Nutrition

Tame the Beast! 10 Healthy After-School Snacks Your Kids Will Ask For

Oh man! It’s that time of year again: school buses, homework, and dismissal bells. And don’t forget! Kids might be coming home from school starving because they didn’t have enough to eat during the day – if your kids are anything like mine! You know they are going to want an after-school snack, but if you let them raid the pantry, they’re going to fill up on junk food and sugar.

Do you get hangry too? Click here to read about Team Busbee’s favorite healthy snacks!

after-school snacks, healthy after-school snacks, delicious after-school snacks, yummy after-school snacks, healthy & tasty after-school snacks - woman giving daughter after-school snack, Erin Busbee, Busbee Style fashion over 40

Healthy After-school Snacks

The problem with letting them have chips or chocolate as their after-school snack is their blood sugar is going to spike. They will feel great for a little while, and then they’ll come crashing down. And very likely, so will their mood again! If your kiddo is in sports or has other after-school activities before dinner, the sugar and refined carbs won’t keep them full long enough to power through. They may even compensate by drinking or eating more sugar, and pretty soon, they (and you!) will be on a hamster wheel of poor nutrition. In case you missed it, I share ways to curb sugar cravings here.

So you make a veggie tray with some hummus instead…And that is a hard pass from them too. You know you want to give them an after-school snack that has a good balance of carbs and protein, so they take the edge off of their hunger and refill their energy levels to make it through homework and play practice, but they want something super-tasty, easy, and a snack that feels special. Maybe you can meet in the middle. What if you could offer snacks that are (reasonably!)  healthy but also meet their taste and fun requirements too? Well, now you can tame the beast! Here are 10 healthy after-school snacks your kids will ask for.

What are the go-to healthy after-school snacks that your kids love? How do you help them feel energized without the crash? Let us know in the comments below!

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Fruity!

These fruity snacks give a satisfying sweetness, without a lot of added sugars. They have a tartness and stretch that kids love.
Bare Baked Crunch Apples Fruit Snack Pack
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Stretch Island Fruit Leather
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SunRype Fruit Snacks
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Hearty!

Sometimes your kids need a little more protein to get through the rest of their day. These snacks fill that need and are tasty too!
Lorissa’s Kitchen Meat Snack Packs
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Quest Tortilla Style Protein Chips Variety
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Chewy!

Granola bars without the guilt! These are great after-school snacks because they curb hunger without making your kids feel sluggish.
Bobo’s Oat Bars Variety Pack
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Made Good Healthy Snacks Variety Pack
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Crunchy!

A great trail mix without a lot of added sugars is a pantry must-have. This one checks all the boxes!
Nature’s Garden Healthy Trail Mix Snack Packs
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Sweet!

Sometimes your kids just want something that feels like a treat. You can give in while still keeping their after-school snack healthy with these options!
Blake’s Seed Based Crispy Treats
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Grab the Gold Snack Bars Chocolate Peanut Butter
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Join the Conversation
Leave a Reply to Julianna Cario Cancel reply

2 thoughts on “Tame the Beast! 10 Healthy After-School Snacks Your Kids Will Ask For

  1. Did you know the #1 surgery times booked for children is for dental work? There is an epidemic of cavities in children. More than half of the snacks you have suggested are sugary( natural sugars from fruit are still sugar!) and sticky and promote tooth decay. A large percentage of children are not getting regular preventative dental care (due to cost largely) and end up in the hospital when their dental problems become systemic health issues. Working in children’s dental care for many years we spent our time trying to get parents away from the very processed snacks you are suggesting and back to whole foods.

    1. You make a really good point, Janet. I did think more about convenience than sugar content on this one. I’ll keep it in mind in the future. Thanks! Julianna

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