Food & Cooking Recipes Kid-Friendly Recipes Kid-Friendly Snacks 43 After-School Snacks Your Kids Will Love Whether they're in preschool or senior year, they'll love nibbling on these delicious dishes. By Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master's degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as Martha Stewart, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores. Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 26, 2024 Close After a long day at school, kids can't wait to unwind and enjoy an afternoon snack. After all, it's been hours since lunchtime—but it's still too early for dinner. While this hunger witching hour might seem like it'll make dinner a lost cause, the right healthy after-school snack can serve as a nutritious and satisfying appetizer that'll help them power through homework and afternoon activities. We're sharing some of our favorite easy, quick, and delicious foods for your young ones to munch on; they'll make your afternoons simpler and theirs fuller. From lip-smacking salty snacks to scrumptious sweet bites, you'll find the perfect after-school snack for your little (or not-so-little) ones here. 17 Quick Dinner Ideas for Kids That the Whole Family Will Love 01 of 43 Homemade Guacamole For a no-cook appetizer that's healthy to boot, you can't go wrong with homemade guacamole. Spread it on toast or serve with tortilla chips, sliced vegetables, or pita bread. View Recipe 02 of 43 Baked Sweet-Potato Chips Krause, Johansen Made with just four ingredients, this crunchy snack will satisfy kids and adults like. Our version is flavored with salt and lime juice, but you can switch it up with other dried herbs and spices. View Recipe 03 of 43 English Muffin Pizza Snacks Frank Frances Who says pizza can't be a snack? Our take on the beloved bagel-based classic starts with an English muffin instead. It's a snack that will handle their hunger—and yours!—until the homework's done. View Recipe 04 of 43 Chocolate-Covered Bananas Rachel Marek These pops will quickly turn into warm-weather favorites. View Recipe 05 of 43 Apple-Oatmeal Muffins Mike Krautter Here's a healthy, hearty, and satisfying snack your kids are sure to love. Prepare these yummy muffins ahead of time and you'll be able to appease any little ones scouring the pantry before dinner. View Recipe 06 of 43 Cucumber-Blueberry Smoothie This antioxidant-packed smoothie will give your kids the boost they need after a long day of learning. View Recipe 07 of 43 Crunchy Caramel Popcorn José Manuel Picayo Rivera Indulge your kids' popcorn cravings—this extra-crunchy version (with some sweetness) will make them applaud after school. If you have some adventurous eaters at your table, try our Coconut-Caramel Popcorn. View Recipe 08 of 43 Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars Bryan Gardner Soothe after-school hunger with easy and delicious PB&J bars. Even if they already had the sandwich version for lunch, these sweet treats are sure to delight. View Recipe 09 of 43 Crispy Cereal Treats Kirsten Francis Put a decadent spin on their favorite breakfast with these updated takes on classic cereal bars. We're sharing four rich recipes that will have everyone asking for seconds. View Recipe 10 of 43 Creamy Artichoke Ranch Dip Petrina Tinslay This five-ingredient dip is great with chips, crackers, or veggies. It includes Greek yogurt, too, so it's healthier than a mayo- or sour cream-based dip. View Recipe 11 of 43 Sweet Potato-Parmesan Fries These "fries" aren't fried; rather, you roast them in a hot oven until crisp. View Recipe 12 of 43 Basic Granola Frank Frances Enjoy this granola with milk or yogurt, or just eat it plain. View Recipe 13 of 43 Peanut-Butter Granola Balls Made with honey and dried fruit, these afternoon treats sneak a little nutrition into homework time. View Recipe 14 of 43 Pear Sauce This spin on applesauce is packed with fiber and a great way to introduce a new fruit into your kids' repertoire. View Recipe 15 of 43 Elote-Style Popcorn Sidney Bensimon Inspired by Mexican street corn, this yummy snack includes Pecorino Romano, Tajín Clásico seasoning, salt, and cayenne pepper. View Recipe 16 of 43 Healthy Oatmeal Cookies John Kernick It takes just ten minutes to prepare the dough for these sweet, crunchy treats, and you can feel good about serving them to your kids since they're made with whole-wheat flour. View Recipe 17 of 43 Dried-Fruit-and-Nut Health Bars Bryan Gardner These granola bars are filled with nutritious ingredients and don't include any refined sugar. They're tasty and portable, too. View Recipe 18 of 43 Valentine's Day Cinnamon Toast Pernille Loof No need to save this delicious toast for February 14. You can stencil a heart onto it or not; either way, it's