Healthy After-School Snacks for Kids

Homemade Snack Mix

• Instead of high-fat, high-sugar granola or trail mix, make your own mix using your child's favorite foods. Mix popcorn, sunflower seed kernels, dried cranberries and dry, low-sugar cereal pieces in a large bag. Close the bag and shake to combine the ingredients. Give him a handful of this snack mix after school.

Bean Dip and Veggies

• Instead of the old standby of peanut butter, make your own bean or pea dip for serving with carrot, celery and bell pepper sticks. Puree a can of low-sodium chickpeas, green peas or white beans in a food processor. Add the liquid from the can until the mixture is smooth. Stir salsa into pureed peas for a lower-fat version of guacamole, or mix 1 tbsp. of peanut butter into the pureed chickpeas for a homemade twist on hummus. Mix in other spices and flavorings as desired.

Miniature Pizzas

• Give your child the makings for a personal pizza which will still leave room for dinner. Spread pizza sauce over one half of an English muffin or bagel and sprinkle cheese on top. Broil the pizza for three minutes, or until the cheese melts. The child can also add vegetable toppings. Use whole grain English muffins, low-sodium pizza sauce and reduced-fat cheese to make it even healthier.

Smoothie

• Before school, peel a banana and freeze it. After school, put the banana in a blender with yogurt and strawberries or peaches. Puree the mixture until smooth and frothy. The frozen banana gives this healthy treat a milkshake-like texture. Change the flavor of this smoothie by adding honey, fruit juice, chocolate syrup or caramel sauce to the mixture.

Bear "Cookies"

• Instead of sugary cookies, make simple "cookies" with whole grain bread and bear-shaped cookie cutters. Press the cookie cutter into a slice of bread. Toast the bread in the oven until crisp, if desired. Spread peanut butter over the entire surface of the bear-shaped piece of bread. Decorate the bear with raisins along the center of the "chest" for buttons, two raisins for eyes and a slip of apple or red pepper for the smile. Sprinkle 1 tsp. of sugar over the top of the bear "cookie" for additional sweetness, if desired.