8 Fun After-School Snacks for Kids 

By Katie Trudeau

It’s officially back-to-school season, which means it’s also time to step up the after-school snack game. A good after-school snack has several qualities: easy for parents to assemble, delicious, nutritious, and it won’t spoil their appetite for dinner!

Need a few new ideas to add to your after-school snack rotation? Check out these recipes.

Graham Cracker Fruit Pizza

Who doesn’t want a sweet snack after school? This sweet treat is healthy yet delicious! It’s also easy for kids to help assemble, so they will have just as much fun creating their pizza as they will devouring their pizza!

What you need:

• Graham crackers
• Whipped cream cheese (choose either plain or a berry flavor)
• Fresh fruit: sliced bananas, fresh berries, kiwi slices 

What to do:

• Spread a thin layer of whipped cream cheese on the graham cracker
• Top with fresh fruit 
• Devour! 

Peanut Butter Banana Rice Cake 

If your kids are starving after school, a lightweight snack isn’t going to cut it. This snack is loaded with protein so it will keep little tummies full until dinner time.

What you need:

• Rice cakes, either plain or apple cinnamon
• Peanut butter or any nut butter substitute 
• Sliced bananas
• Honey

What to do:

• Spread a thick layer of nut butter on the rice cake
• Top with sliced bananas
• Drizzle with honey

Apple Cheddar Ham Wraps

These apple cheddar ham wraps have it all: sweet, savory, and a bit of crunch! 

What you need:

• Thin slices of your favorite apple
• Rectangle slices of sharp cheddar
• Honey ham

What to do:

• Spread out each piece of ham
• In the center of the ham, lay two apple slices and one piece of cheese
• Fold the sides of the ham (like you’re wrapping a present) to enclose the apple and cheddar
• Enjoy!

Faux Pizza

This is another rice cake snack (because they are so easy!) but you could adapt this and use English muffins or Wasa crackers. Faux pizza is easy to make and doesn’t require any heating so kids can easily make this snack on their own.

What you need:

• Rice cakes or English muffins
• Cherry tomatoes 
• Fresh mozzarella pearls 

What to do:

• Top your rice cake with the cherry tomatoes
• Add mozzarella pearls
• Optional: add pepperoni slices 
• Enjoy!

Smoothie Bowls 

Smoothie bowls aren’t just for breakfast! This is a quick snack that won’t sabotage the dinner plans. This is another no-bake,no-heat after-school snack that can be assembled in less than five minutes.

What you need:

• Yogurt: Choose Greek yogurt and avoid any yogurt with candy pieces and added sugar
• Fresh fruit: Berries, bananas, and kiwi 
• Toppings: nuts, granola, chia seeds

What to do:

• Scoop yogurt into a bowl
• Add toppings
• Enjoy!

Nachos Supreme 

This isn’t what you think! These nachos serve up a veggies and protein-laden black beans.

What you need:

• Bell peppers, washed and sliced into 2-inch wide strips
• Shredded cheddar
• Corn 
• Black beans
• Sour cream
• Guacamole 
• Cilantro

What to do:

• Arrange your bell pepper “chips” on a baking tray
• Top with cheddar, corn, and black beans
• Place under the broiler until the cheese melts
• Top with sour cream and guacamole and cilantro
• Enjoy!

No-Bake Homemade Protein-Packed Granola Bars

Granola bars are a quick snack, but many of them are loaded with sugar (or candy) and don’t offer much protein. Whip up a batch of these on the weekend, and you’ll have a healthy -- but easy -- snack for those after-school munchies. 

What you need: 

• 2 cups of rolled oats + ½  cup of ground oats
• 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder 
• ¾ cup of peanut butter (or any nut butter alternative)
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ½ chocolate chips (or carob nibs)
• ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

What to do:

• Melt the maple syrup and peanut butter together in a double boiler.
• Combine all dry ingredients. 
• Add the melted peanut butter/maple syrup to the dry ingredients. 
• Stir well. 
• Add the chocolate chips.
• Place into an 8x8 glass dish (lined with parchment paper)
• Cool
• Cut into squares.
• Store in the fridge. 

Crispy Strawberry Bars

Most granola bars that are marketed to kids are chocolate and peanut butter, but chocolate/peanut butter isn’t the only flavor combo that kids like. These fresh strawberry bars are crispy, sweet, and loaded with fiber. Did we mention that they are no-bake? Winning!

What you need:

• 3 cups rolled oats 
• 3 cups crispy rice cereal
• 1 cup shredded coconut 
• 1 cup of seeds (can do a mix of chia and ground flax seed)
• 1 cup non-GMO, all-natural peanut butter (or a nut butter alternative)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil 
• 1/2 cup honey (do not give to babies under 1 year of age)
• 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries (you could also use other freeze-dried fruits like blueberries)

What to do:

• Mix the wet ingredients in a bowl until well-combined
• Mix dry ingredients together.
• Pour the peanut butter/coconut oil/honey mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients.
• Mix well and pour into a 9x13 glass pan lined with parchment paper.
• Chill for 1 hour. 
• Slice into bars.
• Store in the fridge.

What about you?

What are your favorite after-school snacks? 

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