You don't want to give the kids something that will ruin their appetite for dinner. And you definitely don't want them to mindlessly snack on chips or other nutritionally-void food. So here are 19 quick after-school snack ideas for kids (or yourself) that will give them just enough ZING to snap out of the afternoon slump. Some of these will need to be made ahead of time, but can easily be stored in the freezer or fridge. The next time the Hangry Monster comes barging through the door after school, you'll be ready to tame the beast.
Frozen Grapes
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Simply place grapes in the freezer for a couple of hours for a cold treat.
Three-Ingredient Cookie Bites
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Bite-sized cookie treats that are much better for you and ready in less than 10 minutes.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
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Hard boil a dozen eggs on Sunday to have a quick, portable, protein-packed snack available all week long.
Frozen Chocolate Banana Pops
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Simply peel a banana, dip in chocolate and freeze. Super simple and delicious!
Ham and Cheese Roll-Ups
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Roll up a small piece of cheese in a slice of ham and stick it together with a toothpick.
Banana Bread Mug Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
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A sweet treat for one that's ready in five minutes.
Graham Crackers Dipped in Plain Yogurt
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Adding honey or fresh/frozen fruit to the yogurt will sweeten it up just a bit. Or you can mix it all up and serve as a parfait!
Mini Bagel with Cream Cheese or a Nut Butter
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Mini bagels are perfect for little hands. The combo of the bagel and cream cheese/nut butter gives just enough of a boost in carbs and protein to tide your child over until dinner.
Zucchini Muffins
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Kid-approved muffins and the perfect vehicle for sneaking in a dose of veggies.
Baby Carrots, Cut Cucumbers and Cut Red Peppers
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Bite-sized and full of healthy nutrients, you can dip this vegetable medley in hummus or ranch dressing.
Mini Pizzas
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Use a tortilla or mini bagel as the crust and top with your child's favorite pizza toppings.
Fresh Fruit
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Keep fresh fruit washed and cut up in the fridge for on-the-go snacking.
Healthy Pumpkin Doughnuts
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Just because it's a doughnut, doesn't mean it can't be health-ified!
Mini Rice Cakes
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Top these with peanut butter — add strawberries for more flavor.
Pumpkin Raisin Oat Cookies
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A cookie that is full of vitamins and doesn't have any refined sugar.
Air-Popped Popcorn
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Popcorn is full of fiber to hold off the hungries until dinner.
Ants on a Log
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Put peanut butter on celery or carrots and top with raisins. Can't go wrong with this classic snack.
Oat and Quinoa Granola with Greek Yogurt
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A protein packed snack without any refined sugar.
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
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Sweet potatoes are full of nutrients and vitamins growing bodies need. Simply toss cut up sweet potatoes with a little coconut oil and cinnamon, then bake in the oven until crispy.
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