Don’t let after school hunger stump you! Here are 30 healthy after school snack ideas that kids (and parents) will love!

30 after school snacks round up graphic with text and recipe photos.
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Snacks. Sometimes it seems like kids live for snacks. It’s no wonder that parents often use snacks as a reward or a way to placate their children. Kids will do almost anything for a snack, especially if they see it as something they don’t normally get.

I don’t mean to say that snacks are necessarily bad. It really depends on what the snack is, right? Obviously a healthy snack is ideal. And it has to be a healthy snack that doesn’t look like a healthy snack.

Snacks = Fuel = Healthy Kids

According to Eatright.org, kids need to eat every 3 to 4 hours to “fuel their growing bodies.” I like that. Snacks=fuel. Growing children need 3 meals, plus a couple of snacks per day. The folks at Eat Right suggest serving healthy snacks that have protein and fiber, snacks that provide nutrition and energy.

I don’t know if everyone’s kids are like mine but I know that my kids don’t eat much during the school day. Not enough time, too many distractions, and not liking what’s served are the main excuses. When they get home from school, they are HUNGRY! They’re ready to eat pretty much anything I give them.

I’m always looking for healthy snack ideas and I bet you are too. So, here goes. I hope this list of 30 after school (or any time) snacks puts a smile on your kids’ faces. And we all know that smiling kids mean smiling parents!

Be sure to take a look at my after school snack board ideas, too, especially if you have a larger group of kids. It’s uncomplicated and very versatile. Kids love it (and you won’t need a fancy charcuterie board).

30 After School Snacks

Monster cookie energy bites with M&M's.
5 from 2 votes
Healthier than a cookie, but just as popular, monster cookie energy balls are made with nutritious peanut butter and oats.
View Recipe
Overhead view of bowl of energy bites, with dried cranberries, oats and hemp seeds also pictured.

Cranberry Oatmeal Energy Balls (nut-free)

5 from 3 votes
Cranberry oatmeal energy balls, with dates and hemp seed, are chewy bites of deliciousness with a nutritious energy boost. 
View Recipe
These chocolate protein balls will satisfy your chocolate cravings without a sugar crash later and will give you energy to get through your afternoon! Get the easy snack recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Chocolate Protein Balls

5 from 1 vote
Chocolate protein balls with dates, oats, and flaxseed will satisfy kids' chocolate cravings without a sugar crash.
These apple cinnamon no bake energy bites are fun, filling, and could not be any easier to make. They're great for school lunch boxes, too! Get the easy and fun recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Apple Cinnamon No Bake Energy Bites

4.43 from 7 votes
Apple cinnamon no bake energy bites are fun, filling, and could not be any easier to make. They’re great for after school and school lunch boxes, too!
View Recipe
Cream cheese fruit dip surrounded by fresh fruit.

Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

4.50 from 8 votes
Watch your kids devour fresh fruit when they can dip it into this creamy fruit dip, made with yogurt and cream cheese. It's lightly sweetened and so delicious!
View Recipe
Patriotic fruit skewer placed on top of a bowl of vanilla yogurt dip.

Fruit Kabobs

5 from 4 votes
Put anything on a stick and it's way more fun to eat! Kids love fresh fruit kabobs which can be made with almost any type of fruit.
View Recipe
Bright green edamame dip topped with green onions.

Edamame Dip

4.75 from 4 votes
Bright green and deliciously creamy, edamame dip is nutritious and super satisfying. Serve it with crackers, veggies, or pita bread triangles.
View Recipe
Apple dip on an apple.

Easy Apple Dip

4.60 from 22 votes
Made with peanut butter and cream cheese, this apple dip tastes like caramel apples!
View Recipe
This skinny dill vegetable dip is a staple in our fridge -- we're hardly ever without it! You won't want to stop snacking on vegetables when you're dipping them in this healthy and low-cal dip.

Vegetable Dip

4.41 from 205 votes
This better-for-you dill vegetable dip is made with Greek yogurt which means more protein and less fat than ordinary veggie dips.
View Recipe
Gingersnap being dipped into creamy pumpkin dip.

Pumpkin Dip

4.67 from 3 votes
Easy to make and easy to eat, pumpkin dip tastes like pumpkin pie. Made with yogurt, cream cheese, and canned pumpkin, it's healthier and so good with graham crackers, apples, or pretzels.
View Recipe
Homemade cheez-it crackers in a bowl.

Homemade Cheez-Its

4.78 from 40 votes
The best cheese crackers ever! Homemade Cheez-its are made with lots of real cheddar cheese, no artificial anything.
View Recipe
Air fryer basket filled with corn tortilla chips.

Air Fryer Tortilla Chips

4.75 from 12 votes
A basket of warm tortilla chips made from simple corn tortillas, a light spritz of oil, and a sprinkle of salt is hard to resist. Serve them with homemade salsa.
View Recipe
Close up of restaurant style salsa with a chip being dipped in.

Homemade Salsa

4.78 from 9 votes
Salsa is so easy to make and you can make it spicy or not. Lots of vegetables (tomatoes, onions, peppers) but low in sodium.
View Recipe
Mango Avocado Salsa is the perfect topping to any taco or salad, and it's irresistible piled up on a chip! You'll love the creamy avocado, sweet mango, and tart pineapple in every bite! Get the easy salsa recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Mango Avocado Salsa with Pineapple

4.86 from 7 votes
Kids love this fruity salsa with mangos and pineapple. If avocado isn't their thing, leave it out!
View Recipe
Chia seed pudding topped with fresh berries.

