I know you’ve seen it. Your kid comes home from school and suddenly they are STARVING! I totally get it, which is why there are some snacks I like to keep in the fridge and pantry that I know my kid can grab all by themselves. Not only does it empower them to know what they can grab when they can’t think straight, it also helps keep them from going straight to the junk every day. If I let her, my kid could live on chips alone so I meet her in the middle. These ideas help my kid move more quickly to unwinding after a school day. Check out some of my snack ideas below that your kid can make all by themselves if you keep your kitchen stocked!
5 Easy Afterschool Snacks Kids Can Grab Super Fast
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Nature’s Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars
Have you tried these Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars? They are by far my favorite snack in the world. Each individual package has two stone ground wheat fig “cookies” and they are available in a variety. They have a variety of flavors, but our house favorites are the Raspberry, Strawberry and Blueberry. (The lemon fans in our house give big thumbs up to those too!) Pair these bars with a few almonds and you have a quick and easy balanced snack your kid won’t have to think too hard about. We’ve been eating this snack solid for three years now, you want these fig bars! These snacks are also both soy and dairy free. I literally can not say enough good things about these fig bars.
Pretzel Chips, Carrots, And Hummus
Pita chips are cool, but who doesn’t love a crunchy pretzel? Flat pretzel chips (we like the Snack Factory Pretzel Chips) make an excellent dipper for hummus. I also like to have carrots or sugar snap peas on hand to round out this snack. My kid can literally just grab a few items and go, and the protein in the hummus helps to keep her going. You can also add a little cheese to this snack too if your kid is still feeling hungry.
Popcorn Mixed With Nuts And Dried Berries
Popcorn is always a winner in my house, but it’s usually not filling enough on it’s own for a hungry kid. Keep a bag of dried nuts and fruit nearby that your kids can mix right in themselves for a quick and easy snack. Grab a nut mix with chocolate for a kid with a sweet tooth. We are obsessed with the Skinny Pop Popcorn at our house, and these pre-portioned bags are great for snack time or lunch. I like Skinny Pop because it literally has three ingredients. They also have different flavors to choose from. I usually grab my nut mixes at Trader Joe’s as they have a great variety.
Bean Roll Ups
Do your kids love to snack on nachos or frozen burritos? This quick and easy snack will give them all the Mexican flavors. Keep lower sodium beans on hand to keep this dish protein packed but still delicious.
- 1 taco sized tortilla
- ¼ cup vegetarian refried beans or other lower sodium beans (we like black too)
- 1 teaspoon of taco seasoning or to taste
- Sprinkle of cheese
- Salsa
Spread beans on tortilla and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Sprinkle cheese on top of beans. Roll up tortilla and spritz lightly with oil. Bake your rollup in the toaster oven at 400 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until gooey. You can also microwave if you prefer a soft version, just skip the oil. Serve with your favorite salsa to dip. Lettuce, tomato and guacamole are also fun variations depending on what your kids likes.
Small Waffle Plus Nut-butter of Choice
Whether you choose to stock your freezer with frozen waffles or make a few extra waffles when you make brunch, you need to have a few waffles on hand for snack time. Kids can easily pop a waffle into the toaster or toaster oven, spread with nut butter and get on with the important task of unwinding and finishing homework. This snack also doubles as an easy breakfast and is a super quick solution to the hungries. You can also add slices of apple, banana or berries to the top if you’re feeling fancy.
Wow this snacks looks so yummy!
Hummus with veggies and popcorn are some of my fav go-to snacks. Skinny Pop is so good, almost too good. It’s always tempting to eat the whole bag.
I really like the waffle idea. I never really thought of that.
Wow, really looks a good snacks. I should try these
I like Skinny Pop Popcorn. It is a great source of dietary fiber and the dried berries give us vitamins and minerals. Quick and easy healthy snack to have anytime!
These are all such great snacks. We love Skinny Pop in our family. My seven year old daughter really loves it the most. She’d probably eat it each day for a snack if she could.
There are so many healthy snacks that are available these days which makes it easier for us to find a snack that our kids will love! These are all awesome ideas!
Popcorn and snack bites are really hit in our home! These are nice choices too!
These are all wonderful suggestions. I love it, the kids will definitely love these!
These are all great afternoon snacks for kids — even adults too. I woud love those fig bars and my daughter would probably love the waffle the most.