s for dinner?” is the question of what to feed kids after school when they claim to be inches away from starvation. School is a lot of work, and many kids are eating lunch early in the day. While school does provide a snack, it is usually small and my kids don’t always like what is being served.
I have vowed this year to prepare healthy snacks and have them on hand for when my kids get home. I want to think outside the box and serve a variety of foods so I don’t have to feel stressed if they don’t always eat a well-balanced dinner. Don’t get me wrong, you will still find me at Costco stocking up on Goldfish because, you know, it’s life with kids. But I do hope that this list inspires me (and you!) to create some new, fun, and healthy snacks.
*Thank you to Tara at Yummy Sprout for use of the delicious pictures!*
1. Popcorn- Pop your own and choose from a variety of toppings: Parmesan cheese, sea salt, cinnamon, 100% pure maple syrup. The combinations are endless!
2. Banana Oatmeal Cookies
3. Muffins-Make a large batch and store in the freezer.
4. Homemade Chia Granola
5. Banana Split: Top a banana with low-fat vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with your favorite whole-grain cereal.
6. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts.
7. Homemade chewy granola bars
8. No-sugar-added applesauce
9. Chocolate almond dip with apples (My kids go crazy for this)
10. Yogurt parfait
11. Fresh fruit salad with chopped mint
12. No bake energy bites
13. Crackers and hummus
14. Veggies and dip
15. Roast maple chickpeas
16. Peanut butter on celery
17. PB & J Smoothie
18. Banana topped with peanut butter and honey
19. Homemade cheesy crackers
20. Fruit kabobs
21. Homemade Jello fruit cup
22. Cucumbers with dollops of cottage cheese
23. Kale chips
24. Chocolate covered banana pop
25. Maple peanut butter fondue
26. Whole grain pretzels
27. Frozen grapes
28. Crispy Apple-wiches
29. String cheese
30. Kiwiscicles: Cut slices of kiwi, insert popsicle stick, freeze.
31. Baked Apple Chips
32. Cheese with whole-grain crackers
33. Fruit leather
34. Avocado slices on whole-wheat crackers
35. Chia Seed Pudding
36. Homemade Pistachio pudding
37. Plain Greek yogurt with a swirl of jam or honey
38. Sweet potato tots
39. Trail mix
40. Pistachios
41. Homemade Popsicles
42. Homemade Fruit Snacks
43. Pears sprinkled with cinnamon
44. Cinnamon Apples
45. Edamame
46. PB & J Pizzas
47. Nitrate-free jerky
48. Rolled up nitrate-free lunch meat
49. Beet Chips
50. Hard-boiled egg
51. Whole grain mini-toaster waffles dipped in cinnamon applesauce
52. Whole grain cornbread muffins
53. Dried fruit
54. Raw Pumpkin seeds
55. Banana “ice cream”
56. Blueberries dipped in vanilla Greek yogurt then frozen
57. Whole wheat English muffin pizzas
58. Faux “kid sushi”
59. Low-sugar cereal
60. Whole grain pita pocket filled with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices
61. Almond butter and jelly bars
62. Dried apple rings
63. Peanut butter banana spirals
64. Juice packed canned fruit
65. Low-fat cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks
66. Carrot cakes bites
67. Whole wheat peanut butter toast
68. Cottage cheese
69. Very Vanilla Milkshake
70. Whole grain bagel with almond butter
71. Caprese salad kabob
72. Mini-bagels with cream cheese and sliced cucumbers
73. Deviled eggs
74. Mini quinoa black bean burgers
75. LÄRABAR-store bought or homemade
76. Fruit Pizza
77. Handful of peanuts in the shell
78. Tofu Fingers
79. Mini whole-wheat pancakes
80. Bruschetta
81. Mini Babybel cheese
82. Real Fruit Slushies
83. Chicken strips with honey mustard dipping sauce
84. Baked Parmesan Zucchini Sticks
85. Cherry tomatoes with guacamole
86. Peanut butter and chocolate dipped pretzels
87. Whole wheat pita filled with nitrate-free lunch meat and veggies
88. Baked Mozzarella Bites
89. Whole grain pretzels dipped in vanilla Greek yogurt
90. Homemade tortilla chips and salsa
91. Whole wheat breadsticks with marinara sauce
92. Frozen yogurt drops
93. Jicama with a sprinkle of chili powder
94. Crispy Edamame
95. Mini Pepper Nachos
96. Celery topped with cream cheese and shredded carrots
97. Cinnamon toasted almonds
98. Baby Carrots with spinach dip
99. Zee Bar Cookies (A favorite in my house)
100. Broccoli and cheese quinoa power bites
101. Potato boats- Top a baked potato with a sprinkle of cheese and pieces of broccoli. Use red pepper strips as “oars”
Need more inspiration? Here are some of my favorite places to find kid-friendly recipes:
What are your favorite after-school snacks?
