Have fun with your kids while enjoying delicious homemade foods with these creative ways to make healthy after-school snacks! From refreshing gelatin to more wholesome brownies (you won’t believe the secret ingredient!), there’s something for everyone. Yep, even picky eaters!
10 Creative Ways To Make Healthy After-School Snacks
I have two kids and when I pick them up from school, they are usually very hungry. When we come back home they always ask for a snack the minute I step in the front door. They don’t even let me sit down to relax for a few minutes…..no way….they are starving and they want a snack right away.
It would be so easy for me to just grab them a bag of chips or a snack bar, but I know it is my responsibility to offer them healthy choices. Offering fruits or nuts is always a good healthy idea, but sometimes they want something different. They don’t want plain “stuff.” They want something creative, fun, and exciting.
So I decided to get some inspiration from the internet and my own previous recipes and came up with this list of creative ways to make healthy after-school snacks. Preparation and creativity are key to making sure the snacks I feed them are all healthy choices. It doesn’t have to be complicated or take a lot of your time.
Remember healthy eating habits are important and they start at home. If you are interested, check out my 5 Tips for Raising Healthy Non-Picky Eaters. It really works for us and my kids eat a great variety of foods.
One last tiny note before we dive in: I added some recommended ingredients for these healthy snacks using affiliate links. If you choose to buy anything through these links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
1. EASY HOMEMADE NOURISHING BLUEBERRY GELATIN
Make your own and make it healthy, that’s my motto! Jello is fun, exciting, and SO refreshing on a hot day. Ditch commercial stuff containing insane amounts of sugar, aspartame (sugar-free versions), artificial flavors, and preservatives, and just make your own!
This easy recipe is a super creative and healthy after-school snack. It’s lightly sweet and delicious! The kids will love it (mine sure do)!. You just need plain Gelatin (vegans can use Agar Agar Powder instead), fresh or frozen blueberries (or any other berries if you want a different flavor), some REAL maple syrup, and some water. Get the recipe here.
Recommended ingredients (either the gelatin OR the agar powder, you don’t need both):
2. HEALTHY BANANA SUSHI ROLLS
I cannot think of an easier way to make a healthy snack at home. It only takes a few minutes and you can use your favorite nut butter and toppings. You can even get your kids super excited to make their own sushi. Hint: that translates to a few minutes to relax while they make this yummy snack. Grab the recipe here.
Some great nut butters to try:
3. EASY SUPER HEALTHY CAULIFLOWER POPCORN
Yes, a snack that is actually a vegetable. Use fun popcorn Popcorn Containers
and your kids will be so excited. This recipe is so tasty and so easy to make. Just bake the cauliflower florets and you are done. No mess involved and an excellent snack for the entire family. See how to make it here.
4. FUN FRUIT POP IDEAS
If your kids want a little bit more than plain fruit for an after-school snack, make fruit pops (think cake pops, but A LOT healthier)! You can use different fruits and toppings. Bananas, strawberries, and kiwis are our favorite fruits for pops. Cover them in yogurt and chopped nuts, sprinkles, toasted coconut, or granola. See how to make them here, along with a ton of other fruit pop ideas. Check out some great topping ideas below:
5. AMAZING FLOURLESS SWEET POTATO HEALTHY BROWNIES
Ok yes, kids love cupcakes, brownies, and chocolate. This recipe is just perfect for the entire family to enjoy. Guess what? These brownies are made with sweet potatoes! My kids love these little brownies and they are just perfect for a healthy after-school snack. Learn how to make them here.
6. Homemade Healthy Gummies
Kids love gummies, but they’re not exactly the healthiest snack, right? Unless, of course, you make them yourself! These homemade healthy gummies are one of my kids’ favorite creative healthy after-school snacks. Your kids will love helping you make them, especially if you use fun molds (like the set below). Get the recipe here, along with some tips and add-ins that will make them an even healthier snack!
7. Homemade “Goldfish” Crackers Made with Just 2 Ingredients
To be fair to the real Goldfish crackers, Pepperidge Farms really has put a lot of effort into making them healthier. Still, I’d rather feed my kids homemade food than something that comes out of a bag, especially when I can make the alternative with just two ingredients. Besides, the real thing isn’t gluten-free, and these are. Learn how to make them here.
8. 2 Ingredient Banana Cookies
These are one of the healthiest snacks ever, and they’re SOOOO easy to make! All you need are bananas, coconut flakes, and about 20 minutes. Actually, baking takes up 15 of those minutes, so you really only need 5 minutes of “active” time! They’re the perfect snack when you’re really craving a sweet cookie! See how to make them here.
9. 5-Minute Almond Butter Fudge
Sometimes, you really just need a little chocolate to make things better after a particularly tough day at school. Instead of tossing your kids a candy bar, make this healthy homemade fudge for them instead! The process itself really does only take 5 minutes. However, you will need to freeze the fudge for a couple of hours so that it sets, so you’ll want to make it around mid-day so that it’s ready for after school. See how to make it here.
10. Healthy Zucchini And Carrot Muffins
These take a little longer to make than the other healthy after-school snacks on my list, but they’re so worth it. You can always make them ahead of time and store them in the fridge in an airtight container. They’re the perfect on-the-go snack, especially on after-school activities days when you know you’ll be eating a later dinner. You can even use them as a healthy school lunch! They’re a very versatile snack. Grab the recipe here.
I hope you enjoyed these creative ways to make healthy after-school snacks! Teaching our kids to eat real food is the most important thing we can do for their future health. I believe kids deserve to eat real food.
If you are interested, please check out my recipes for easy-to-make, healthy, and homemade family meals. I am not a chef or have many years of experience cooking. So most of my recipes are very easy to prepare. I believe in cooking with fresh ingredients and try to avoid canned or boxed food as much as possible.
Last update on 2022-11-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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