After School Snack Ideas for Kids

Sometimes I feel like a feeding machine, always needing to look ahead so I’m prepared with healthy food options for the next meal or snack for my kids.  I find that it’s when I’m not prepared, that I fall into giving the kids quick, packaged & processed snacks that have little nutrutional value and I do want to minimise that.  So, I’ve collected a heap of snack ideas from other mums over the years.

Tricia from Little Eco Footprints (fabulous blog about sustainable living as a family) mentioned to me recently a book she’s reading called Perfect Health for Kids by John Douillard. He suggest that after school is where you are most likely to get healthy food into children because they are hungry so there’s an opportunity there to pack in the veggies.

One of the ways I do this is by bringing a whole carrot in the car when I pick up the kids from school.  It takes about 20 mintues or so to drive home, and they nibble on the carrot on the way home.   I also try to organise dinner earlier in the cooler months (so missing out on afternoon tea) and then a fruit snack later.  For me, the focus is on high fibre, minimially processed food…and food I prepare myself (so I know what’s in it).

If you have any more ideas, please do leave them in the comments below and I’ll add them to the list.

Snack Ideas for Kids

1. A cup of soup
2. Cheese and crackers (add sliced tomato, cucumber & avocado)
3. Baked beans on toast
4. Toasted ham and cheese sandwiches
5. Apple skinky
6. Mini quiches
7. Arrowroot biscuits with spread
8. Yogurt

9. Celery with peanut butter or cream cheese filling
10. Cream cheese and vegemite on cruskits
11. Cheesy bread
12. Grain rice crackers and dip
13. Grilled cheese toast with tuna and avocado
14. Zebra sandwiches
15. Homemade sausage rolls (hide a lot of veggies in them)
16. Fruit kebabs
17. Corn on the cob
18. Home made muesli and fruit bar
19. Watermelon or Rockmellon (cut it with cookie cutters for fun shapes)

20. Raisin toast
21. Fruit smoothies (try adding oats & chia seeds)
22. Popcorn
23. Coconut bread
24. Savory or sweet scones
25. Dehydrated fruit
26. Nuts
27. English muffin mini pizzas: cut muffins, and top with sauce, diced ham, pineapple and cheese or other choice of toppings. Grill until cheese is melted.

28. Homemade cheesymite/cheese/cheese & ham scrolls
29. Platter of cut up fruit
30. Whole fruit
31. Fruit or cheese muffins
32. Veggie sticks (celery, snow peas, cherry tomato, sliced mushroom carrot, cucumber) with hummus or cream cheese
33. A cup of hot chocolate
34. Zucchini slice (delicious hot or cold — make into muffin size and freeze)
35. Dippy Egg and bread soldiers
36. Banana wrap: wrap a banana, ricotta and sultanas in wholemeal lavash or mountain bread

37. Frozen yoghurt
38. Frozen Banana (on a paddle pop stick if you like)
39. Home cut and baked chunky potato chips
40. Sushi
41. Homemade fruit puree icy-pops: puree fruit (add a little spinach or avocado too) place in a plastic cup, insert a plastic spoon and freeze

42. French toast
43. Corn bread with honey butter
44. Cinnamon scrolls
45. Wholmeal pitta bread chips with hummus
46. A bowl of (low sugar / high fibre) cereal with milk
47. Baked bean nachos
48. Pear melt wrap: place slices of pear, cheese and sultanas inside a wholemeal mountain, pocket or lavash bread, fold in half place in sandwich toaster or under a grill

49. Banana bread
50. Boiled egg
51. Pan fried Halloumi cheese
52. Wholemeal toast and spread
53. Crumpets

54. Frozen peas & Corn (still frozen)
55. Tinned fruit in natural juice
56. Pinwheel sandwiches
57. Frozen oranges: cut into eights (leave skin on) and freeze in a container
58. 9 grain Vita-weat biscuits topped with a little jam, cream cheese and cut strawberry
59. Sliced granny smith apple, cheese & sultanas in a plastic cup (it’s a yummy combo)
60. Magic (healthy) Strawberry Mousse: recipe here
61. Frozen Yoghurt Pops
62. Damper

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