My kids get home from school and go straight to the kitchen for a snack. Some days I wonder why they serve lunch so early. After school snacks should compliment your child's diet. Healthy after school snacks can be quick, easy to make and tasty. Some of my kids' favorite after school snacks are listed below.
Quesadilla
Quesadillas are easy to make. I keep grated cheese in the fridge in a baggie. My kids come home, put a tortilla on a microwave safe plate, cover it with cheese, fold it in half and microwave until the cheese melts. The kids eat these plain or with sour cream and salsa. Quesadillas with cheese increase the amount of milk products in my children's diets and the salsa increases the number of vegetables my children eat in a day.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a quick easy after school snack. The nutrition in popcorn isn't as good as some other after school snacks but it is healthier than eating sugary snacks.
Nachos
Tortilla chips with cheese are an easy after school snack. Toss some grated cheese on the chips and heat long enough to melt the cheese. Adding left over taco meat or refried beans add some extra protein and flavor. Salsa is also a good way to get in a few more vegetables. I like to add fresh tomatoes from the garden when they are available.
Cheese and Crackers
A quick easy snack is cheese and crackers. I try to keep several types of cheese in my fridge so the kids can have a choice. I have one child who likes pepper jack cheese, another prefers string cheese and another who prefers cheddar. All types are good after school snacks with or without crackers. Teenage girls need to have enough calcium in their diets to decrease their risk of osteoporosis.
Celery
A favorite after school snack over the years has been celery sticks with peanut butter. Kids like "ants on a log" which is celery with peanut butter and raisins. Celery with cream cheese are great after school snacks that are tasty and low fat. Celery is a low calorie vegetable that is not really high in nutrients. Peanut butter is high in protein.
Quesadilla
Quesadillas are easy to make. I keep grated cheese in the fridge in a baggie. My kids come home, put a tortilla on a microwave safe plate, cover it with cheese, fold it in half and microwave until the cheese melts. The kids eat these plain or with sour cream and salsa. Quesadillas with cheese increase the amount of milk products in my children's diets and the salsa increases the number of vegetables my children eat in a day.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a quick easy after school snack. The nutrition in popcorn isn't as good as some other after school snacks but it is healthier than eating sugary snacks.
Nachos
Tortilla chips with cheese are an easy after school snack. Toss some grated cheese on the chips and heat long enough to melt the cheese. Adding left over taco meat or refried beans add some extra protein and flavor. Salsa is also a good way to get in a few more vegetables. I like to add fresh tomatoes from the garden when they are available.
Cheese and Crackers
A quick easy snack is cheese and crackers. I try to keep several types of cheese in my fridge so the kids can have a choice. I have one child who likes pepper jack cheese, another prefers string cheese and another who prefers cheddar. All types are good after school snacks with or without crackers. Teenage girls need to have enough calcium in their diets to decrease their risk of osteoporosis.
Celery
A favorite after school snack over the years has been celery sticks with peanut butter. Kids like "ants on a log" which is celery with peanut butter and raisins. Celery with cream cheese are great after school snacks that are tasty and low fat. Celery is a low calorie vegetable that is not really high in nutrients. Peanut butter is high in protein.
- Snacks should compliment your child's diet.
- Snack time is a good time to add nutrients your child's diet that meal time has been missing.
- Snacks shouldn't be those fattening, sugary, prepackaged cakes and cookies found at the supermarket.
Comments
Great ideas Tamee!
Now I know my daughter is normal with her raiding the fridge after school. You give so many good ideas I will definitely use. They have organic all natural fruit snacks that are extremely tasty.
Good ideas. I keep telling my daughter that the box of cheezits she bought at the mall doesn't count as dinner.
Great ideas!!
Excellent article! My kids think I'm a "mean mom" sometimes b/c they have to have healthy snacks after school like fruit, vegetables or cheese while their friends eat tons of junk.
Excellent article! My kids think I'm a "mean mom" sometimes b/c they can only have a healthy snack after school, like fruit, vegetables or cheese while their friends eat tons of junk!
I don't have kids, but honestly I'd like to take these as great after school snacks for ME (well, and maybe my roommates) :) Great article! (And thanks for your comment on Turning 21 ... crappy indeed, haha, you had me laughing out loud there)
Very good ideas. I love fresh fruits. Every try bood oranges, they taste like cherry flavored oranges.
great ideas
Love these ideas.
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