101 Homemade, Healthy After-School Snack Ideas (2024)

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These homemade, healthy after-school snack ideas will fuel your kids up after a long day at school. Most of these healthy snacks are allergen-free, too!

School has already begun in many places across the South, and the next few weeks will see the rest of North America joining in on the fun.

Today my firstborn started kindergarten, and a few weeks ago I started thinking about what I would feed her for after-school snacks. The following are linksand recipes I’ve curated for homemade, healthy after-school snack ideas.

Many of these would also be great in school lunches.

A LOT (but not all) of these snacks are allergen-free. I have noted in parenthesis which ones are gluten-free (GF), dairy-free (DF) and vegan (for egg-free–some of thoserecipes do call for honey).

I hope you enjoy them!

For even more inspiration, follow my snacks board on Pinterest!

Table of Contents

101 Homemade, Healthy After-School Snack Ideas for Kids

Homemade Crackers & Chips

Eaten with cheese, garnished with a dip or just munched onby themselves, these homemade crackers and chips are sure to please your kiddos!

1.Cheesy Quinoa Crackers(GF)@ Scratch Mommy

2.Crispy Baked Apple Chips(GF, DF, vegan)@ Kitchen Stewardship

3.Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan Graham Crackers(GF, DF, vegan) @ The Humbled Homemaker

4.Gluten-Free Goldfish Crackers(DF subs listed)@ Adventures of a Gluten-Free Mom

5.Homemade Cheese-Its@ Imperfect Homemaker

6.Homemade Real Food Cheesy Crackers @ The Humbled Homemaker

7.Kale Chips(GF, DF, vegan)@ Keeper of the Home

8.Maple Cinnamon Graham Crackers@ Grain Mill Wagon

9.Munchy, Crunchy Veggie Chips(GF, DF, vegan)@ Kitchen Stewardship

10.Simple, Grain-Free Herb Crackers(GF, DF)@ The Nourishing Home

image by The Nourishing Home

Homemade Bars & Balls

Some of these could even double as desserts!

11.Almond Power Bars(GF, DF, vegan)@ Kitchen Stewardship

12.Cherry Walnut Peanut Butter Lara-like Bars(GF, DF, vegan)@ Live Simply

13.Chocolate Chips Cookie Bars @ Richly Rooted

14.Chocolate Hazelnut Dough Balls(GF, DF, vegan) @ Kate’s Healthy Cupboard

15.Cinnamon Apple Caramel Energy Balls(GF–use GF oats, DF, vegan)@ The NY Melrose Family

16.Cinnamon Raisin Dough Balls(GF, DF, vegan) @ Kate’s Healthy Cupboard

17.Classic Granola Bars @ Kitchen Stewardship

18. Coconut Cranberry Protein Balls(GF, DF)@ The Wheatless Kitchen

Healthy{ish} Cookies & Other Sweet Treats

The classiccookies and milk after school? This section has you covered!

33.Banana Coconut Pudding(GF, DF)@ The Humbled Homemaker

34.Coconut Milk Brown Rice Pudding(GF, DF, vegan)@ Day2Day Joys

35.Homemade Lactation Cookies(Not just for those nursing! Your kids will love them!)@ The Humbled Homemaker

36.Homemade Peanut Butter Cups(GF, DF) @ Red and Honey

37.Gluten-Free Chock Full Rounds(GF, DF)@ The Humbled Homemaker

38.No-Bake Chocolate Coconut Macaroons(GF, DF) @ Red and Honey

39.Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies @ The Grain Mill Wagon

40.Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies(GF)@ Red and Honey (gluten free)

41.Protein-Packed Peanut Butter Cups(GF, DF, vegan)@ The Humbled Homemaker

Smoothies & Cold Treats

These cold treats would be a sweet relief for kids after a long day sweating it at school.

42.Applecado Smoothie(GF, DF, vegan) @ Keeper of the Home

43.Berry Cheesecake Pops@ Kitchen Stewardship

44.Blueberry-Banana Green Tea Smoothie(GF, DF, vegan) @ The Humbled Homemaker

45.Cherry Mango Water Kefir Smoothie(GF, DF, vegan) @ The Humbled Homemaker

46.Creamy Clementine Smoothie(GF)@ The Humbled Homemaker

47.Delicious Lime Creamsicles(GF, DF, vegan)@ Just Making Noise

Muffins & Breads

Make these muffin and bread recipes for breakfast–and put a few aside for a quick after-school snack!

