20 Mouthwatering (and Healthy!) After-School Snacks That Won't Spoil Dinner

Flickr user Bruce Tuten

Typical scene: your kids have just finished up a busy day at school, and now they're ravenous. The trick is to give them something satisfying without them getting full before dinner. According to Sam Kass, executive director of Let's Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to give all US children the opportunity to grow up healthy, the three hours between school and dinner is the most dangerous — and important — time of day for kids. During a call to discuss Let's Move's latest initiatives, Kass told us it's during this often unstructured time that kids are on their own to make food decisions, and without guidance, they often turn to chips and sugary snacks and drinks that fill them up and ruin their dinners.

It's also the period where parents are often at a loss as to what to serve their kids. So we turned to celebrity chefs to share their favorite after-school snacks. They're easy, and they're delicious — the perfect pick-me-ups after a whole day of classes and activities. Click on to check them out, but be careful: you will want to snack on them yourself. Don't say we didn't warn you!

01
Veggie Pinwheels

Veggie Pinwheels

We love any recipe that's tasty, easy, and filling. Cookbook author Kim Laidlaw has mastered the goat cheese and veggie pinwheel recipe that moms everywhere can put together in a snap. The best part? You can take them on the go for all those after-school activities. Source: Kim Laidlaw

02
Mimi’s Real Tex Mex Guacamole

Mimi’s Real Tex Mex Guacamole

Kelsey Banfield gained an instant following when she started blogging on The Naptime Chef about the meals she cooked while baby Daphne was sleeping. Now in grade school, Daphne eats after-school snacks that give her energy to get through the rest of the afternoon. "This authentic Texan guacamole is a delicious and healthy snack for kids," Kelsey says. "It is rich and creamy with a spicy kick from the jalapeño. I like to serve it up with lots of chopped vegetables or minitacos for a snack." Source: The Naptime Chef

03
Broccoli With Yogurt Ranch Dip

Broccoli With Yogurt Ranch Dip

Brooklyn-based Blue Apron is a food delivery service that focuses on healthy, fresh ingredients. One of the company's founders, Matthew Wadiak, suggests making this broccoli with yogurt ranch dip with your kids on a Sunday evening and keeping it in the fridge for an easy grab-and-go after-school snack during the week. Matthew suggests serving with broccoli, but you could add or substitute whatever veggies are your kids' favorites. Source: Blue Apron

04
Tomato Toasts

Tomato Toasts

These supereasy tomato toasts are a great way to use sweet tomatoes that are at their peak! Source: Blue Apron

05
Pea Guacamole

Pea Guacamole

Best known for her role as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon's iCarly and Sam & Cat, Jennette McCurdy partnered up with Birds Eye's Michael Christiansen to come up with a selection of delicious, veggie-packed recipe ideas that are perfect for after-school snacks. They suggest switching things up and focusing on new tastes, like this pea guacamole that is a great way to introduce the vegetable. Source: Dario Cantatore for Birds Eye

06
Baked Ziti Cupcakes

Baked Ziti Cupcakes

Another way to shake things up during snack time is by serving them in single-serving size portions. These baked ziti cupcakes are full of flavor (and peas!) but won't have kids overeating before dinner. Source: Dario Cantatore for Birds Eye

07
Strawberry Cream Cheese Towers

Strawberry Cream Cheese Towers

Creativity abounds in the Spelling-McDermott household, so it's no surprise that mama Tori Spelling puts her talents to work when it comes to giving her kids a tasty after-school snack. With two children in elementary school, Tori's shared a snack that is sure to satisfy everyone. Using plenty of fruit, these strawberry cream cheese towers will satiate kids' hunger without spoiling dinner! Source: EdiTORIal by Tori Spelling

08
Banana and Peanut Butter Muffins

Banana and Peanut Butter Muffins

Sweet treats like muffins can be deceptively healthy when they're made with peanut butter and bananas. These banana and peanut butter muffins from Carla Hall are filling and healthy. Source: Carla Hall

09
On-the-Go Bars

On-the-Go Bars

Carla Hall, one of the cohosts of ABC's The Chew and a former Top Chef contestant, combined healthy whole grains and dried fruit with a classic "bar" recipe to create these on-the-go bars. Source: Carla Hall

10
Pumpkin Mousse
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Pumpkin Mousse

The postschool snack is more than just some food to fill kids until dinnertime. Maria Zoitas, the creator of the Maria’s Homemade line of prepared food, sold exclusively at Westside Market NYC, knows that the snacks are a necessity. She says, "After-school snacks are the perfect pick-me-up and are great for a boost of energy after a long day of classes." Her pumpkin mousse "is a light, tasty snack, and it reminds me of the Fall season."

