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Healthy After School Snack Ideas for Kids

If your kids are anything like mine, they’re ready for a snack the moment they are done with school. These healthy after-school snack ideas are perfect for kids who have afternoon munchies!

My kids love snacks so much, I even wrote a book filled with the Best Homemade Snacks on the Planet. You don’t want to miss these yummy recipes!

collage image of after school snack ideas

When the kids get home, they run through the door, kick off their shoes, throw down their bags, and the first thing they want? A snack.

I know my daughter needs a healthy snack in her system before she can concentrate enough to tackle her daily homework. I often refer to the MOMables recipe index to come up with yummy ideas that I know will fuel her until dinnertime.

Watch this quick video for the after-school snack inspiration!

Here are eleven of our favorite snack ideas.

1. No-Bake Energy Bites

eight oatmeal bites on parchment paper.

Anything with the word “no-bake” in it is always a hit in my book. This simple, Oatmeal Energy Balls recipe is also a great one to get the kids involved with.

Make this Recipe

2. Homemade Fruit Cups

small plastic container with fruit and lemonade inside.

Don’t waste money on those prepackaged fruit cups that contain high-fructose corn syrup. Make your own fruit cups instead! All-natural and with no added sugar.  Simple and delicious.

Make this Recipe

3. Healthy Chocolate Chip Bars

two chocolate chip bars in a small lunch tin with berries

These healthy cookie dough bars are easy to make and require no baking. The kids won’t even realize that you’re handing them a healthy after-school treat!

Make this Recipe

4. Banana Chips

Replace store-bought potato chips with these all-natural, baked banana chips. They’re great with a dip or you can enjoy them by the handful! If bananas aren’t a favorite fruit in your house, you can still make amazing chips! Try this easy recipe for baked apple chips instead.

Make this Recipe

5. Homemade Fruit Leather

3 homemade fruit roll ups wrapped in wax paper and tied with string.

Make this Homemade Fruit Leather for a yummy and healthier version of the store-bought fruit snacks. It’s made with only 2 ingredients: fresh strawberries and honey!

Make this Recipe

6. Zucchini & Carrot Bars

small snack tin with carrot zucchini cake bars, and berries inside

These moist Carrot & Zucchini Bars are a great way to add some veggies to your kids’ foods. These cake bars are sweetened with honey and golden raisins and taste amazing.

Make this Recipe

7. Spinach Bites

Parmesan Spinach Balls in a small lunch container with carrot sticks and strawberries

Cheesy and delicious, these Parmesan Spinach Balls are the perfect way to get picky eaters to eat (and even love!) spinach.

Make this Recipe

8. Healthy Avocado Pudding

a cup of chocolate pudding topped with whipped cream and served with fresh berries.

This healthy chocolate avocado pudding will make you an after-school hero. I mean, who wouldn’t want to eat healthy pudding as an after-school snack? Amazing.

Make this Recipe

9. Cheese Twists

4 Baked Cheese Twists in a glass cup

Made with flaky puff pastry, these cheese straws are fun to dip in soup or serve plain as an after-school snack.

Make this Recipe

10. Apple Nachos

apple nachos on a plate

Make this healthy snack by heating almond butter in the microwave for a few seconds until it becomes thin. Drizzle the almond butter over apple slices and sprinkle with shredded coconut and chocolate chips.

One thinly sliced apple yields four snack servings!

Related: School snack ideas you can pack for kids!

Snack Charcuterie for Kids

Lastly, you can use ingredients from your fridge and pantry to make a healthy after-school snack charcuterie board. Grab a few of the following ingredients and pair them with your child’s favorite dip like hummus or ranch dressing and you’ll have a healthy snack in no time.

charcuterie snack board for kids
  • Crackers
  • Fruits
  • Fresh Veggies
  • Sliced sandwich meats
  • Popcorn
  • Cheese slices

If you are looking for more healthy recipes kids love try these school lunch ideas and my favorite family dinner ideas!

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Healthy After School Snack Ideas for Kids

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★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

The best healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after school! From energy bites, to healthy pudding and even epic snack bars! 

 

But first, start with these mini quinoa pizza bites! 

  • Author: MOMables – Laura Fuentes
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bites
  • Category: Snacks
  • Method: Oven
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

Units

Healthy Pizza Quinoa Bites

  • Cooking spray
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup of your favorite pizza toppings, chopped (pepperoni, olives, peppers, onions, spinach, ham, etc.)
  • ¼ cup tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Pizza sauce, for dipping

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 24-count mini muffin panwith cooking spray (or make 2 batches in a 12-count pan).
  2. In a large bowl, add all ingredients except pizza sauce. Stir until all ingredients are mixed well.
  3. Scoop mixture into each mini muffin cup; fill to the top of each.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing.
  5. Pack pizza sauce in a separate container in a lunch box for dipping.

Equipment

The Best Homemade Kid’s Snacks on the Planet

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Food Processor

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 bites
  • Calories: 226
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 643.3mg
  • Fat: 9.7g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.4g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 24.6g
  • Fiber: 4g
  • Protein: 10.7g
  • Cholesterol: 45.7mg

Keywords: after school snacks, healthy snacks, snacks for kids,

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @MOMables on Instagram and hashtag it #momables

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kimberly

    March 04, 2021 at 4:48 pm

    We have totally been in an after-school-snack rut! These ideas are super helpful, I know my kids are going to love those cheese twists and the snack bites!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Karen

    April 22, 2014 at 5:50 am

    Thanks for the ideas. My kids go crazy for a fresh, warm loaf of homemade bread right out of the oven. They consider it a great snack with some cheese or cold cuts any time of day…. especially after school when they arrive home famished! For the recipe I have nick-named “the spontaneous breadmaker’s dream come true!”

    Reply
  3. Anca

    April 04, 2014 at 11:54 am

    Baked apple chips are a tasty snack , my baby and I both love it …Though you can also replace cinnamon with vanilla stick ,
    Thanks ! :))

    Reply
  4. Cari

    February 19, 2014 at 11:53 am

    Thx for the great ideas!!! Am going to make the Energy Bars and Carrot/Zucchini tomorrow (need to hit the market for a zucchini =).
    Keep the ideas coming!!! Thx!
    Cari
    Austin, TX

    Reply
  5. Marcos Chapman

    October 26, 2013 at 5:05 am

    One of the ways I do this is by bringing a whole carrot in the car when I pick up the kids from school. It takes about 20 mintues or so to drive home, and they nibble on the carrot on the way home. I also try to organise dinner earlier in the cooler months (so missing out on afternoon tea) and then a fruit snack later. For me, the focus is on high fibre, minimially processed food…and food I prepare myself (so I know what’s in it).

    Reply
    • MOMables

      October 28, 2013 at 10:30 am

      Great idea Marcos! I am going to have to try the whole carrot thing!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Laura! I help you make healthy lunches and meals your kids will love, with simple and tasty recipes.

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