a tasty and fun snack. View Recipe 19 of 43 Ranch Salad Dressing Petrina Tinslay Made with buttermilk and sour cream, this dressing makes for the perfect after-school dip when paired with crunchy carrots and fresh red peppers. View Recipe 20 of 43 Tropical-Fruit Juice Salad Kate Mathis Kiwi, pineapple, orange or grapefruit and a ginger-lemon dressing make for a zippy and unexpected fruit salad. View Recipe 21 of 43 Guacamole Hummus Con Poulos This snack is a delicious combination of two favorites dips. With loads of avocado and chickpeas, this flavorful bite packs a punch. Serve it with tortilla chips for a crunchy taste that's sure to be a hit. View Recipe 22 of 43 Spicy-Sweet Maple Snack Mix John Dolan As the name of this snack entails, it's the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. It gets its kick from cayenne pepper and pepitas, while its sweetness comes from maple syrup. View Recipe 23 of 43 Graham Crackers Bryan Gardner Homemade graham crackers are a real treat, and this version does not disappoint. It includes all-purpose and whole wheat flour, cinnamon, brown sugar, and honey. View Recipe 24 of 43 Kettle Chip Nachos CHELSEA CAVANAUGH Older kids will love this easy snack because it packs a kick. Featuring jalapeños, two types of cheese, and the perfect crunch from kettle chips, this twist on classic nachos will quickly become a new favorite. View Recipe 25 of 43 Peanut-Popcorn Balls Justin Walker These homemade caramel-coated peanut-popcorn balls are a fun indulgence, and a nostalgic one, to boot. View Recipe 26 of 43 Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket Kirsten Francis This party favorite is sure to be a hit with your kids after school. Flaky dough is wrapped around bite-size hot dogs for a savory snack. View Recipe 27 of 43 Savory Crepe Rollups Lennart Weibull You can use homemade or store-bought crepes for these eye-catching snacks. And there are two variations here: one with asparagus and prosciutto, and one with smoked salmon and scallions. View Recipe 28 of 43 Toasted-Coconut Granola Chelsea Cavanaugh Toasted coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and pecans in this granola make for a delicious and filling breakfast or afternoon treat. View Recipe 29 of 43 Nuts and Bolts Snack Mix Raymond Hom This version of the classic mix features pretzels and wholesome cereals plus the grown-up flavors of fresh rosemary and cayenne. View Recipe 30 of 43 Frozen Yogurt and Fruit Pops Lennart Weibull Give yogurt and fruit a special twist by serving them in a blended frozen pop. View Recipe 31 of 43 Lemony White-Bean Hummus Dana Gallagher Everyone will love this dip, which includes white beans, tahini, and the juice of two lemons. It will keep, refrigerated, for two days. View Recipe 32 of 43 Mashed-Avocado and Egg Toast Ngoc Minh Ngo This delicious, open-faced sandwich is a quick and satisfying meal for hungry kids just off the bus. View Recipe 33 of 43 Zucchini Quesadillas These crispy, cheesy quesadillas let you slip some veggies into an afternoon snack. View Recipe 34 of 43 Edamame Spread This protein-packed spread is sure to delight, especially when paired with salty crackers. View Recipe 35 of 43 Easy Any-Juice Ice Pops Con Poulos Try this refreshing pop to energize your kids after a long day at school. View Recipe 36 of 43 Spicy Roasted Chickpeas This crunchy snack is so perfect, your kids will ask for it in their packed lunches, too. View Recipe 37 of 43 Chickpea and Tuna Dip Con Poulos This bean and tuna dip is great with crackers and filled with protein, too. View Recipe 38 of 43 Banana-Oat Smoothie Jason Donnelly From the school bus to a tropical island, kids will love this fruity snack after a long day of school. Featuring banana, honey, cinnamon, and oats, it comes together in only five minutes but will tide them over for hours. View Recipe 39 of 43 Peanut Butter Berry Smoothie Mike Krautter Here's another great smoothie, this one inspired by the classic sandwich. View Recipe 40 of 43 Zucchini Nut Bread This ideal recipe that incorporates cinnamon, walnuts, and almond extract. Plus, it makes two loaves. Eat one now and freeze one for later. View Recipe 41 of 43 Bird Haven Farm Applesauce Mikkel Vang With only 15 minutes of prep, this sweet applesauce is just the snack to tide kids over until dinner is ready. View Recipe 42 of 43 Zucchini, Banana, and Flaxseed Muffins John Kernick The zucchini and banana help create a soft and tender muffin, while keeping it low in fat. View Recipe 43 of 43 Open Face Sandwiches Have a little fun with snack time with these creative sandwiches, sure to get a giggle out of young eaters. View Recipe Updated by Lynn Andriani Lynn Andriani Lynn is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit