28 Fun, Unique and Healthy After School Snacks (2024)

Being in school for 7 hours will make any kid hungry and thesekid-approved, after-school snacksare perfect for even the most ravenous of kids.

Fixing a mom-approved snack is a super way to make sure your child will be able to make it until dinner time (even when they think they can’t!).

See Also

• Check out these healthy family dinners that are sure to please the entire crew!

What kid wouldn’t love PB & J sushi, caterpillar grapes, baked apple chips, grilled cheese roll ups, granola balls, carrots and dip, ants on a log, Jell-O ships, chickpea poppers, or a strawberry octopus?

Check out these after school snack recipes that everyone will approve!

1.PB & J Sushi

From All Created

Sushi is the perfect healthy lunch or snack for children of all ages. Peanut butter and jelly sushi that is. This nifty little way of making kid-friendly sushi rolls makes for the perfect afternoon snack or sandwich alternative. The best part is that you need nothing special to whip up these PB&J Sushi Rolls. Your kids will go bananas for them!

2.Baked Apple Chips

From Je Suis Alimentageuse

Budget friendly and insanely delicious, these homemade baked apple chips are a healthy and all natural snack you can feel good about. Red Prince apples are perfect to use because of their crisp, sweet flavor, but you can mix up different apples to experiment. Slices of apple are baked in the oven for two hours then let cool to crisp. They are perfect for school lunches or a light and healthy evening snack.

3.Caterpillar Grapes

From Create-Celebrate-Explore

Take a cue from The Very Hungry Caterpillar with this adorable and healthy caterpillar grapes! A bunch of green and red grapes are threaded onto a wooden skewer, then decorated with a few dots of black icing and organic fruit snacks to look just like a friendly caterpillar. Kids would love the opportunity to help make these snacks, and they will definitely love easting them!

4.Carrot and Hummus Trees

From Amy’s Cooking Adventures

Pick up a bag of baby carrots and a container of hummus next time your grocery shopping to recreate this awesome after school snack. They are adorably served in mini flower pots that kids will love. Plant three baby carrots in each pot filled with a healthy scoop of hummus, then garnish with a clipping of fresh parsley. Carrots and hummus make a cute snack that is healthy, too.

5.Fruit and Jello Ships

From Menu Musings from a Modern American Mom

Creative snacks are always fun for kids and make it so much easier to feed them healthy foods. Make these cute little sailing ships out of fresh fruit, floating on a sea of blue berry Jell-O with a surprise gummy shark lurking in the water! Top with a toothpick and printable flag to bring your sailing ship to life. These snacks would also be a huge hit with any pirate fans out there.

6.Mini Zucchini Muffins

From Classy Clutter

Aren’t these little guys so cute? These Mini Zucchini Muffins are the perfect bite-sized treats for a healthy breakfast for afternoon snack. Plus, they have loads of zucchini in them so you can feel confident that your kids are getting their daily serving of vegetables. These little yummies are certain to be devoured in a matter of minutes and they are a huge hit with adults and kids alike.

7.Grilled Cheese Rolls Up

From Coupon Clipping Cook

These grilled cheese sandwich roll ups are fun, different, and can be customized to include any of your favorite ingredients just like a regular grilled cheese. Grilled cheese roll ups are perfect for dipping too. Try dipping them in tomato soup for the perfect easy lunch or on their own with some ketchup as an after school snack. You only need three ingredients to make them and they are always a hit with the kids.

8.Strawberry Mice Appetizer

From Spaceships and Laser Beams

There are so many wonderful sweet treat ideas out there for after school snacks and dessert tables, but it is always refreshing to have a tasty and healthy option available too. That’s exactly how these adorable Strawberry Mice Appetizers were born! Top a crispy cracker with a slice of Swiss cheese and a cute little mouse made from a fresh strawberry, mini chocolate chips, and a black licorice whip.

9.Apple Turtles

From Spaceships and Laser Beams

Kid’s treats don’t have you be all cake, cookies, and candy. Transform fruit into adorable characters and tasty treats with just a little bit of imagination! Green Granny Smith apples look just like a turtle’s shell, then green grapes and a few mini chocolate chips complete the vision. It’s also a great themed snack for children’s birthday parties or lessons about turtles.

10.Granola Balls

From Baked in Arizona

I love a good homemade granola recipe so as soon as I saw these homemade granola balls I knew I add to add them to the list! These little balls of happiness taste almost like a cookie, making the perfect snack for school lunches. They are packed with healthy ingredients like quick oats, creamy peanut butter, ground flaxseed, and honey.

11. Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Bites

From We’re Parents

Did you know that one large banana is stocked with great nutrients like Vitamin C, fibre, and potassium? That’s why these Coconut Peanut Butter Banana Bites made our list of the best healthy recipes for after school snacks! Make a big batch with your kids help then freeze the leftovers for later. Whether you eat them fresh or frozen like a popsicle, they are a super delicious treat!

12.No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle

From Edible Perspective

When you are on the go or just plain hangry, these no-bake peanut butter cookies with chocolate drizzle are the perfect snack. While they may look like your run of the mill cookies, they are packed with creamy peanut butter and oats for a thick and sturdy texture. They also keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge, so you can feel free to make a big batch.

13.Cereal Raisin Clusters

From One Sweet Appetite

Cereal Raisin Clusters will get you and your kids excited to get up and going every morning. The recipe is also perfect if you want to get your kids involved in the kitchen! The sweetness of sun dried raisins and crunch of plain cereal pairs perfectly with a sticky honey drizzle. These little breakfast clusters are easy to pack on busy mornings for an afternoon snack.