59.Allergen-Free Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes(GF, DF, vegan) @ The Humbled Homemaker

60.Banana-Pecan Bread(GF, DF) @ Red and Honey

61.Basic Savory Muffins@ Intentional by Grace

62.Best Gluten-Free Pumpkin Muffins(dairy, egg, corn, soy and nut-free too!) @ Kitchen Stewardship

63.Better-Than-Red-Lobster Garlic Cheese Biscuits @ The Humbled Homemaker

64.Bread Machine Honey Whole Wheat Soft Pretzel Bites@ Natural Green Mom

65.Coconut Flour Lemon Cranberry Muffins(GF, sugar-free and DF subs) @ Intoxicated on Life

66.Gluten-Free Blueberry Applesauce Muffins(GF) @ The Humbled Homemaker

67.Healthier Blueberry Muffins @ The Humbled Homemaker

68.Heavenly Lemon Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins @ Richly Rooted

69.Homemade Soft Pretzels(GF) @ Don’t Waste the Crumbs

70.Oat Flour Pumpkin Muffins(GF, DF, vegan)@ The Humbled Homemaker

71.Orange White-Chocolate Chip Scones @ Richly Rooted

72.Pumpkin Walnut Bread@ Keeper of the Home

73.Sourdough Pumpkin Waffles(not just for breakfast!) @ Intentional by Grace

74.Zucchini Bread with Apples and Carrots@ Don’t Waste the Crumbs

image byLebensmittelfotos

Homemade Snack Dips and Sauces

Whether you’re dipping veggies, homemade chips and crackers or homemade cookies, these dips will make after-school snacking fun.

75.Black Bean Spread(GF, DF, vegan)@ GNOWFGLINS

76.Creamy, No-Brown Guacamole(GF, DF)@ Intoxicated on Life

77.Crock Pot Applesauce(GF, DF, vegan) @ The Humbled Homemaker

78.Easy, Kid-Friendly Avocado Dip(GF)@ Live Renewed

79.High Protein Sweet and Salty Trail Mix(GF, DF, vegan) @ Don’t Waste the Crumbs

80.Homemade Fruit Leather and Fruit Roll-Ups(GF, DF, vegan) @ Don’t Waste the Crumbs

81.Probiotic Avocado Dip(GF)@ Kitchen Stewardship

82.Probiotic Pumpkin Dip(GF) @ The Humbled Homemaker

83.Probiotic Ranch Dressing (GF)@ Intentional by Grace

84.Raw Applesauce(GF, DF, vegan) @ Intentional by Grace

85.Simple Blender Hummus(GF, DF, vegan) @ Kitchen Stewardship

image source

Miscellaneous, Homemade Snacks

These didn’t fit anywhere else, but I definitely didn’t want to leave them off!

86.Easy Deviled Eggs(GF) @ The Humbled Homemaker

87.Fried Plantains (GF, DF, vegan) @ Red and Honey

88.Ranch Roasted Chickpeas(GF, DF, vegan) @ Happy Food, Healthy Life

89.Stovetop Kettle Corn (GF, DF, vegan) @ Red and Honey

Zero Prep Snacks

And for the easiest (and probably healthiest!) snacks of all, check out some of our family’s favorites:

90. berries

91. orange slices

92. apple slices and peanut butter

93. carrot or celery sticks and hummus or dip

94. cheese slices

95. cucumber slices

96. nuts

97. mango slices

98. pear slices

99. jerky

100. dried fruit

101. snap peas

What are you ideas for homemade, healthy after-school snacks?

For even more inspiration, check out Red and Honey’s post: 100 Healthy Snack Ideas–Real Food Style!

Want even more healthy lunch & snack ideas? Kitchen Stewardship’s The Healthy Lunchboxhas45 real food recipes, plus 8 colorful printables, you’ll be ready to pack amazing lunches for your family this fall! Pick up your copy HERE!