It’s snack season! Whether you are packing a lunch box, looking for a grab-and-go morning snack for the car ride, or shuttling hungry kids between after-school activities, we’ve got ideas. These healthy back to school snacks can easily be assembled on the weekend so they’re ready for a busy week ahead.
4 Savvy Snack Prep Tips
Before we tempt you with some delicious, nutritious munchies, let’s make this process as easy as possible. You don’t have to bake from scratch or be a culinary genius to whip up healthy school snacks.
- Repurpose leftovers into bite-size finger foods. For example, cut sliced ham or chicken from dinner into snackable cubes.
- Buy pre-washed and sliced produce to save time. Nobody enjoys peeling oranges or coring apples.
- Use convenience packets. Salad dressing, peanut butter, barbeque sauce, and hummus become portable, portioned dipping sauces.
- Purchase in bulk. If you know your kids love a specific cracker or trail mix, buy the largest, super-sized package possible and divide it into snack-size bags.
Once you find a prep routine, stick to it! Try stocking up on snacks during a weekend grocery run and spend an hour Sunday evening with the kids assembling individual portions in reusable containers or sandwich baggies.
14 Healthy Back-to-School Snacks
Now, let’s chat about food. These healthy options are fun to eat, full of flavor, and popular with kids. Try to alternate between vegetables, proteins, fruits, and grains for each snack break so your child gets a variety of nutrients.
- Flavored hummus and baby carrots
- Dark chocolate-covered almonds
- Apple slices and nut butter (almond, cashew, peanut)
- Nut and seed granola with dried cranberries
- Hard-boiled eggs sprinkled with seasoned salt
- Crispy banana chips and peanut butter
- Diced fruit cups (pears, mandarin oranges, apricots, mixed fruit, pineapple, etc.)
- Pepperoni and cheese sticks
- Jumbo grapes dipped in yogurt
- Rice cakes drizzled with honey
- Whole-grain crackers with cheese cubes
- Chewy dried fruit slices (pears, peaches, apples)
- Celery sticks filled with cream cheese and a sprinkle of sunflower seeds
- Raspberries with chocolate chips tucked inside
We hope you and your children have a wonderful year ahead at the Cherry Creek Schools. Each day after the bell rings and your little ones have enjoyed a snack, explore the parks, trails, and wetlands at Copperleaf Community. Learning never ends!