11
Banana Bread With Pecans
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Banana Bread With Pecans

Maria Zoitas fills her treats with fruits, vegetables, and nuts to pack kids full of nutrients — even if they don't realize they're getting them. Her recipe for banana bread with pecans "is one of my favorite recipes, as the sweetness of the bananas matches perfectly with the crunch of the pecans, allowing for a delicious treat."

12
Baked Whole Wheat Raspberry Doughnuts

Baked Whole Wheat Raspberry Doughnuts

You don't tend to think of doughnuts as a healthy after-school treat, but these baked whole wheat raspberry doughnuts aren't the sugary, greasy confections we all grew up on. Baked, rather than fried; made with whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose; and full of fresh raspberries just bursting with sweetness, they're packed with goodness for hungry tots. Source: Catherine McCord's Weelicious

13
Strawberry-Cream Cheese "Sushi Rolls"

Strawberry-Cream Cheese "Sushi Rolls"

"For kids who prefer sandwiches that are more sweet than savory, these 'sushi rolls' are a real treat," Catherine McCord of Weelicious says. "Filled with a smear of tangy cream cheese and a dollop of fresh strawberry preserves, they're so lip-smacking, they could almost pass for dessert. Hey, that's actually not a bad idea!" Source: Catherine McCord's Weelicious

14
Feta and Olive Oil Cakes

Feta and Olive Oil Cakes

Leaving the butter behind — and using olive oil in its place — Cat Cora's created a lighter and healthier version of some sweet cakes for hungry kids. These feta and olive oil cakes don't require much baking time, so they can be quickly prepared when kids come home from school. Source: Cat Cora

15
Greek-Style Nachos

Greek-Style Nachos

What do you get when a creative American chef of Greek heritage visits her homeland? A hybrid recipe that flaunts the flavors of the two countries' signature dishes. These Greek-style nachos are made with plenty of Greek specialties — think olives, garlic, herbs, and roasted red peppers — and some pita chips for crunch, making them a fun and healthy snack after school. Source: Cat Cora

16
Baked Parsnip and Sweet Potato Chips

Baked Parsnip and Sweet Potato Chips

These chips are easy to make and great for kids, as they are naturally slightly sweet and very delicious. They are baked rather than fried, so they're healthier than store-bought chips. Source: Annabel Karmel

17
Fruit Skewers

Fruit Skewers

You can make sweet or savory skewers. For the sticks, you can use bamboo skewers or thin plastic straws. Either cut up a variety of fruits such as melon, mango, pineapple, and strawberries, or try some of the savory combinations below:

  • Chicken tikka with cucumber
  • Slices of ham or turkey rolled up and interspersed with cubes of cheese and wedges of pineapple
  • Cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese
  • Cucumber, carrot, red pepper, and cubes of gruyère or emmenthal
  • Cooked prawns with cherry tomatoes and cucumber
  • Apple and cheese

Source: Annabel Karmel

18
Healthy Dips

Healthy Dips

Dips are ideal for a quick after-school snack. You can serve with cucumber, carrot, sweet pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes, and pita bread or try some more unusual vegetables for dipping like sweet sugar snap peas. Try these sweet chili with cream cheese, thousand island, or ranch dips, and see how fast the kids get dunking! Source: Annabel Karmel

19
Mexican Egg Wrap

Mexican Egg Wrap

Scrambled eggs with a little kick, like these Mexican egg wraps, are great served inside a warm tortilla. Eggs provide an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Contrary to popular belief, we should not avoid eggs for their dietary cholesterol — confusingly, the amount of saturated fat you eat affects your blood cholesterol levels more than dietary cholesterol. Eggs are relatively low in saturated fat. Egg yolks are a good source of iron, and most of the goodness in eggs is in the yolk. Source: Annabel Karmel

20
Chinese Chicken Wrap

Chinese Chicken Wrap

This Chinese chicken wrap is sort of a cheat's version of Chinese duck in pancakes. Source: Annabel Karmel