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Various appealing after school snacks neatly arranged on a table for kids.

Build-Your-Own After-School Snack Bar

Create a fun and healthy after-school snack experience where kids can build their own custom plates using prepped ingredients.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 1 child
Calories 300 kcal

Equipment

  • Airtight containers
  • Small cutting board or tray
  • Small bowls
  • Knife

Ingredients
  

Fresh Produce

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt plain or vanilla
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs peeled and sliced
  • 4 cheese sticks cut into cubes
  • 1/4 cup hummus
  • 1/4 cup almond butter or sunflower seed butter for nut-free
  • 1 cup strawberries sliced
  • 1 apple thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1 cucumber sliced into rounds
  • 1 carrot cut into sticks
  • 1/2 cup bell pepper strips various colors
  • 1/2 cup whole-wheat crackers
  • 1/4 cup small pretzel twists
  • 1 tablespoon dark chocolate chips Optional
  • honey or maple syrup Optional: Drizzle of

Instructions
 

Weekly Prep (30-60 minutes on Sunday)

  • Wash and thoroughly dry all fruits and vegetables, then slice strawberries, apples, cucumbers, and bell peppers into kid-friendly pieces, and cut carrots into sticks.
  • Store each prepped fruit and vegetable in its own airtight container in the refrigerator. Peel and slice hard-boiled eggs, cube cheese sticks, and portion Greek yogurt into individual containers if desired, storing them in the refrigerator.

Daily Assembly (5 minutes)

  • When kids get home, set up a snack bar station using a small cutting board or tray. Arrange small bowls with a selection of prepped items like Greek yogurt, egg slices, cheese cubes, apple slices, strawberry slices, carrot sticks, and bell pepper strips.
  • Add small amounts of hummus and almond butter to dipping bowls, and place whole-wheat crackers and pretzel twists nearby.
  • Offer optional add-ins such as a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips or a drizzle of honey for the yogurt.
  • Encourage children to choose and assemble their own balanced snacks from the options.
  • Serve the assembled snack with a glass of water or milk.
  • Place any unused prepped items back into their airtight containers in the refrigerator for future use.

Notes

This snack bar encourages healthy eating habits and independence in children. Customize with your kids' favorite fruits, vegetables, and dippers. Preparation on Sunday makes daily snack time a breeze!