We are back at it. Back to a routine, and back to school. Thank goodness! Now, on to the next obstacle: what are they going to eat after school?! This recipe round up is for EASY and HEALTHY after school snacks. These are approved by our kids. Hope yours like them too.

What to feed the kids is always a struggle. With picky appetites, and only 3 hours from their next meal, it’s hard to find the right eats without ruining their dinner.

The kiddos will love to help make several of these recipes. Have the youngsters help, then move them on to homework with a healthy snack on their plate.

Berries & Whipped Cream

Who doesn’t like whipped cream? It’s so simple to make with 3 ingredients: cream, a little bit of sugar, and vanilla. Whipped cream is so good on fresh berries.

This easy Whipped Cream recipe is a favorite for our family. A quarter cup serving is right around 100 calories. It has just the right amount of sweetness to make this after school snack seem like an indulgences.

Not feeling the kitchen vibes? Buy the can. It’s not as good as the real deal, but your kids will love swirling it on top of the berries.

Air Fryer Pizza

Growing up, my favorite after school snack was English Muffin Pizzas. I could make them myself and they hit the spot. Before the days of air fryers, we just had the oven. The air fryer gets them done even faster, in only 4 minutes!

There are several ready-to-use options for crust. And many of them have a whole wheat variety.

• English Muffins
• Naan
• Pita Bread
• Flat Bread

Get your kids favorite toppings and let them make the pizza. Kudos to you if you can work some veggies in there.

Grate the Cheese

It tastes sooooo much better when you grate your own cheese. There are several anti-caking additives in pre-shredded cheeses to keep them from sticking together. Hence the powdery stuff on the cheese strands. Yuck!

It doesn’t take that much longer. AND you get cheese-pulls like these below when you grate your own.

These aren’t just for your kid’s healthy after school snacks! Make yourself an adult version:

• Pesto with sliced tomatoes and goat cheese
• Olive Oil with olives, pinenuts, and feta
• Pizza sauce with pepperoni, mushroom, & mozz

Set the temp to 400 degrees, preheat, and “fry” for only 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Use a spatula to get these hot babies out. The air fryer edges are fire! Please get them out for your kids to avoid burns.

No air fryer? The oven still works like it did in the 80s. Put on your Rainbow Bright, Gem, or He-man shirt and go to town! 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Energy Balls

Always a hit with our tots are the Energy Balls. As healthy after school snacks, pair with fruit. Otherwise, the munchkins will keep asking for more.

Our kid’s favorite is the Classic Peanut Butter. I add sprinkles to the mix for the kiddos. This adds the pops of color that they love. Mix them in or just roll them.

Us parents need to stay energized as well, right? I have a few other versions for you:

Apple Cinnamon

Pumpkin

Lemon Blueberry

Double Chocolate Cherry

Pina Colada

Apple Ring Donuts

Apples and peanut butter are such a perfect pair. The easy route: just serve apple slices with a spoonful of peanut butter. This is a snack staple in our house. Or jazz it up, and let the wee ones help.

Apple Ring Donuts are pretty easy too. Here’s how to make them:

• Core the apple (leaving the apple whole)
• Slice the apple in 1/2″ slices crosswise
• Spread on the peanut butter
• Top with mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, hemp seeds, sprinkles, etc.

The kids will love all aspects of these healthy after school snacks. If they really love apples and peanut butter, try my Apple & Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies.

Kid Charcuterie

Who doesn’t love a good charcuterie board? For kids, this is like a healthy Lunchable. Depending on your child’s likes and dislikes, choose a 1 or 2 items from each section of the chart below.

Choosing Healthy Crackers

It’s hard to figure out what is actually healthy out there. When looking at a box of sugar cereal, it will make you think you are feeding your kids a balanced breakfast… not so much. Same goes for crackers.

Many crackers contain preservatives that are considered safe by the FDA. However, some say these preservatives are carcinogenic, negatively effect our immune system, and causes hormone imbalances. Still, the FDA says it’s okay to consume in small amounts.

Kristine Thomason’s article, 10 Best Healthy Crackers to Buy at the Store, will give you some cracker options. The one she lists for kids is Annie’s Homegrown White Cheddar Squares.

The Best Crackers for Toddlers article written by Josten Fish, gives some great options for kids. Triscuits is our go to because there are only 3 ingredients, and in our budget. My kids also give a thumbs up to the From the Ground Up brand, Butternut Squash crackers (they look like Cheez-Its).

