3 Healthy After-School Snacks You Kids Will Look Forward to Making (and Eating!)

 

It’s inevitable that after a long day, kids will head straight to the kitchen looking for something to eat. Here are three after-school snacks that are easy, healthy, and satisfying. Bonus: they’re fun to make for parents and children alike!

 

Parmesan Popcorn

If your kids will be running out the door, have a zip-locked bag nearby and fill with as much popcorn as possible.

4 cups popped popcorn

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

 

Place the popcorn in a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil until lightly coated. Sprinkle with the cheese and toss gently until it is evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper. Makes 4 cups.

 

 

Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Pops

Make this recipe your own by substituting kids’ favorite fruit juice and adding fruit such as chopped cherries, bananas or peaches.

 

2 cups cranberry/raspberry juice

1 cup strawberry yogurt

1/2 cup strawberries, cleaned, hulled and chopped

 

In a bowl, combine the juice, yogurt and strawberries and stir until completely blended. Pour the mixture into 6 pop molds, insert the sticks, cover and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Makes 6 pops.

 

 

Fresh Fruit Kabobs with Marshmallow Dip

Kids love to thread their own fruit kabobs. If you have small cookie cutters in the shapes of stars, hearts or flowers, keep them on hand for the kids to make fun shapes before threading the fruit onto the skewers.

 

 

 

1/4 cup strawberries cleaned, hulled and sliced in half

1/4 cup pineapple cubes

1/4 cup grapes

1/4 cup watermelon cubes

Marshmallow dip for serving (see recipe below)

 

Thread the fruit onto 6 skewers (you can use any combination of fruit). Serve with marshmallow dip. Makes 6 skewers.

 

Marshmallow Dip

 

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese at room temperature

1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow fluff

 

In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and marshmallow fluff. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Makes 2 cups.