I have pretty vivid memories of coming home from school after those long days as an elementary school girl. My younger brother and I would walk home from school and it was just a matter of seconds before our backpacks were on the ground and we were seated at the counter ready for our “after school snack”.

There are so many things I loved about those days and those “after school snack” moments. It was a time to talk with my mom and brother about the day. It was a time to unwind. It was a time to decide what friend I would play with after I got my homework done. And most importantly, it was a time to get some healthy food in my little body to have energy for the rest of the day.

So maybe I didn’t realize that last one at the time I was sitting at our kitchen counter, but I realize it now! I’m excited to share some ideas for how to use that “after school snack” time to connect with your kids and give them the extra energy boost they need.

Trisha’s Favorite After School Snacks

– Green Smoothies 

– Ants on a Log: A stick of celery filled with peanut butter and raisins (PS, my husband loves these!) 

– Frozen Yogurt Pops: These are light, fruity and cold. Perfect for those warm afternoons! Try them with greek yogurt and you’ll be giving your children a great snack of protein, fruit and dairy!

– Cheese, Turkey & Crackers

– Apple Sandwiches: Core the apple, then slice it width-wise so you have some circle slices. Fill the slices with peanut or almond butter and snack away!

–  Healthy Popcorn Mix: ½ cup popped popcorn with some nuts and chocolate chips mixed in

– Yogurt with Fresh Fruit

– Banana Muffins 

– Homemade Trail Mix (pretzels, nuts, chex mix)

– Turkey & cheese quesadilla

– Zucchini Muffins

– Homemade Granola Bars 

– Sweet Potato Fries

– Peanut Butter Banana Bites

– Fruit Kabobs

– Cheese Sticks

– Carrots and Hummus or Ranch Dip

You may have already heard about many of these snacks before and maybe your child has dismissed them. One important thing to note is that kids like fun presentation. So…here are some fun presentation ideas to incorporate in your healthy snacks!

– make a face on your granola bars with chocolate chips
– put the ingredients of the trail mix in a muffin tin and let them fill their own cup or bowl with the things they want
– create a “snack menu” with a few choices they can pick from each day
– cut and arrange fruit & veggies in the shape of animals or faces

Hopefully this gives you some ideas to jump start this school year. Here’s to making the most of the time we have with our kids and doing our part to keep them healthy and strong! 

Trisha