Easy After-School Snacks You Can Make in Advance

To avoid grazing when that mid-afternoon hunger strikes, prep these easy recipes beforehand and ensure that you have something at the ready. Each snack is tastier than a bag of chips and more interesting than just grabbing a piece of fruit—plus, they’re actually pretty simple to make. From smaller bites to heartier snacks that’ll keep you full until dinner (or can even double as an early supper), you’ll want to add these recipes to your meal prep schedule immediately.    

Sweet Potato Falafels

A bit more nutrient-heavy than typical falafel and just as yummy, these sweet potato bites are a great thing to have on hand throughout the week. Make a big batch ahead then store in an airtight container to make quick salads a bit more filling or simply use as a vehicle for your favorite hummus recipe.

Strawberry Double-Chocolate Granola

Craving something sweet for your afternoon pick-me-up? Add this super simple granola recipe to your repertoire. Serve it with your milk of choice or over some Greek yogurt with fresh fruit for a snack that’ll be ready in minutes.  

Roasted Red Pepper Cashew Cream

Something for the vegan snackers out there: This cashew cream is the ideal healthy dip to prep ahead of time and use as an accompaniment to raw veggies or crackers. The decadent, creamy texture makes this taste a lot unhealthier than it actually is.

Homemade Blueberry Nutri-Grain Bars

Granola bars are the ultimate snack food, but did you know they’re actually easy to recreate at home? For a healthier take on Nutri-Grain bars, try Half Baked Harvest’s homemade blueberry version. Pro tip: Try heating them up for a few minutes to make them feel less like a snack and more like a dessert.

Homemade Fruit and Nut Crisps

Girl Versus Dough’s copycat recipe of those fruit and nut crisps you see at the grocery store is just as delicious and way more affordable. Store the crisps in an airtight container for up to a week—though they probably won’t last that long.

Garlic Herb Parmesan Pretzel Twists

Because it’s more socially acceptable to snack on plain bread if it’s in pretzel form (we think), these homemade soft pretzel twists from What’s Gaby Cooking are a must-try. They’re best eaten fresh but will hold up for a couple of days. Eat them with a dip or slice in half and add sandwich ingredients for a heartier snack.

Skinny Baked Sweet Potato Chips

Everyone loves a chip – especially this salty-sweet version made with vitamin-packed sweet potatoes.  Make a double batch and store in airtight containers to quell after school appetites for days to come.

Whole Fruit Pops

That’s not just plain water holding the fruit together—it’s coconut water, for even more fresh fruit flavor. These fruit pops are a sweet treat you don’t have to feel guilty about indulging in.

Quinoa Trail Mix Bites

Instead of kids reaching for processed snack bars, these trail mix bites are chock full of healthy ingredients perfect for staving off hunger until dinnertime. Quinoa, flax, and pumpkin seeds provide plenty of nutrition and crunch, while coconut, cinnamon, and brown sugar add just enough sweetness and delicious flavor.

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

Combine creamy peanut butter, Greek yogurt, and honey to create this tasty dip perfect for dunking fruit and pretzel sticks.

Sugar-Free Caramelized Nuts

Everyone will want to dig into these tasty nuts, made sweet by mixing in cinnamon, vanilla extract, and natural sweetener.  And there’s no need to wait for a cold day to make a batch since these come together right on the stovetop.  So easy!

Sweet Potato Banana Bites

These muffin treats are ideal for both snacking and breakfast.  They’re free of any flour or added sugar; chocolate chips are optional, but always a good idea. Yum!

Spicy Sriracha Popcorn

Big kids will love the salty, buttery, spicy flavor of this crunchy popcorn treat that’s light enough not to spoil dinner.

Healthy Homemade Mango Fruit Roll-Ups

Also called fruit leather, this yummy kid-friendly treat is surprisingly easy to make at home. There are plenty of recipes available for a variety of different fruit flavors, but the idea of fresh mango sounds too tempting to resist.

Chocolate Almond Date Balls

Believe it or not, these date balls contain only three ingredients…that’s it. The food processor does the hard work blending everything together, and then just roll and refrigerate—no baking required. Genius!

Cucumber Hummus

The addition of cucumber lightens up the flavor of this hummus so that appetites aren’t spoiled so close to dinner.

Parmesan Ranch Snack Mix

There are plenty of ready-made snack mixes in the supermarket, but this homemade version can be customized to your taste with as much seasoning as you like. Add in more nuts for added protein, or Sriracha for spice.

Banana and Peanut Butter Muffins

These yummy muffins contain two whole bananas—a great way to sneak fruit into after school snack time.

Rainbow Veggie Pinwheels

Kids and adults love pinwheel sandwiches. Lighten yours up for afternoon snacking with thinly sliced veggies, and don’t worry—a delicious Ranch-cream cheese spread ensures these healthy wraps are also packed full of flavor.

Apple Cinnamon Chips

Pop a large batch of these “chips” in the oven over the weekend, and kids can snack on them all week long.

Baked Whole-Wheat Raspberry Doughnuts

Treat them to this healthy take on doughnuts made with whole wheat flour and a full cup of fresh raspberries. They bake up in a short 14 minutes in a 375-degree oven, and keep well for days when stored in airtight containers.

Applesauce Puffs

These muffins are sure to keep appetites at bay until dinner time. For even more apple flavor, grate in some fresh apple; this will also add a bit of texture.

Frozen Smoothie Popsicles

No hungry kid will be able to resist these homemade yogurt pops, and with plenty of fresh fruit inside, you’ll be glad they’re snacking healthy.

Yogurt Covered Blueberries

Skewer, coat in yogurt, freeze, and done. So easy (and so delicious), it barely requires a recipe… but just in case, here you go.

3-Ingredient Banana Nutella Popsicles

For an insatiable sweet tooth, these popsicles sneak in yogurt and lots of banana, creating a snack that’s decadent and healthy, too.

Salt and Vinegar Zucchini Chips

When only salty chips will do, have a bag of these homemade zucchini chips on hand. They practically make themselves in the oven, and have all of the tempting salt and vinegar flavor of their favorite potato chip—minus the empty calories.

This story was originally published in August 2016. It has been updated with new information.

See more recipes to add to your repertoire now:

The Best Make-Ahead Breakfast for Easier Mornings Adorable Kid Lunches That Are (Almost) Too Cute to Eat The Best Snacks to Make and Pack for a Road Trip

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