Choosing Meats

Nitrates are a preservative that are added to most lunch meats, bacon, and hot dogs. They are added to retain color and for a longer shelf life. They are also found naturally in green leafy vegetables.

According to Kris Gunnars’s WedMD article, Are Nitrates and Nitrites in Food Harmful,

“When nitrites and amino acids are present, carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines can form during cooking with high heat.”

Amino acids are found in proteins. Think twice about those nitrate-filled hot dogs and sausages on the grill. Yikes!

Thankfully, there are many nitrate-free options in lunch meat, salami, and pepperoni at your local grocer for your healthy after school snacks.

Go Easy on Fun Extras

There is added sugar everywhere in our food supply. Tread lightly in the Fun Extras section of the chart above. They all have added sugar. Fresh fruit is the best option. Add just a few mini marshmallows or banana chips to your child’s charcuterie snack plate, or one small piece of chocolate.

Extra points if you have shark plates, and call them Shark-cuterie!

Banana Pops

Easy and fun to make, these Banana Pops are always a hit for healthy after school snacks. Here’s what you need for this treat:

• Popsicle Sticks, Caramel Apple Sticks, or the stick part of a Popsicle mold
• Wax Paper
• Bananas
• Peanut Butter or Nut/Seed Butter
• Chocolate for Drizzling
• Nuts, Coconut, or Sprinkles (optional)

How to Make Banana Pops

Here are the easy steps to make these frozen treats. Cut large bananas in half. Consider cutting smaller bananas in half too. They really are a lot once covered with the goodie.

1. Insert the popsicle stick or skewer through the bottom of the banana.
2. Place on baking sheet covered with wax paper and freeze for 3 hours. This allows the banana to adhere to the stick so it doesn’t smush off.
3. Once frozen, spread the banana with peanut butter. It’s awkward, it won’t be perfect, but smile and have fun with the kids.
4. Either add mini chocolate chips and sprinkles, OR melt 1/2 cup chocolate chips with a 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil in the microwave (stirring every 30 seconds) and drizzle over the top, then add coconut, nuts, or sprinkles.
5. Enjoy! Store leftovers in the freezer in an air tight container.

And if you don’t want to wait for the freezing part of this recipe, try Banana Sushi below.

Banana Sushi

Banana sushi is pretty much Banana Pops without the stick or waiting for bananas to freeze. Here’s how to make them:

1. Peel banana
2. Spread peanut butter on banana
3. Roll banana in toppings.
4. Cut in bite size “sushi” pieces

Toppings

Toppings are endless here. What goes well with bananas and peanut butter? Here are a few options:

• Rice Krispies
• Mini Chocolate Chips
• Coconut
• Chopped Nuts
• Sprinkles

If your house loves the banana peanut butter combo, try these Banana Breakfast Cookies.

Hummus & Naan (or Crackers)

Hummus is one of those foods: you either like it or you don’t. We are a house divided. Keep offering it to your kids. Ours weren’t too keen on it at first. But one of them has come around.

Hummus is a nutritious snack. In the article, Is Hummus Healthy?, written by Ryan Raman, he shares this about hummus:

• It’s a great source of protein & fiber
• Hummus has anti-inflammatory properties
• It’s heart healthy

Naan is the Persian word for bread. It is a delicious flat bread, that can be found at most grocery stores in the deli departments. There are several options out there including whole grain.

Typically you can find the small ones that fit perfectly in a toaster. This works great for hummus. Not down with naan? Go for the crackers mentioned in the above articles.

Add in a few carrot sticks and grapes, and you have yourself a perfect after school snack that will get through until dinner.

Helpful Tips for Snack Food Prep

It’s hard having it all together with meal planning and snacks. You’ve got this! Here are few things that might help.

• Wash up grapes and apples once you get home from the store.
• Peel and cut carrots, Put them in a food storage bag for the week.
• Freeze any un-used Naan for a later use.
• Freeze left over Pizza Sauce in 1/2 cup lidded containers. It’s the perfect amount for the next naan pizza.
• Get individual hummus cups. It’s the perfect serving and will stay fresh longer.
• Energy Balls freeze well. Put half in the freezer for next week.

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Thanks for reading along. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you would like more healthy recipes like this one sent right to your inbox, sign up for my Recipe Drops. They’re always FREE.