Written By Sam Henselijn
Healthy After School Snack Ideas for Kids and Teens. Between school, all the extracurricular activities, and homework, most kids need to fuel up with a snack before the dinner cravings set in. Naturally, the immediate impulse is to reach for something sugary or convenient like cereal – and while there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s also important to balance their diet throughout the day.
These healthy after school snacks are quick and easy to prep ahead of time – you can easily make a batch in advance and keep them ready for when the mood strikes, or assemble them quickly after school. They’re also perfect to help restore energy levels between meals!
Here are 3 simple Healthy After School Snack Ideas
Dried Fruit Smoothie
Dried fruit adds antioxidants and so much flavor to your smoothies. Plus, it’s super convenient to keep a few types of dried fruit in the pantry for when you’re out of fresh fruit. The combination of dried apricots and juicy dried strawberries is simply delightful and naturally sweet.
Ingredients
*1 serving:
- 4 dried apricots
- 4 dried strawberries
- 1/2 cup natural Greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup milk of choice
Chop the dried fruit into small pieces, then place in a bowl and pour the milk over the top. Leave to stand in the fridge overnight or for a few hours while the kids are at school.
When you’re ready to serve, place the fruit along with the milk and yogurt in a blender and blend for 1 min or until smooth. Serve well chilled.
Frozen Banana Yogurt Pops
A healthier alternative to ice pops, frozen banana yogurt pops are a delicious treat that the whole family can enjoy. They’re super easy to make and use only minimal ingredients. Bananas are a fantastic ingredient for kids since they’re super sweet and full of natural sugars. And, best of all, they are super healthy, being rich in potassium, antioxidants, and Vitamin C. Roll them up in pecan pieces for added crunch and taste!
Ingredients
*Makes 6 pops
- 3 bananas (cut in half)
- 1 1/2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup pecan pieces
Peel bananas and cut them in half. Slide one popsicle stick into each half of the banana.
Pour the greek yogurt into a bowl, mix until creamy, then dip the banana pops into it, until fully coated.
Garnish generously with chopped nuts and place in the freezer for 2 hours or until completely frozen.
Ranch Snack Mix
The kids are going to love coming home to this homemade ranch flavored snack mix! Crunchy, salty, and made with real ingredients. The addition of pumpkin seeds, peanuts, and cashews makes for a wholesome and healthy snack. You can make a big batch in under 10 minutes and keep in an airtight container for a couple of weeks. It’s a great snack to send to school too – just remember to check the school’s policy on nuts.
Ingredients
*Makes 6-8 portions
- 4 cups popcorn, popped
- 1 1/2 cups pretzels
- 3/4 cup roasted & salted peanuts
- 3/4 cup roasted & salted cashews
- 3/4 cup pepitas
- 1 one-ounce packet ranch dip seasoning mix powder
Combine the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, sprinkle the ranch seasoning, and toss to coat everything.
Sam Henselijn Author’s Biography – Meet L’Orenta Nuts CEO
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