</head>It's a constant battle: How to make an afternoon snack that's easy and quick, healthy, filling, and appealing to your kiddos—all without spoiling dinner. Oreos dunked in milk are a great treat, but most days call for something higher in healthy protein, whole grains, fruit, or hey, maybe even a sneaky vegetable or two. These 15 ideas will keep your kids satisfied and full. Now, the real challenge: Focusing on that math homework.
Snacks to Pack
1-2 mini pitas. A spoonful of ricotta cheese. Halved cherry tomatoes. Sea salt. Dried oregano and fresh basil (if "green things" aren't off-limits).
There's no need to be virtuous all the time. Homemade chocolate bark is easily doctored up with any seeds, dried fruit, or sweeteners you'd like.
A smear of cream cheese between two thick slices of cucumber makes a perfect sandwich—plus, no crust to cut off. Four or five mini sandwiches are just the right size for little appetites.
…or carrot sticks, or cucumber slices, or grape tomatoes, or…you get the picture. Serve the hummus in a separate bowl, rather than straight from the tub, to keep the portion snack-friendly
For a new take on ants on a log, take a break from the PB with super-creamy sunflower butter. Ditch the raisins in favor of dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice (instead of sugar). Looking for the best sunflower butter to use? Check out our taste test of popular store-bought options.
This fiber-rich snack is a compromise for kids with an insatiable sweet tooth. Plus, the longer they sit the tastier they get.
Thick, Greek-style yogurt (or Icelandic skyr) has plenty of protein. Add honey or maple if you'd like, but fresh berries bring plenty of sweetness on their own.
Soy nuts are actually just roasted soybeans. Combine a handful with a few rinsed snow pea pods for a snack that's both crunchy and fresh.
Add in a sprinkle of grated cheddar cheese, and you may even be able to get away with some sliced radish or extra lettuce. Keep the tortilla taco-, not burrito-sized—this is a snack, after all.
Protein is important for keeping you full without weighing you down—but you (and your kids) can only eat so many almonds and string cheese. A frittata baked in the beginning of the week offers both easy breakfasts and after school snacks.
It's all in the name: Who wouldn't want to eat cake for an after school snack? This one (pictured at the top of the page) sneakily hides banana and rolled oats.
Snacks to Make at Home
Gently heat a cup of milk in a sauce pot until gently simmering, and whisk in a teaspoon of honey, plus a pinch of cinnamon if desired. A quick dunk in the milk makes the grahams soggy-in-the-good-way.
Frozen edamame pods are easily reheated. Dunk them in a small ramekin of soy sauce or tamari (tamari is gluten-free), and let your kids have fun slurping out the soybeans.
The texture of blended blueberries and frozen bananas is delightfully similar to ice cream. The only other ingredient? A pinch of salt.
Fill mini muffin tins with a tablespoon each of peanuts, raisins, granola, grapes, semisweet chocolate chips, and any other balanced mix of savory, salty, sweet, and healthy snacks. Let the kids choose how to combine them.
Choose unsweetened varieties of almond milk and let ripe fruit thicken and sweeten a DIY smoothie. Skip the ice cream and nut butters to keep it lower in sugar and calories.