5 Easy After School Snacks to Help Kids Survive Until Dinner

When kids burst through the door after school and announce they’re starving, are you prepared with snacks? Depending on what time their school serves lunch and what time they’re dismissed, it’s possible they haven’t eaten in four or five hours. Whether they are heading to sports practice or sitting down to do homework, we bet they will perform better after a nutritious snack.

On the other hand, we know you already have dinner to prepare and don’t want to assemble an elaborate spread. That’s why we’ve gathered five easy snack ideas — one for each school day in the week — to try with your kids. They’re quick, easy, and kid-friendly.

1. Quesadillas

We love quesadillas as a snack because they’re hot and filling, but they take only a few minutes to put together. Use burrito-size tortillas to make a half quesadilla for each child. Spread each tortilla with a layer of refried beans. Look for low-fat or vegetarian varieties, or use whole canned black beans or pinto beans. Then shred some cheese over the beans. We prefer to shred our own cheese instead of using bagged, pre-shredded cheese, which doesn’t melt as well. Finally, if you have some grilled chicken or browned ground beef, feel free to add it.

2. Peanut Butter and Greek Yogurt Dip

Greek yogurt is such a versatile ingredient. We use it in place of sour cream in savory dips, instead of mayonnaise in egg or chicken salad, and as a swap for buttermilk or cream in baking. It’s also a good addition to peanut butter as a dip. You don’t even need a recipe. Spoon some peanut butter into a bowl. Then whisk in some Greek yogurt. Taste it occasionally, and stop when you’ve achieved a taste and consistency you like. While it’s better to use 2% or whole milk Greek yogurt when baking, you can use nonfat yogurt for dip if you prefer. Try dipping apple slices, pear slices, grapes or bananas (use a toothpick or a fork), pretzel sticks, graham crackers, or any other dipper your kids like. You can even spread it on a slice of bread.

3. Veggies and Savory Hummus

We recently tried dessert hummus with our kids — to great success! — and we’ve been longtime fans of savory hummus. You can grab a container at the grocery store, or you can make it yourself in the blender. There are lots of recipe ideas online, but all you really need are chickpeas, olive oil, and garlic. Tahini and lemon juice are optional, but they give hummus its signature taste. Start with this recipe from Inspired Taste if you want to make your own hummus. Then be sure to have your kids’ favorite raw veggies ready to go. Carrots, cucumbers, red peppers, and grape or cherry tomatoes are all kid-friendly and easy to prep.

4. Baked Apples

Another warm snack idea for those upcoming chilly afternoons is easier than you might think. Instead of baking apples in the oven, pop your cored apples in the microwave on a plate or in a casserole dish. Cover with plastic wrap to help them steam. Baked apples can be topped any way you like; try raisins or dried cranberries, granola, or even yogurt. While you can add a little butter and brown sugar, we encourage you to go easy. The sweetness of the apple, dried fruit, and granola should be enough to entice most kids.

5. Smoothies

Smoothies aren’t just for breakfast! We recommend smoothies as a suggestion for kids who may need some encouragement to eat a snack. Smoothies are especially helpful when kids are heading off to sports practice or coming home from sports practice, and they don’t feel like eating much. You can make a half serving if you’re afraid of sending them off too full. Be sure to go easy on the added sugar and throw in some greens for extra nutrients.