After-School Snacks

Your kids will love these colorful and fun after school snack ideas. Curb their late-afternoon hunger with these healthy ideas and keep them happy till dinnertime!

Skewers with banana, kiwi, strawberry and apple on a plate beside a cup of dipping sauce.

Fruit with Toothpicks

After school, get kids to reach for fruit instead of chips by adding some fun with toothpicks. Kids love finger foods and eating in a different way, so put out a plate of cut up apples, pears, melons, orange slices and place toothpicks in it. You can even get toothpicks with fun designs that change with the season.

A fruit pizza made with a pancake, chocolate spread, fresh fruit and shredded coconut.

Making Their Own Snacks

Let kids get involved with making their snacks, and they’re more likely to eat it. Mini burritos made with whole-grain mini tortillas, refried beans and cheese, or mini pizzas are good options. For mini pizzas, spread tomato sauce on top of a toasted English muffin, add cheese and toppings like olives, mushrooms, onions or pineapple slices, and bake for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.

A champagne flute with a spoon tied around it filled with strawberry granola yogurt parfait.

Upside-Down Day

Kids love an “upside-down day”— so why not offer a healthy breakfast food as an after- school snack. Whole-grain cereals with fresh berries, banana slices or a yogurt parfait with yogurt, fruit and nuts is the perfect quick snack.

Purple, green, pink and yellow fruit smoothies in glasses on a blue table.

Homemade Smoothies

Homemade smoothies using low-fat milk; yogurt and fresh fruit are a good-for-you snack, full of protein and vitamins that will tide them over until dinner. Try using plain nonfat yogurt for a lower-sugar alternative or sneak in extra ingredients, like protein powder or flax seed to make it even better.