"Move over bags of chips, packages of cookies, and the like! When it comes to serving healthy after-school snacks to your kiddos, it can be tough to replace pre-packaged options with homemade and nutritious ones. Of course, sometimes the route of no-preparationâlike handing out those Chewy granola bars or mini bags of Doritosâis inevitable and the easiest way to go. While thereâs absolutely nothing wrong with that, finding windows to make healthy alternatives can create a fulfilling balance. And we promise, putting that little bit of extra effort into your kidsâ after-school snack session will be worth the fun and wellness benefits.
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We all know things like variety, familiar flavors, and inviting appearances matter to kids when theyâre faced with the decision of what to eat as an after-school snack (or any meal, for that matter). Keeping that in mind, weâve brought together healthy choices that offer creative and colorful appearances, a spectrum of sweet and savory items, and twists on usual favorites. Whatâs more, it can be your chance to squeeze in that extra serving of fruit, veggies, whole grains, or protein for your littles.
Donât forget, you donât have to be the only one whipping up the snack dâjour; these are definitely recipes that lend themselves well to your kiddosâ helping hands, too! Without further ado, check out more than 30 healthy after-school snacks for your kids that theyâll be asking to mix into their current lineup of faves.Â
1. Banana Sushi Rolls
This take on sushi rolls is a fun assembly activity for the whole family. Chocolate chips, coconut flakes, chia seedsâthe topping choices are endless. Thereâs variety and creativity in every bite!
2. Donut-Shaped Apple Snacks
Consider this their apple of the day that keeps the doctor away. Besides a serving of fresh fruit, you can decorate your ‘donuts’ with exciting toppings to the point your kids may not even remember that ‘real’ donuts exist. While this recipe showcases green apples, any and all types of apples are welcome!
3. Homemade Goldfish Crackers
My family goes through a whole box of goldfish before the week is even over. But these homemade crackers are more fluffy and so cheesy. Come to think of it, this snack dupe might not last as long as I thought!
4. Watermelon Chocolate Pops
Chocolate on watermelon is genius. I love the thought of making an actual watermelon slice into a popsicle. The creativity with this snack will have you and your family in awe over such simple ingredients.
5. Easy Homemade Soft Pretzels
Skip the processed pretzels and try these instead! Easier on the digestive system and entertaining to create, theyâre tasty and nourishing as-is, but you can pair them with any favorite dips or spreads, too.Â
6. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bites
A snack that has chocolate and protein? Your kids will be doing a double take because theyâll be questioning if itâs OK to have dessert before dinner. Weâre happy to report these protein bites are gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and no-bakeâtheyâre simple and easy to make!
7. Fruit Dip
The act of dropping any type of snack into a dip is my toddlerâs favorite pastime. This fruit dip is a special treat in my household. I wonât be surprised if your kids ask to put it on everything because it calls for cream cheese and marshmallows.
8. Strawberry Banana or Chocolate PB Banana Smoothies
âWhy canât I just have a milkshake?â Sometimes the concept of a smoothie takes getting used to, but these are relatively simple recipes that are naturally sweet, and offer your kids some of their calcium, fruit, nut, and protein servings for the day.Â
9. Coconut Almond Chex Mix
Time with kids often dwindles during the school year, but having this snack ready to go is a game changer. It calls for three different types of cereal and takes only 20 minutes to make.
10. Homemade Fruit Pops
Homemade popsicles are fresh and an easy way to get fruit intake in one sitting. Thereâs no fuss because popsicles are a special treat. I often overlook buying popsicles at the store, but Iâll definitely have these stored in my fridge all school year long.
11. Homemade Granola Bars
We love a unique granola bar that doesnât involve any additives, and the base of rolled oats in this option is a heart-healthy staple. This recipe includes eight variations, allowing you and your kids to select your own add-ins like a choose-your-own adventure! From tropical to PB pretzel, there is plenty of delicious inspiration.Â
12. Homemade Popcorn Snack Mixes
This recipe teaches you an easy way to make your own popcorn, and then tops it off with festive topping combinations like “chunky monkey,” “chocolate berry,” “trail mix,” and more. And while popcorn may seem without nutrients (OK, itâs not a fruit salad or medley of vegetables), it does provide a good dose of fiber and whole grains.
13. Strawberry Fruit Leather
No need to stop at the store to buy the classic fruit roll-ups we grew up on as kids. Make your own homemade strawberry fruit leathers with only two ingredients. Youâll be making strawberry puree, so this recipe is a fresh one! A fun idea for the kidsâuse cookie cutters to make them into all sorts of shapes.
14. Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Dip
A nutritious, sweet, and tangy dip that not only packs protein thanks to the yogurt, but suggests using peanut flour rather than regular PB to cut back on the dipâs fat content. While you can choose to dip in whatever your kiddo likes, you can also try a play on ants on a log by spreading the dip over a piece of celery, and sprinkling some mini chocolate chips on top as the ants!
15. Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Anything in the air fryer is not only easy, but I know it will give some grace to my little onesâ bellies since weâre omitting the fried oil. Air-fryer zucchini chips are a low-carb option. You wonât have to worry about the extra dip in energy after a full day of learning at school.