14.Avocado Fries with Cilantro Lemon Dipping Sauce

From Adventures in Cooking

Bite into these avocado fries for the very first time and you will instantly be in love. Crunchy on the outside and warm and creamy on the inside, these avocado fries are an incredibly delicious side dish or after school snack. The perfect accompaniment is the creamy, perfectly spiced Cilantro Lemon Dipping Sauce. These would also make an excellent appetizer or potluck dish.

15.Strawberry Octopus

From Spaceships and Laser Beams

This super easy strawberry octopus would be great for any under the sea themed party, a summertime pool party, or even just a fun afterschool snack! Besides being a cute decoration on a dessert table, it is also a great way to get your kids to eat a healthy party food option. Creative cutting and a few premade candy eyeballs turn a fresh strawberry into this adorable octopus character!

16.Pepperoni & Cheese “Calzonies”

From The Cozy Apron

Pepperoni and Five Cheese “Calzonies” are a delicious little afterschool treat that can be prepared the day before and kept refrigerated until ready to bake and eat! They are a great choice for a snack that is both nutritious and a fun little activity to make together with your kids. It doesn’t get much more fun than dip-able finger food, not to mention these little bites taste just like pizza.

17.Chickpea Poppers

From The Mom 100 Blog

One of the most popular snack recipes on their blog, these Chickpea Poppers from The Mom 100 Cookbook are the perfect treat to serve in place of unhealthy chips. Give your kids the same bit of crunch in a way you can feel good about! Chickpeas are seasoned olive oil and course salt and then toasted in the oven. Chickpea Poppers are high in fibre, full of protein, and totally delicious.

18.Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

From The View From Great Island

If you are in love with the oat fudge bars from Starbucks, you will be in love with this super simple and delicious recipe. These Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are chewy and a little sticky, almost like a cross between sweet granola and a Rice Krispies treat. The frosting is piled thick on top, a perfect hybrid of sweet milk chocolate and creamy peanut butter.

19.Chewy Coconut Granola Bars

From Baked in Arizona

Granola Bars have always been one of our go-to snacks for school lunches and family outings, but store-bought options can be filled with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. This recipe for homemade Chewy Coconut Granola Bars are the perfect alternative! They are loaded with delicious coconut flavor, mini chocolate chips, and healthy, natural ingredients.

20.Ants on a Log

From Pretty Providence

I love these little critters! Ants on a Log are a classic snack that have been loved by generations of kids and adults. Take about five or six celery stalks cut into sticks, fill the center with natural creamy peanut butter, and top with raisins or quartered red grapes. Crispy, sweet, and super healthy, these little snacks are perfect for school lunches and afterschool snacks.

21.How to Make Delicious Kale Chips

From Keeper of the Home

Craving the crunchy and salty taste of potato chips but trying to eat healthier? Try these extremely delicious and frugal Kale Chips that are full of health benefits. A fresh bunch of leafy kale and simple ingredients you already have on hand are all it takes. Seasonings include favorite flavors like garlic, paprika, and orange peel. You can’t go wrong with these savory and healthy chips!

22.Apple + Cheddar + Ham = Happy Snack

From Babble Courtesy of Disney

These apple, cheddar, and ham rolls with give your kids all the energy they need to finish up their homework and spend the evening playing outside. The snack is so easy to make that you could probably even get your kids involved by letting them assemble all of the ingredients. All of the flavors go so well together, and the little bit of crunch from slices of Granny Smith Apple adds so much.

23.Baked Sour Cream Donuts

From Spaceships and Laser Beams

Donuts are one of my greatest guilty pleasures, so finding a way to lighten them up was high on my list. These mini sour cream baked donuts use only real ingredients and are baked to be healthier than traditional recipes! They are topped with a delicious vanilla glaze and sprinkled with rainbow sprinkles or any other topping you desire!

24.Tasty Bugs

From Nestle Kitchens

Delight your kids with these creative, buggy treats made from fresh apples and celery. The addition of creamy peanut butter makes them super tasty, and NERD candy decorations add a whole new level of fun! Let your kids use their wild imaginations to create their own bugs and creepy crawlies, like this snail and caterpillar.

25.Gourmet Grilled Cheese

From Spaceships and Laser Beams

We are having grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch today, but not just plain old grilled cheese. We are whipping up some gourmet versions with creamy bocconcini cheese and savory pesto on whole grain Italian bread. My mouth is watering already! These gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches make the perfect extra special meal and they are pretty healthy too!

26.Pizza Wheels

From Spoon Fork Bacon

Get some pizza crust in every bite with this tasty recipe for Pizza Wheels! This easy snack or light weekend lunch is perfect for pizza-loving kids and is made with fresh ingredients you can feel good about. The cornmeal in this recipe ensures that your crust is crispy and delicious, the way a legitimate crust should be. Add your favorite pizza toppings to customize them.

27.Easy Homemade Mini Corn Dogs

From Damn Delicious

Easy homemade mini corn dogs are the easiest corn dogs that you will ever make! They are perfect as an afterschool snack, game-day appetizer or even a super quick dinner. All you need to make them is a simple homemade cornbread batter and hot dogs on a stick. Throw them in a hot pot and they will magically puff up into the perfect, most fluffy corn dogs.

Keep all those snacks in order with these great containers and organization ideas gathered by the Spaceships and Laser Beams Crew.

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Don’t miss more great after school snack ideas!

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• BBQ Chicken Sliders
• BLT Dip
• Frizzled Onions
• Ranch Roll Ups
• Asian Cucumber Salad
• Fuji Apple Panera Salad
• Homemade Crab Rangoon
  
• Pizza Sliders
• Crab Rangoon Eggroll
• 8 Healthy Snacks for Lunch Boxes
• Chocolate Cherry Mice