Easy, Healthy After-School Snacks

Last Updated on February 28, 2024

Some recipes for somewhat healthy, quick treats to celebrate the new school year:

Simple veggie dip: Light sour cream; add seasoning salt (like Lowry’s), dill, and onion powder to taste.
Quick sandwich cookies: Layer leftover frosting between two graham crackers. (Bonus: up to five grams of whole wheat per serving of the crackers! I wonder if that makes up for the frosting …)
Popsicles: Pour sugar-free lemonade or 100% juice into small cups, cover with foil, and poke in a popsicle stick. Freeze. If you do this while you’re packing lunches in the morning, they’ll be ready by the time the kids get home from school.
Yogurt popsicles: equal parts yogurt and 100% juice, plus a little vanilla. Add fruit for extra nutrition. Freeze.
Cake mix cookies: package of any flavor cake mix, an egg, 1/4 cup oil, 1/4 cup water. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. As a bonus, you can mix in raisins, M&Ms, chocolate chips, walnuts … the sky’s the limit. (Okay, this one isn’t necessarily healthy. Just easy.)
Ants on a log: Fill pieces of celery with natural peanut butter. Add raisins or other dried fruit on top as the “ants.”
Cracker buffet: Set out whole wheat crackers and any assortment of toppings: ham, different kinds of cheese, peanut butter, apples, dried fruit, reduced-fat cream cheese, chocolate chips, carrot or cucumber shavings, olives, etc. Encourage creative creations.
Fruit kabobs: Just wash, cut, and skewer.
Orange wedges: If they won’t eat them plain, add a little powdered sugar for dipping on the side.
Banana smoothies: Blend bananas, vanilla, milk or yogurt, ice, berries (optional) and honey until smooth.
Parfaits: Layer yogurt, granola, and fruit in a clear glass. My kids love this for breakfast, too.
Simple trail mix: Mix together any combo of raisins, craisins, other dried fruit, nuts, seeds, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, or M&Ms.
Fruit dip: Blend reduced-fat cream cheese, vanilla, and brown sugar and white sugar to taste.