10 Amazing After School Snack Ideas

By Whitney Hollingshead

Integrated Learning Strategies (ILS) is a learning and academic center. As a reminder, ILS is not a health care provider and none of our materials or services provide a diagnosis or treatment of a specific condition or learning challenge you may see in your child or student. If you seek a diagnosis or treatment for your child or student, please contact a trained professional who can provide an evaluation of the child.

Summer is quickly coming to an end and back to school is on the horizon. As you plan for the coming school year, don’t forget to prepare a plan for after school snacks. Odds are you will soon be searching for some quick, tasty, and yet relatively healthy snacks to tide your hungry kids over until dinner time.

Here are 10 such ideas that are destined to become new family favorites:

1. Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Empty one small carton of strawberry banana yogurt into blender. Add one cup of frozen strawberries, one fresh banana (peeled), ⅓ cup of apple juice, and 6 ice cubes. Blend until smooth.

2. Fruit, Cheese, & Cereal Snack Mix

Grab a gallon size ziploc bag. Add 2 cups of corn Chex cereal, 1 cup of Cheerios, 1 cup of cheese crackers, 1 cup of mini pretzels, ½ cup of craisins, and ½ cup of dried apples. Mix gently in the bag and serve in individual sized ziploc bags or small bowls.

3. Creamy Cheese Quesadilla

Spread flour tortilla with a thin layer of cream cheese. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until cheese is melted. Fold in half, cut into triangles, and serve with salsa. *For an extra zip, add some lunch meat before heating.

4. Parmesan Popcorn

Use 4 cups of popped popcorn (air popped works best). Place 2 tablespoons of butter, 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese, and ¼ teaspoon of salt in small microwave safe bowl. Microwave until butter is melted and then stir heated ingredients together. Pour over popcorn and toss to coat. Sprinkle with additional salt, or garlic salt, as desired and serve.

5. Bean Dip

Open a can of refried beans and place in a medium sized microwave safe bowl. Add one package of cream cheese and half a jar of salsa. Heat for one minute. Stir and continue heating 30 seconds at a time until the cheese is melted and mixes in well. Serve with tortilla chips.

6. Pretzels & Yogurt

Open a container of your child’s favorite yogurt and give your child mini twisted pretzels to dip into the yogurt. (You can start with half a container of yogurt at a time for smaller kids.)

7. Cottage Cheese Dip

Place the contents of one regular sized carton of cottage cheese in a medium sized bowl. Mix in the contents of an entire packet of dry ranch dip mix or dry onion soup mix. Serve dip with whole wheat crackers, baby carrots, and celery sticks.

8. PB & Honey Owl

Spread peanut butter and honey on one slice of bread. Cut a banana and put two slices on bread for eyes. Place one blueberry in the center of each eye. Cut an apple into slices and place two slices on bread for wings. Cut a small triangle of apple skin from one of the slices and place on bread for beak. Use ring cereal to create rows of feathers across the front of the owl. Decorate the plate as desired. (You can use nutella for feet, talons, and a branch, and use star shaped cereal for stars in the sky.)  

9. BBQ Chicken Biscuits

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Separate large refrigerator biscuits and place on cookie sheet. Press the bottom of a measuring cup down gently in the center of each biscuit to create a small crater in the middle and a thin crust around the edge. Open a can of canned chicken breast, drain, and mix with BBQ sauce until desired consistency is reached. Spoon BBQ chicken on to each crater. Top with grated cheddar cheese and bake for 15-18 minutes until cheese is melted.

10. Ham & Cheese Tortellini Skewers

Cook frozen cheese tortellini according to package directions. (Most brands cook in mere minutes.) Drain the pasta and place on wax paper to cool. Thread cooled pasta on to skewers, alternating with cubes of ham and cherry tomatoes. Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.

Bonus Tip

In addition to these 10 ideas, it’s always a good idea to have some simple snacks on hand that require zero prep on your part. Organize a drawer or cupboard in your kitchen specifically for grab and go snacks. This is just one way you can make your kitchen more kid friendly. Then check out these additional suggestions.

Remember to bookmark this post to help you conquer the next snack attack at your house!

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Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning challenges achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville, Layton, Syracuse, Farmington, and Centerville areas. Areas to find Integrated Learning Strategies include: Reading tutors in Kaysville, Math tutors in Kaysville, Common Core Tutors in Kaysville, Tutors in Utah, Utah Tutoring Programs