When kids arrive home from school, one of the first activities is eating a snack. Snacks should be as nutritious as meals and include fruits and vegetables. Of course, use your wise mama judgement and decide when to serve what, as many are also good breakfast dishes! Soothe after-school hunger with these 12 nutritious, easy and delicious snacks your scholarly tykes are sure to enjoy.
1. Mini Fruit Pizzas
Take graham cookies, digestives or small pre-made pancakes. Top with cream cheese or peanut butter. Then add cut fruit, nuts or other toppings and serve immediately.
2. Banana Sushi
Coat bananas with jam or peanut butter, then slice and roll them into tasty toppings like sprinkles, cereal and/or shredded coconut.
3. Apple Sandwiches
Cut an apple (core removed) into thick slices. Spread apple slice with peanut butter and top with granola and raisins. Place another apple slice on top and gently press together. Repeat with remaining apple slices.
4. Tropical Chia Pudding
Pour coconut milk into a bowl and sweeten with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey to taste. Add chia seeds and whisk. Set aside. Peel and chop kiwis and mangoes. Layer chopped fruit and chia pudding in small containers. Repeat this process. Put lids on containers and refrigerate for at least four hours for the chia to transform the coconut milk into pudding. Sprinkle desiccated coconut over it and serve.
5. Celery Snails and Caterpillars:
Pizzas: make snails, fill celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese, top with aslice of kiwi, cucumber, apple, tomato or orange, then add a cashew head. To make caterpillars, fill celery stalks with peanut butter or cream cheese, top with grapes, blueberries or grape tomatoes for both the body and head
6. Pencil Waffles
Take some pre-made waffles, decorate (see picture) using bread, bananas, raisins, fruit like berries and even pretzels. Yum and so nice to look at!
7. Sweet Potato Chips
Can they really be good for you? Yes, they can! Slice and put on baking sheet, bake for about 90 minutes or so until dehydrated, curled at the edges and crispy. Serve when cool or store in an airtight container.
8. Gourmet Platter
Cut up cheese with some whole grain crackers or pretzels, throw in some dried fruit or fresh grapes to up the gourmet factor and serve with avocado or anything that takes your fancy. The idea is to make it look good and appetizing!
9. Banana and Almond Protein Smoothie
Mix bananas, almond milk, chocolate milk and a bit of peanut butter together for a great snack.
10. Frozen Yogurt Popsicles
Take two cups of low-fat vanilla yogurt, lots of assorted berries and some pretzel rods. Put into ice-pop molds and cover with foil. When semi-frozen, remove and insert the pretzel rod in. Serve when frozen.
11. No Bake Chewy Coconut Granola Bars
Take brown rice cereal, rolled oats, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, cocoa powder and mix together. Coat all with honey, partially melted butter and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Lay it out on a baking tray and refrigerate until hard. Cut and wrap individually to serve.
12. Very Berry Bites
Take rasberries, cut a slit in the top of each and stuff with unsalted almonds or with yogurt and crushed granola for an easy-to-eat finger snack that is ready in a few seconds.
