Kitchenability

04.16.2018

Awesome After School Snacks

Contributor Article By Jordan Klee

Jordan is the beauty and brains behind Beautifully Alive! She loves eating healthy and trying new recipes.The self-proclaimed Zumba Queen has a passion for beauty products and loves reading new books. She’s always down for a DIY project!

Quick & Healthy After School Snacks for the Kids

School just let out and you’re not even close to being ready to welcome your kids home. Yet, they’re coming… and they’re hungry! The temptation of putting a bag of potato chips on the dining table for them to munch on while completing their homework is intense. However, you know that those potato chips won’t be healthy. Here are some alternative snacks that are just as easy as opening a bag of chips.

 

Popcorn

Yes, popcorn can be an effective after-school snack to offer the kids. However, you need to watch out for the movie-theater-versions, the ones that advertise “butter flavoring” and other things that will undo its healthy properties. If you buy plain, ole popcorn, it’s nutritious and versatile. Packed with four grams of fiber for every three cups, it’s filling and will hold them over until dinner. Plus, it’s a whole grain and easy to prepare.

Homemade Ice Pops

Whether it’s sweltering outside or not, children love to come home to homemade ice pops. These guys are easy to prepare and can be nutritious, depending on what you put into them. The beauty in making them homemade is that you have complete control over their nutritional value. A few things you could choose from include fruit, yogurt, juices, and even veggies. Be creative and talk to your children. They will probably want to help you make them!

 

Hummus, Pita Bread, and Veggies

Prepare a colorful plate of vegetables, paired with pita bread and hummus to welcome your children home from school. Whole wheat pita bread has 5.5 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving, while hummus has four grams of fiber and four grams of protein per serving. With these two working together, you are giving your children plenty of energy alongside their homework.

 

Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

Kids love anything that’s on a stick. So, imagine if you put fruit and cheese on a stick. Start with a kabob and load it up with your kid’s favorite fruits. Grapes, strawberries, bananas, cantaloupe, pineapple, and mandarin oranges are all good suggestions. Then, layer cubed cheese in between. They’re fun to eat and easy to make.

 

Ants on a Log

Celery, peanut butter, and raisins are yummy separately. When combined, they are nutritious and delicious. Start with a celery base, keeping the dip in the middle. Fill that dip with peanut butter and top with raisins. When finished, it should resemble ants resting on a log, waiting to be eaten.

 

Homemade Trail Mix

It’s time to take the trail mix off the trail. Since you get to control what goes into it, you can decide how nutritious you want to make it. Tossing your child’s favorite fruits, nuts, and even chocolate can bring a smile to his or her face. Some of the popular additions to trail mix include almonds, cashews, peanuts, cranberries, raisins, chocolate, coconut flakes, cinnamon, and banana chips.

 

Hard Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs make simple and quick snacks. One egg has seven grams of protein, along with iron, vitamins, and minerals. Eggs are an easy solution for an after-school snack. Some parents may want to garnish the hard-boiled eggs with seasoning to add flavor. Possible seasonings to offer are black pepper, chili powder, or paprika.

Cinnamon Apple Chips

If your children favor those store-bought apple chips, try making them homemade. They take a little time, but can be made ahead and are so much healthier than the ones in stores. Start by slicing the apples. Then, lay them out on a baking sheet. It’s easier if the baking sheet is lined with silicone baking mats, so they don’t stick. Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon. Pop them into the oven, 200 degrees Fahrenheit, for an hour. Flip the apples over and bake for another hour or so. Then, turn the oven off and keep the apples inside as the oven cools. This process makes them crispy. Then, pop them in an air-tight container. They can be stored for up to a week, so your children can munch on them all week long.

 

Fruit Parfaits

Both yogurt and fruits have some many health benefits. Put them together and you have a powerful snack. The yogurt offers protein, probiotics, and calcium, while fruits offer a plethora of nutrients. Alternate layers of fruit and yogurt to delight your child’s visual senses and add a garnish for extra excitement. Possible garnishes include coconut flakes, mini dark chocolate chips, and nuts.

Frozen Grapes

Crazy as it sounds, children love frozen fruits. Especially during hotter months of the year. Grapes are an easy fruit to freeze and please because they’re small. Separate some grapes into individual freezer bags and pop them into the freezer. When the children come home from school, pull out a bag and dump those grapes into a bowl. Both nutritious and easy, this snack will be hit during study sessions.