16. Ants on a Log
Speaking of ants on a log, here are an abundance of new ways to approach this traditional snack. Besides celery, you can include bananas or apple slices as the base, and try other creamy spreads in addition to peanut butter (like yogurt) on top. Then, finish them off with all kinds of antsâfrom raisins and chocolate chips, to bits of carrot and blueberries!
17. Muffin Tin Snack Trays
Turn a muffin tray into an exciting spread of snacks that can be as simple, delicious, and nutritious as you want them to be. Essentially, you use each cup of a muffin tin to house various items your kids will enjoy, kind of like a kid-friendly charcuterie board! This recipe includes tons of great ideas for balancing fruits and veggies, proteins and healthy fats, sweet and savory, and crunchy and soft combos.
18. Easy Avocado Hummus Recipe
Combine the healthy benefits of protein-filled chickpeas and healthy fats with this creamy hummus recipe. Kids love the bright green color (you can leave the chickpeas and spices off the top), and you can present them with versatile foods they enjoy for dipping.
19. Rainbow Fruit Kabobs
Build an edible, juicy rainbow that will provide multiple servings of fruits, while creating something colorful and memorable. While this recipe uses raspberries, orange, pineapple, kiwi, and grape, you can substitute whatever fruits work best for you, and design your own rainbow!
20. Wonton Pizza Cups
OK, while this one may be a little less healthy than the rest, we couldnât resist the creative approach to mini pizza bites! Fill wonton wrappers with your favorite pizza ingredients, and voilĂ , you have cute little personal pizzas to snack on. For a healthier version, opt for low-fat shredded mozzarella.
21. Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
Iâm quick to save any recipe that calls for a little mason jar. This little cup has five grams of protein, and itâs an option to increase fiber in the diet. Save yourself some time and whisk this up for the whole week.
22. Air-Fryer Apples
Apples can get monotonous as an after school snack, but I love how this recipe doesnât make it so boring. It has butter and cinnamonâjust as sweet as your kids will be after they get these in their bellies.
23. Frozen Yogurt and Granola Banana Pops
A delightful way to glam up some bananas, while integrating calcium, protein, and grains. Plus, itâs so easy; all you need are bananas, yogurt, granola, and popsicle sticks. Kids might enjoy dipping the bananas into the yogurt and then swirling them around in granola before popping them into the freezerâitâs kind of like working in a candy shop!
24. Green Apple Monsters
Another fruit-forward apple snackâweâre headed into apple season, after all! Create crazy, spooky faces by combining green apples for the face, peanut butter to fill the mouth (for a nut-free version, you can replace the PB with any creamy filling that pairs well with apples), sunflower and pumpkin seeds for teeth, and cheese for a tongue. While this recipe calls for candy eyes, you can also make them by using whatever you have on hand.
25. Chunky Monkey Zucchini Banana Muffins
A muffin bursting with flavor that seems to have it all! Fruits and veggies, healthy fat, a bit of calcium, and whole grains come together into a muffin so delicious that your kids wonât even realize theyâre eating vegetables.
26. The Chipotle Guacamole
I love a good copycat recipe! There are so many versions of guacamole out there, Iâm constantly taste-testing to see which ones are the best. Just because Chipotle is located all throughout the country doesnât mean you canât make a delicious dupe of their guac right at home.
27. Eggplant Pizzas
On a day where your kids need a pick-me-up from a long day at school, surprise them with this little pizza appetizer. Skip the dough and use eggplant for the base. Itâs quick, easy, and it wonât leave your kids wanting to skip out on dinner.
28. Creamy Peanut Butter Yogurt Dip
I grew up eating apples with peanut butter, but this recipe takes it up a notch. Whip this five-ingredient recipe in just five minutes. From the time your kids put their backpacks away to setting their shoes at the door, theyâll be wondering how you got this snack so quickly on the table.
29. Cheesy Chicken Kabobs
Rather than handing over a plate of chicken nuggets, take it up a notch or two in the direction of healthy by skewering the chicken nuggets (or veggie nuggets) as kabobs! Pair them with pieces of whole grain bread, crisp bell pepper, and soft cubes of cheeseâor any preferred substitutesâfor a fun, nutrient-dense creation.
30. Edamame Three Ways
Prep a little brain food for your kids to snack on while they work on homework. Edamame promotes a lot of health benefits like cardiovascular health and bone health. Plus, the little extra work to get the pods out will keep your family a little busy.
31. Quinoa Broccoli Tots
Iâm always looking for a way to get more veggies in our diet. Why not turn broccoli into a version of tots? Thereâs a lot of flavor in such a little bite. I donât know why I didnât think of trying this recipe sooner!
Patty Schepel, Editorial Intern
As the editorial intern, Patty works with The Everymomâs team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When sheâs not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathonsâshe ran one 16 weeks pregnantâtraveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.
Katherine Ballesta-Rosen, Former Editorial Intern
Besides being an avid reader and writer since girlhood, Katherine decided to kick her literacy-laden background up a notch by receiving her Masterâs in teaching, and went on to teach English Language Arts to high schoolers for several years. As a former intern at The Everymom, Katherine wrote about topics such as maternal wellness, sex and relationships, and more.