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15 Healthy After School Snacks

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Stuck in a snack rut? Prep a few of these healthy after-school snacks ahead of time for to serve snacks that are fresh, fun, and healthy. 

Also check out our roundup of 50 low-sugar snack ideas!

The kids are coming. The kids are coming! And they’re HUNGRY. After-school snacks meet the high-energy needs of kids who work hard all day in school. And in our experience, kids are content to nibble on a wide variety of foods when they get home. (Maybe they’re just extra-hungry. It’s a powerful motivator!)

You might default to crackers and peanut butter, granola bars, or a piece of fruit as an after-school snack. And seriously, there’s nothing wrong with those choices. But why not take advantage of kids’ hunger and general “school’s-out!” cheeriness to serve something a little different? Especially when you can highlight some of the food groups your kids might need more of, like veggies and protein.

Check out some of our after-school snack ideas in this roundup of healthy, fun, and rut-busting recipes.

Fresh Veggies in Homemade Veggie Dipfresh veggies in homemade dip cups

Whip up this five-minute dip with a Greek yogurt base and spices you probably already have on hand.

Barbecue Roasted Chickpeas crunchy baked barbecue chickpeas

These crunchy roasted chickpeas taste like sweet and tangy barbecue. Let kids munch on this protein-rich snack during homework time.

Homemade Sunflower Butter and Apples

Even if you’re short on time, you can still make this creamy homemade seed butter in five minutes. Serve with apples for a sweet and balanced snack.

Green Julius

Our creamy, frothy Green Julius tastes like the classic drink from malls and fairs… only it’s made from whole fruit and a handful of fresh greens.

Homemade Goldfish Crackers

Make a big batch of these savory crackers and store them in an airtight container for quick snacking.

Bran Muffin Bites

homemade bran muffins for kids

Make muffins ahead and freeze them for quick snacks any time.  Serve these Bran Muffin Bites after school with a piece of fruit and a cold glass of milk for a balanced, filling snack.

Sundried Tomato Pinwheels

These look a little on the fancy side, but they barely take longer than spreading peanut butter on crackers. And they taste super yummy!

Homemade Chocolate Milk

This chocolate milk tastes like magic, and it’s sweetened only with real fruit.

Mini Fruit Pizza

This is a fun build-your own snack-tivity for kids.  Put the fruit out in different bowls, and let them go to town.

Ultimate Trail Mix

healthy natural trail mix

Homemade No-Fry French Fries

Your kids will flip for these crispy french fries you bake in the oven! Serve with their favorite dipper.

Chia Seed Energy Bites

chia seed energy bites

Lemony Hummus (Freezer Friendly)

homemade lemon hummus

Crispy Kale Chips

Frozen Yogurt Raspberries

frozen yogurt filled raspberries healthy snack

More Healthy Snack Ideas for Kids

Snack recipes? We’ve got those in spades. Check out this post with a focus on low-sugar snacks.

Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie

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31 Comments

really great ideas – what I am most impressed about is you identifying what each food does for the body – love it – keep it up pls

I read in Cooks Illustrated a few years back that honey prevents apple browning too, and tastes much better than lemon. Dilute 1 tablespoon of honey with a little water & toss apple slices in mixture. Works every time.

Will I be criticised if I say except for Cucumber Sandwiches (which were a little horrible), every other recipe in the list were delicious? Yes, I tried out all the remaining 14 recipes! Delicious and Healthy!

Thank you!

That’s a very idea you shared. Using those kind of things for snacks is really good. Peanut Butter, Cheese and Grilled Cheese I use sometime. My kids are really like them, now its time to make something new.

Hi, These are all looking super delicious. Your child is lucky to have a mother like you. I am definitely trying them out. Thanks for the recipe and instructions. I want to more recipe from you.

It’s I’m Embarrassing some of the foods you are suggesting as healthy. Fries, chocolate milk, gold fish crackers… etc, none of this is healthy food. This is the reason there’s a nutrition crisis in America.

I understand your confusion- we’ve improved these kid-favorite foods to make them much more nutritious than the original. You’d have to follow the link to our recipe to see our substitutions!

I wish I grew up on healthy snacks such as the ones you propose. I think it’s best if you start early in life and it becomes a routine.

My kids eat nothig but junk when they get home from school. I’ll try incorporating some of these ideas. Thanks!