27 Quick & Easy After School Snacks Your Kids Will Actually Eat

Quick easy after school snacks for kids! These healthy homemade kid friendly snacks are simple and cheap no-fuss ideas that will keep them full til dinner.

When the school day ends and your kids burst through the door, the first thing they usually ask is: “What’s for snack?”

If you’re looking for simple, no-fuss after school snack ideas that keep kids happy and full until dinner, you’re in the right place. 

I put together a list of unique snack ideas that are both kid-approved AND parent-friendly.

These snacks are quick, easy, and made with inexpensive ingredients you probably already have on hand.

We’re not going for “Pinterest perfect” here – just simple ideas that taste great too.

Let’s check ‘em out!

🍎 Read next: 30 Creative School Lunches for Picky Kids

1. Peanut Butter Banana Roll-Ups

Spread peanut butter on a tortilla, slice up a banana, drizzle a bit of honey, and roll it all up. 

It’s sweet and creamy, and you can add extra nutrition by using a whole wheat tortilla.

2. Yogurt and Fruit Parfaits

Simply layer yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit in a cup or small mason jar.

You can even let the kids assemble their own with their favorite toppings for a fun activity – and to give them extra incentive to eat it!

3. Apple Nachos

These healthy “nachos” are so fun to eat, and a sneaky way to get kids to eat fruit.

Thinly slice apples and spread them out on a plate, then drizzle with peanut butter and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, raisins, or crushed pretzels.

4. Mini Quesadillas

Fill a small tortilla with cheese (and anything else you have on hand), fold it in half, and heat on a skillet or in the microwave for 30 seconds until melted.

Salsa, plain greek yogurt, or even ketchup make great sauces for those who like to dip.

5. Celery Sticks with Peanut Butter and Raisins

“Ants on a Log” are a fun and crunchy snack that’s just as nutritious as it is nostalgic.

Simply top celery with peanut butter and raisins or chocolate chips.

Hopefully the kids will get a kick out of the idea of eat “bugs” and not notice they’re actually eating celery.

6. Fruit Smoothies

Blend up a fruit smoothie with their favorite ingredients like yogurt, frozen berries, bananas, orange juice (to thin it out), and even peanut butter. 

They’ll love to sip it through a straw! Or make them ahead and pour it into popsicle molds and freeze for healthy premade snacks on hot days.

7. DIY Snack Mix

Let kids mix their favorite cereals, pretzels, raisins, mini marshmallows, popcorn, or goldfish crackers into their own custom trail mix.

It’s so fun to come up with all kinds of new combinations!

8. English Muffin Pizza

To make a delicious mini pizza, top half an English muffin with pizza sauce and shredded cheese, then microwave or broil until bubbly.

9. Frozen Yogurt Bark

For a cool, creamy snack that’s kinda like ice cream but without all the sugar, try frozen yogurt “bark.”

Spread yogurt on a baking sheet covered in, sprinkle berries, drizzle honey, and add granola or even mini chocolate chips before freezing. 

When yogurt is firm (about 3 hours), break into chunks and serve cold.

10. Snack Kabobs

Thread chunks of fruit, chunks of cheese, and/or veggies onto skewers or toothpicks. 

They’re delicious on their own, or extra fun served with a dipping sauce like ranch for savory skewers, or chocolate or yogurt for the fruit version.

11. Deli Roll-Ups

Roll a slice of deli turkey or ham around a cheese stick for a filling high-protein snack.

Or spread ham slices with cream cheese and wrap around a pickle.

12. Hummus and Dippers

Kids love to dip, and hummus can really expand their tastebuds.

Serve a small bowl of hummus with baby carrots, cucumbers, and bell pepper strips or mini Naan bread.

13. Rice Cakes with Toppings

A nostalgic snack with a satisfying crunch, there are some delicious topping combos you can try.

Try peanut butter (or nutella) and banana, cream cheese and strawberries, or avocado with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

14. Mini Muffins

You can bake a batch of mini muffins and freeze them, simply pulling out a few when you need them.

They sell individual bags of Mini Muffins at the store too, for the ultimate convenience. They’re quite pricey, overly sweet and not as satisfying as homemade I’ve found, but are definitely easy to have on hand.

15. Cottage Cheese with Pineapple

For a protein-packed snack with the perfect balance of sweet and savory, cottage tastes so good topped with canned crushed pineapple, peaches or pears.

16. Pancake Sandwiches

Whether you have leftover pancakes or make up a batch just for snacking, they’re not just for breakfast. 

Spread them with peanut butter or Nutella and bananas or strawberries, and fold them up like a taco.

17. Oatmeal Energy Balls

Energy balls are a quick no-bake snack with oats, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips. 

Store them right in the fridge for grab-and-go snacking.

18. Hard-Boiled Eggs

Make a batch at the start of the week or buy a bag of precooked and peeled hard-boiled eggs.

Serve with salt, pepper, or a sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning.

19. Cucumber “Sandwiches”

Use round cucumber slices in place of crackers and sandwich them with cream cheese, cheddar slices or hummus.

If you doubt your kids will eat that, use crackers instead.

20. Mini Bagels

There’s something extra fun about a mini bagel. Plus they’re just the right size for little hands.

Top them with peanut butter or cream cheese and sliced strawberries or bananas for extra flavor and nutrition.

21. Topped Graham Crackers

Spread a little frosting, cream cheese, peanut butter or even Nutella between two graham crackers for a simple sandwich-style snack.

Graham crackers are also delicious dipped in milk. One of my favorite childhood breakfasts!

22. Ham and Cheese Crescent Rolls

For an extra hungry crew, roll up cheese and ham in crescent roll dough, bake according to package directions, and serve warm.

These pinwheel snacks are flaky and cheesy mini sandwiches that disappear fast.

23. Peanut Butter and Jelly “Sushi” 

These are playful, tasty, and something kids love to help make.

Flatten slices of bread, spread peanut butter and jelly, then roll up and slice into rounds like sushi. 

24. Tortilla Roll-Ups

Spread a tortilla with cream cheese or Laughing Cow, and add ham, turkey, bell peppers, or whatever they’d like. 

Roll up and enjoy like a wrap, or slice into pinwheels to be extra cute.

25. Stuffed Dates with Almond Butter

These are a naturally sweet, energy-boosting snack that feels a little fancy but is zero fuss.

Pit medjool dates and fill them with almond butter, and top with chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips for crunch. 

26. Peanut Butter Banana Bites

Slice a banana and spread a little peanut butter between two slices to make mini banana sandwiches. 

For an extra treat, roll the sides in mini chocolate chips or crushed cereal.

27. Popcorn Bar

Pop a batch of popcorn and set out fun toppings like parmesan, cinnamon sugar, or ranch seasoning. 

You can also set out mix-ins like candy, raisins, or fruit snacks for a fun twist.

(Also the perfect movie night snack!)

Miscellaneous snack ideas (that need no explanation):

• Frozen grapes
• Crackers or pita bread quarters, with cheese or hummus
• String cheese and fruit
• Rice krispie treats

Ready to try some new after school snacks?

As you can see, after school snacks don’t need to be complicated or time-consuming. 

With a little prep or pantry creativity, you can serve up something both nutritious and fun in just a few minutes. 

Whether your kids love sweet, salty, crunchy, or creamy, this list has something to make everyone happy!

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