With summer coming to an end soon (where in the world did the time go?), parents are gearing up to prepare their kids for the upcoming school year. Along with buying pencils, notebooks, crayons, hand sanitiser and packets of tissues, many parents are planning ahead for easy after-school snack ideas that they can quickly have available for kids arriving home.
Thankfully, when your kids are in school you don’t hear them asking for a snack every five minutes like you probably did all summer long. But you know it’s probably going to be the first thing out of their mouth as soon as their bag hits the floor after a long day. Who could blame them? Whether you’re looking for healthy after-school snacks, or just snacks that are delicious, filling and most importantly, easy for you to prepare, there’s something on this list for every parent.
1. Apple cinnamon muffins
For kids who love a sweet treat after a long day (but still need some nutrition hidden in there), these apple cinnamon muffins from Eating Richly are the perfect healthy after-school snack. Made with wholewheat flour, chopped apples and honey for the sweetness, your kids will delightedly scoff these muffins down.
2. Hot dog (or veggie dog) canapés
Alex from Budget Friendly Foodie uses random things she finds in her freezer to make delicious and fun hot dog canapés for her kids. By simply toasting everything in a pan, slicing them up and adding ketchup, she created a fun, finger food after-school snack.
3. Nut butter apple “doughnuts”
If you have some large apples and a core remover at home, these apples shaped like doughnuts will make the perfect healthy after-school snack. Makenzie from Mackenzie At Home shares in a TikTok video how easy it is to make this customisable treat. You can add sprinkles, granola, more fruit or whatever your kid loves to the top.
4. Pizza bagels
You can’t go wrong with pizza for a snack, and these pizza bagels from Two Peas and Their Pod are easy, delicious and require only five ingredients — four if you want plain cheese. They’re easily customisable for each family member, and don’t require a load of effort. It’s a win-win.
5. Ham and cheese pinwheels
These ham and cheese pinwheels are easy to prep, so you’ll have a load ready for a quick after-school snack for your hungry kids for the entire week. In a TikTok video, Sierra from Mom Hacks + Habits shares this recipe for ham and cheese pinwheels using ham, cheese, her own homemade honey mustard and croissant dough. It’s ready from the oven in just 15 minutes.
6. Peanut butter lunchbox
Are your kids fans of dips? Most kids love the art of a good dip, and this peanut butter lunch box recipe from Budget Bytes is, of course, budget friendly, but is also nutritious and delicious as an easy after-school snack idea.
7. Simple fruit and granola parfaits
This simple parfait recipe from Malak on her TikTok page SincerelyMalak shows that you don’t have to overthink snack time. It can be as simple as a bowl of yogurt, granola, fresh fruit, seeds and/or granola and honey. Yum.
8. The snack tray
Customisable, quick, organised and fun, this snack tray idea from Happens at Home not only works for healthy after-school snacks, but it can work for babies and toddlers for any meal of the day. Fill each “cup” with a finger food snack and your kids will be content.
9. Garlic pizza bread
Air fryers are one of the greatest modern kitchen appliance inventions ever. This garlic pizza bread recipe is ready in six minutes, and Carman from the TikTok account WhatsMomCookin shows how easy it is to throw together to create a mouth-watering snack everyone will love.
10. Buffalo chicken dip bites
The beauty of this easy after-school snack is that you can make it as spicy or as mild as you want for your kids. And, no matter how spicy (or not) you make them, these buffalo chicken dip bites from A Classic Twist are melt-in-your-mouth good.
11. Snack jars
Everything tastes better in a mason jar, right? According to Mac from the TikTok account HealthyLittlePeach, these snack jars are the easiest after-school snack idea for kids on the go. Simply fill the bottom of the jar with ranch dressing, add sliced carrots or celery, then top those with pretzels, nuts, pepperonis, cheese cubes or whatever you have on hand.
12. Mini calzones from quick bread
Heather Anne shares this video on TikTok, where she makes mini calzones with raw pre-formed quick bread dough, ham, cheese and mayo. She says she gave them to her kids right when they hopped into the car at school pick-up, making this the perfect grab-and-go snack.
