When your child gets to that age where they say “they don’t care” upon being asked what snack they want, it’s time to find some options for them to make on their own. When they hit around 10 years old (the ol’ fifth grade), they can take care of more complicated snacks without your help. The trick is finding both healthy snacks for kids and quick after-school snacks that even a novice can knock out of the park.
Letting your child get in the kitchen and make their own snacks will help them to become more independent. Plus, kids are more likely to eat something they chose to make. That’s music to a parent’s ears. Let’s look at some healthy snacks that your child will love to make and eat.
Quick afternoon snacks
We understand that letting your child take over the kitchen might be a big step for you. For starters – it’s your kitchen. Second – you don’t want to get a phone call that your kid started a fire or blew up the microwave.
So, we are giving you seven easy-to-make healthy snacks for kids that don’t require them to turn on the oven or even open the microwave. There will be some cutting involved, so it might be best to get a kid-friendly knife set so you don’t have to worry about missing fingertips.
Ants on a log
What they’ll need
- Celery sticks
- Peanut butter
- Mini dark chocolate chips
We know – this one is mentioned all of the time. But honestly, kids love it, so why fight it? It’s a healthy snack that is easy for your child to make that doesn’t require them to turn on anything with heat.
In this version, we suggest switching out the normally used raisins for mini dark chocolate chips. It makes a huge difference. We can never go back to raisins. Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants, so it’s okay.
You know the drill – cut the celery into smaller pieces, fill the celery with peanut butter, and sprinkle dark chocolate chips on top.
Yogurt fruit bark
What they’ll need
- Greek yogurt
- Freeze-dried fruit of their choice
- Cookie sheet
- Parchment paper
This one needs some time, so your child can make this right after school for later or for the next day. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper. Spread the Greek yogurt on the sheet and then sprinkle on the freeze-dried fruit.
It will need to go in the freezer for a couple of hours. When it’s ready your child can have fun breaking it into pieces. Kids love to break stuff. With Greek yogurt and fruit being the only ingredients, it’s a healthy option.
Their own trail mix
What they’ll need
- Whatever is in the cabinet
Have them look for things like pretzels, goldfish crackers, M&Ms, nuts, chocolate chips, basic cereals, and dried fruits, really, whatever you have on hand. Mixing up some of their favorite single snacks into one giant snack will make them happy and take care of those Cheez-Its its before they go stale. This is a way better option than having bags of chips around the house.
Sweet or savory pita
What they’ll need
Sweet
- Pita bread
- Peanut butter
- Hazelnut spread
- Apple slices
- Banana slices
Savory
- Pita bread
- Lunchmeat
- Sliced cheese
- Mustard
Whichever way your kid feels when they get home from school is fine – they can go fruity or meaty. Have them grab their ingredients and stuff the pita bread. Something about using a pita pocket instead of regular bread makes it more fun.
Parfaits for days
What they’ll need
- Greek yogurt
- Honey/melted peanut butter/melted hazelnut spread
- Oats/granola
- Mini dark chocolate chips
- Fruit – raspberries, blueberries, blackberries
All your child needs to do is grab a glass and a spoon and have fun putting it together. They can make as many layers as they want or keep it simple. As Donkey taught us, is there anyone you’ve ever met that doesn’t like parfaits?
Kid’s charcuterie board
What they’ll need
- Crackers
- Lunchmeat
- Sliced cheese
- Chocolate covered nuts
- Snack-size pickles
You know your kid always snacks off of your fancy meat and cheese board when you make yourself one. So let them make their own. They can arrange it how they want, cut the meat and cheese into shapes to make it fun, and they don’t have to share it with you.
Fruity pizza
What they’ll need
- Various fruits – dried or fresh
- Granola/oats
- Dark chocolate chips
- Whole wheat tortillas
- Peanut butter/yogurt/hazelnut spread/cream cheese
This one will be best if your child cuts the tortilla into sections. The weight of the fruit might be too much for it.
Spread either hazelnut, peanut butter, cream cheese, or yogurt on the tortilla as the sauce for the pizza. We suggest just using one, but we know kids are weird and want to mix. Let them have fun.
Then top the pizza with fruit, chocolate chips, and granola. They can eat it like a pizza or make a fruity burrito rollup. Plenty of protein, nutrients, and antioxidants in this one.
Helping your child learn the basics of food prep, safety, and cleaning are great skills for them to have in life. An early appreciation and familiarity in the kitchen can encourage your child to want to make more snacks for themselves. Maybe even in a few years, they’ll want to start making dinners, too. A parent can dream, right? Until then, these quick afterschool snacks are perfect for your fifth grader to make when they get home from school to tide them over until you make dinner.
