Lauren Margolis
After a long school day, kids come home hungry and ready to eat. Here are some quick recipes for after-school snacks that are broken down by age group to ensure your kids are getting the nutrients they need as they grow.
Elementary School
Loaded Apple Nachos: Give your hungry elementary schoolers their daily dose of fruit and protein by masking their after-school snacks as a fun, sweet treat. Just top apple slices with melted peanut butter, chocolate chips, coconut flakes and sprinkles. You can even tweak the recipe any way you like. Consider replacing the peanut butter with caramel or the sprinkles with crushed nuts.
Grilled Cheese Roll Ups: Grilled cheese is a kid’s food staple, and these roll ups are easy to make and fun to eat. Make these after-school snacks healthier with whole grain bread and vegan cheese. First, flatten a slice of bread with a rolling pin and place cheese slices on top. Then, roll it together and cook it like a normal grilled cheese. Dip it in a side of tomato soup.
Middle School
Pizza Rice Cake: Most kids love pizza. This super simple and healthy after-school snack version of the beloved food is super simple and healthy. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a slightly salted rice cake. Then, sprinkle on the shredded mozzarella cheese and add your child’s toppings of choice, such as diced cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, beef sticks, mushrooms, and olives.
Berry Swirl Frozen Yogurt Bark: Instead of buying popsicles loaded with sugar, opt for this frozen yogurt bark, which is perfect for those hot days when your kids come home sweaty and tired. These after-school snacks only takes 15 minutes to prepare, but it’s best to make them before the kids come home from school so it’s ready to eat. Spread Greek yogurt out on a lined baking sheet then swirl in teaspoon-sized amounts of berry jam and sprinkle with fresh berries. It’s that easy!
High School
No Bake Chocolate Banana Energy Balls: With the perfect amount of nutrients from oats, flax seeds and chia seeds, in addition to banana, chocolate and peanut butter, these after-school snacks will keep your teen energized and full until dinner. They’re even great to take on the go for some energy before sports practice. The energy balls are good for up to one week in the refrigerator and will last even longer if frozen. Since the recipe requires the mixture to be refrigerated for one hour before rolling, consider preparing this snack at the beginning of the week so it’s ready to go when hunger strikes.
Avocado Toast: Not only is this a quick snack to whip up, it’s also healthy and filling. Start by spreading mashed avocado onto a toasted slice of whole grain bread then season it any way you like. Keep these after-school snacks simple with a dash of salt or mix tomatoes, onions and cilantro to the avocado to make it like guacamole. The choice is up to you and your teen.
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