Chia Seed Pudding

4.71 from 24 votes
Looks like pudding, tastes like pudding, but it's made with healthy chia seeds. Top with fresh fruit or chocolate chips.
View Recipe
Close up of roasted chickpeas with cinnamon spilling out of a white scoop.

Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas

4.55 from 24 votes
Who knew that canned chickpeas could be turned into a delicious snack? Cinnamon roasted chickpeas are healthy and friendly.
View Recipe
Olive oil roasted almonds in a small round bowl.

Olive Oil Roasted Almonds

4.41 from 30 votes
Almonds have lots of nutritional value and these olive oil roasted almonds won't disappoint. Addictively good! Be sure to try my cinnamon roasted almonds, too!
View Recipe
Overhead view of english muffin pizzas on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

English Muffin Pizzas

5 from 2 votes
A little more substantial, English muffin pizzas are easy to make and so popular with kids. Perfect do-it-yourself pizzas for older children.
View Recipe
Air fryer hot dogs in buns.

Air Fryer Hot Dogs

4.50 from 4 votes
Perfect for a substantial after school snack or quick meal, air fryer hot dogs are quick and easy, ready in just 5 minutes. Teenagers love 'em!
View Recipe
Overhead view of three mango smoothies.

Mango Smoothie

5 from 4 votes
With mango and banana, this 4 ingredient smoothie is easy to make with optional added sweeteners. Frosty and delicious!
View Recipe
Overhead view of a tropical smoothie.

Tropical Smoothie

5 from 4 votes
Another smoothie pleaser, a tropical smoothie is healthy, refreshing, and delicious.
View Recipe
Overhead view of slices of banana bread cut from a loaf on a parchment-lined cutting board, next to yellow bananas.

Healthy Banana Bread

5 from 5 votes
With whole wheat flour, sweetened naturally with bananas and applesauce, this banana bread is a healthy snack or lunchbox treat. Top it with peanut butter or cream cheese.
View Recipe
Healthy pumpkin bread, partially sliced.

Healthy Pumpkin Bread

4.73 from 18 votes
Made with a can of real pumpkin puree and whole wheat flour, pumpkin bread is a popular after school snack. Serve it with a glass of cold milk.
View Recipe
Stack of blueberry bran muffins.

Blueberry Bran Muffins

4.88 from 8 votes
Bakery muffins tend to be loaded with sugar and oil. Make your own blueberry bran muffins for after school snacks or lunchbox treats. They freeze well, too.
View Recipe
Carrot muffin split open to show texture and contents, including raisins and oats.

Carrot Raisin Muffins

4.59 from 12 votes
The ingredient list for carrot raisin muffins is packed with nutrition (carrots, raisins, bananas, applesauce, whole wheat flour) but they taste like a sweet treat.
View Recipe
Overhead view of muffins in a basket with blue and white linen.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

4.48 from 17 votes
Loaded with bits of fresh apple, apple cinnamon muffins are a popular after school snack. Try them with apple butter or cinnamon cream cheese.
View Recipe
Three black bean brownies stacked up.

Black Bean Brownies

4.70 from 10 votes
Wish your kids would eat more beans? Try black bean brownies, they'll never guess there's beans in their brownies!
View Recipe
Two whole wheat chocolate chip cookies, one with a bite out of it.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies with Oats

4.86 from 14 votes
Who says chocolate chip cookies can't be a healthy after school snack? Make these snackable cookies with whole wheat flour and rolled oats.
View Recipe
Cookie with m&m's, peanuts, raisins, and chocolate chips.

Easy Trail Mix Cookies

5 from 2 votes
Energy-boosting trail mix cookies are easy to make with only 4 ingredients. Bake them in your toaster oven for a freshly baked after school snack.
View Recipe
Gingerbread Breakfast Cookie Recipe - the perfect way to start the day! Recipe on RachelCooks.com

Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies

4.67 from 6 votes
Not just for breakfast, these gingerbread cookies make a perfect after school snack or lunch box treat.
View Recipe
Free email series

5 Time & Stress Saving Cooking Secrets

Free email series of my best tips!

FREE BONUS!

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop files here

8 Comments

  1. Sharon Thompson says:

    Very good!

    1. Rachel Gurk says:

      Thank you!

  2. Chris W. says:

    So even our granddaughter is out of school but these snacks could work for anybody, anytime. My husband would definitely get on board for the cookies and I’m a salsa person. Granddaughter works at a pre-school and she has a bit of a drive home so she’s always ravenous when she gets home. The coolest thing is that she really likes to cook so I’ll pass these along to her. Thank you for the great ideas. And your daughter and son are adorable – definitely are brother and sister!

    1. Rachel Gurk says:

      Thank you so much for the kind comment! I’m glad you like the list of recipes.

  3. Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says:

    oh my goodness. . I love this round-up! Yes, my kids absolutely live for snack time. Trying the sweet potato chips and the olive oil roasted almonds. . yummm!

  4. Liz @ Tip Top Shape says:

    I love all of these!! I’m in my last year of law school and every time I come back from the law building I want to eat just about everything in my fridge. These recipes will be used well!!

  5. Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says:

    You always have the best round ups, Rachel! I love finding new homemade snack ideas for my kids. I have to try those sweet potato chips!

  6. Kristy says:

    Thank you for sharing my recipe. I absolutely love your sweet potato chips, we make those a lot! :)