After-school snacks are kind of epic. They’ve gotta be fast, easy, simple and keep the kiddos filled until dinner.
Kids have been at school all day sitting at desks and following directions (or at least we hope they’ve been), and then they get home and it’s like “Whoa! I can stand, I can sit, I can go to the bathroom without asking!” And almost inevitably they’re staaarving — and they want a snack. Now.
You know you don’t want a non-filling snack to pass their lips. If it does, you’ll be hearing them ask for another snack every 2.5 minutes until dinner is served. Seriously, filling is the way to go.
These 5 snacks are all that … and a bundle of fun.
1. Apples and Peanut Butter
Cut some apples into wedges. Arrange on a plate. Serve with a tablespoon or two of your favorite peanut butter (or whatever’s in the cabinet). You can make this one ultra-fast by buying pre-sliced apples – they come in both green and red varieties.
Like PB & apples in combo? Try this Peanutty Apple Sandwiches recipe!
2. String Cheese, Fruit and Nuts
Unwrap a string cheese, place it on a plate. Add some fruit (hint: keep pre-washed grapes and/or berries in the fridge so that they are just grab and go!). Toss on a handful of nuts (on second thought, make that ‘gently place on’). Serve. And yes, it’s filling.
For another kid-friendly, fun snack idea, try this Fruity Sushi snack recipe or this Crunchy Fruit and Nut Snack Mix recipe.
3. Totino’s Pizza Rolls (featured)
This is a total throwback to my teen years. Totino’s Pizza Rolls only take a few minutes to whip up in the microwave. Then they are ready to serve and devour. Easy doesn’t begin to describe it.
If your kids love pizza rolls, try jazzing them up with this Parmesan Pizza Rolls recipe.
4. Veggies, Pita Wedges and Hummus
My kids are huge hummus fans. You can either make yours at home ahead of time or pick up a container (they have those handy single serve containers too). Then serve it with cut carrots, bell peppers, cucumber slices and wedges of pita.
Here’s another brilliant veggie snack for kids: Mixed-Up Garden Snacks recipe
5. Choco-nana
Have you had the Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Granola Thins? They are ah-freakin-mazing. I kid you not. So, this snack is simple. Open a Nature Valley Dark Chocolate Granola Thin, pile on banana slices, devour. And yes, it’s okay if they have two.
If chocolate and bananas are your kids’ thing, try these Grilled Chocolate Banana Melts recipe! (And you can make ‘em in the oven if your grill is on vacay!)
More Great Snacks for Kids
For even more ideas to fill those little mouths when they get home, see my article on After-School Snack Recipes or our collection of Healthy Snack Recipes!
Sarah W. Caron (aka scaron) is a food writer, editor and blogger who writes about family-friendly foods and raising a healthy family at Sarah’s Cucina Bella.
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