Don’t let after school hunger stump you! Here are 30 healthy after school snack ideas that kids (and parents) will love!
Snacks. Sometimes it seems like kids live for snacks. It’s no wonder that parents often use snacks as a reward or a way to placate their children. Kids will do almost anything for a snack, especially if they see it as something they don’t normally get.
I don’t mean to say that snacks are necessarily bad. It really depends on what the snack is, right? Obviously a healthy snack is ideal. And it has to be a healthy snack that doesn’t look like a healthy snack.
Snacks = Fuel = Healthy Kids
According to Eatright.org, kids need to eat every 3 to 4 hours to “fuel their growing bodies.” I like that. Snacks=fuel. Growing children need 3 meals, plus a couple of snacks per day. The folks at Eat Right suggest serving healthy snacks that have protein and fiber, snacks that provide nutrition and energy.
I don’t know if everyone’s kids are like mine but I know that my kids don’t eat much during the school day. Not enough time, too many distractions, and not liking what’s served are the main excuses. When they get home from school, they are HUNGRY! They’re ready to eat pretty much anything I give them.
I’m always looking for healthy snack ideas and I bet you are too. So, here goes. I hope this list of 30 after school (or any time) snacks puts a smile on your kids’ faces. And we all know that smiling kids mean smiling parents!
Be sure to take a look at my after school snack board ideas, too, especially if you have a larger group of kids. It’s uncomplicated and very versatile. Kids love it (and you won’t need a fancy charcuterie board).
30 After School Snacks
Healthier than a cookie, but just as popular, monster cookie energy balls are made with nutritious peanut butter and oats.
Cranberry oatmeal energy balls, with dates and hemp seed, are chewy bites of deliciousness with a nutritious energy boost.
Chocolate protein balls with dates, oats, and flaxseed will satisfy kids’ chocolate cravings without a sugar crash.
Apple cinnamon no bake energy bites are fun, filling, and could not be any easier to make. They’re great for after school and school lunch boxes, too!
Watch your kids devour fresh fruit when they can dip it into this creamy fruit dip, made with yogurt and cream cheese. It’s lightly sweetened and so delicious!
Put anything on a stick and it’s way more fun to eat! Kids love fresh fruit kabobs which can be made with almost any type of fruit.
Bright green and deliciously creamy, edamame dip is nutritious and super satisfying. Serve it with crackers, veggies, or pita bread triangles.
Made with peanut butter and cream cheese, this apple dip tastes like caramel apples!
This better-for-you dill vegetable dip is made with Greek yogurt which means more protein and less fat than ordinary veggie dips.
Easy to make and easy to eat, pumpkin dip tastes like pumpkin pie. Made with yogurt, cream cheese, and canned pumpkin, it’s healthier and so good with graham crackers, apples, or pretzels.
The best cheese crackers ever! Homemade Cheez-its are made with lots of real cheddar cheese, no artificial anything.
A basket of warm tortilla chips made from simple corn tortillas, a light spritz of oil, and a sprinkle of salt is hard to resist. Serve them with homemade salsa.
Salsa is so easy to make and you can make it spicy or not. Lots of vegetables (tomatoes, onions, peppers) but low in sodium.
Kids love this fruity salsa with mangos and pineapple. If avocado isn’t their thing, leave it out!
Looks like pudding, tastes like pudding, but it’s made with healthy chia seeds. Top with fresh fruit or chocolate chips.
Who knew that canned chickpeas could be turned into a delicious snack? Cinnamon roasted chickpeas are healthy and friendly.
Almonds have lots of nutritional value and these olive oil roasted almonds won’t disappoint. Addictively good! Be sure to try my cinnamon roasted almonds, too!
A little more substantial, English muffin pizzas are easy to make and so popular with kids. Perfect do-it-yourself pizzas for older children.
Perfect for a substantial after school snack or quick meal, air fryer hot dogs are quick and easy, ready in just 5 minutes. Teenagers love ’em!
With mango and banana, this 4 ingredient smoothie is easy to make with optional added sweeteners. Frosty and delicious!
Another smoothie pleaser, a tropical smoothie is healthy, refreshing, and delicious.
With whole wheat flour, sweetened naturally with bananas and applesauce, this banana bread is a healthy snack or lunchbox treat. Top it with peanut butter or cream cheese.
Made with a can of real pumpkin puree and whole wheat flour, pumpkin bread is a popular after school snack. Serve it with a glass of cold milk.
Bakery muffins tend to be loaded with sugar and oil. Make your own blueberry bran muffins for after school snacks or lunchbox treats. They freeze well, too.
The ingredient list for carrot raisin muffins is packed with nutrition (carrots, raisins, bananas, applesauce, whole wheat flour) but they taste like a sweet treat.
Loaded with bits of fresh apple, apple cinnamon muffins are a popular after school snack. Try them with apple butter or cinnamon cream cheese.
Wish your kids would eat more beans? Try black bean brownies, they’ll never guess there’s beans in their brownies!
Who says chocolate chip cookies can’t be a healthy after school snack? Make these snackable cookies with whole wheat flour and rolled oats.
Energy-boosting trail mix cookies are easy to make with only 4 ingredients. Bake them in your toaster oven for a freshly baked after school snack.
Not just for breakfast, these gingerbread cookies make a perfect after school snack or lunch box treat.
