Your kids just got home from school and they’re hungry. What’s a busy parent to do? The answer might depend on how old your kids are or how much time you’re able to spend prepping snacks for them, but no matter what, you’ve got plenty of options. (Tip: they can make some simple snacks on their own.) All it takes is a little planning and strategic shopping! Once you’ve got some key ingredients on hand, it’s a snap to make everything from healthy trail mix—DIY mixes contain much less sugar than store-bought mixes—and yogurt-based dips. Some of these ideas involve more prep on the part of the parent, but they’re all delicious!
Mix & Match Basics
- Cheese
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Nut and seed butters
- Plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
- Fruit
- Dried fruit (preferably not coated with sugar)
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Home-popped popcorn
- Deli meats (preferably from pastured animals and without any added nitrates)
- 100% whole-grain chips
- Salsa
- Guacamole
- Hummus
- Pickles
- Olives
- Dark chocolate bars (preferably at least 75% dark)
Quick Snack Ideas
- Make your own trail mix by tossing together your favorite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. If you like, add some chopped dark chocolate and/or unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Make a smoothie with fresh fruit, plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, and/or whole milk/coconut milk. Or get really adventurous and blend fresh avocado with your fruit! Add a drizzle of maple syrup if you’d like your smoothie a little sweeter.
- Want to customize your hummus? Blend in roasted red peppers, roasted eggplant, or fresh cilantro.
- Stir a generous dollop of tahini (sesame seed butter) into plain whole-milk Greek yogurt. Add a pinch of sea salt and cumin, a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This hummus-like dip is great with veggies or as a condiment on sandwiches!
- DIY your yogurt: stir fresh fruit into plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, or add equal amounts of maple syrup and unsweetened cocoa powder to make it into chocolate yogurt.
- Toss raw cashews with chili powder and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, then toast them in the oven at 325 for 10 to 15 minutes or until they’re starting to turn golden brown. Cooled spiced nuts can be stored at room temp for a week.
- Roll thinly sliced or grated cheese in deli meat. Want to add an extra kick? Spread on some hummus or guacamole before rolling!
- Make your own Ranch dip: combine plain whole-milk Greek yogurt with some lemon juice and fresh chopped chives, dill, parsley, and a smidge of minced garlic.
- Freeze grapes to make 100% natural popsicles.
- Toss home-popped popcorn with your favorite spices and a drizzle of melted butter or extra-virgin olive oil. Try chili powder, dill, or even cayenne pepper + grated Parmesan.
- Stir a tablespoon of chia seeds into ½ cup whole coconut milk. Add a drizzle of maple syrup and ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract. Let stand. After about 5 minutes, the chia will thicken the coconut milk and make it into a pudding.
- Top 100% whole-grain corn chips with drained cooked black beans, salsa, and shredded cheese. Heat until cheese is melting, then serve your fresh nachos with plain whole-milk Greek yogurt and/or guacamole.
- The next time you make baked potatoes, replace half of the potato with cooked whole grains, then top them with your favorite fixings. (Quinoa makes a great baked potato!) Cut into smaller portions, loaded baked potatoes/grains make great snacks.
