Healthy After School Snacks for the Busy Family

The start of the school year means the beginning of fall and that is always a busy time for many parents, caregivers and children. After school, many children participate in daily extracurricular activities, leaving little time for their evening meal.  We have to remember that eating a proper and well balanced meal during morning, lunch and evening are all equally as important.  We know that structured meal times aren’t always possible with such busy lives and that’s why healthy snacking is so important.  Including snacks in our daily routine can sometimes pose a difficult task, especially when trying to find healthy choices.  Whether you’re heading to hockey, dance or ballet after school, until there is time to eat a proper meal your child needs a snack.  There are many healthy snack options that you can prepare, some are simple but you can also get creative with your snacks as well.

• Fruit and veggie (you can serve with dip, yogurt or light ranch)
• Whole fruits and veggies
  • Apples
  • Bananas
  • Grapes
  • Clementine
  • Baby carrots
  • Bell peppers
  • Fruit Cups (in own juice or water)
  • Apple sauce cups
• Cheese and Crackers
  • Hard cheese cubes
  • Low sodium whole wheat crackers
• English muffin with hard cheese
• Muffins
  • Bran, banana, berry, etc (use whole wheat flour if possible)
• Pinwheels
  • Peanut butter and banana (if no allergies)
  • Greek yogurt and berries
  • Light cream cheese, peppers, and shredded cheese
• Water

Janel Genge is a Registered Dietitian with Kids Eat Smart Foundation Newfoundland and Labrador