Usually, kids tend to grab a bag of chips after school when they’re hungry because it’s what’s easiest. However, having a bag of chips every day after school isn’t exactly the healthiest thing. Here are six easy, healthy, and quick snacks. 

1. Frozen grapes

Frozen grapes are quite possibly the easiest snacks to make. In the morning before school, put some grapes in the freezer. When you get home, just grab the grapes. The grapes are like hard candy and you just pop them into your mouth. Voila, you are no longer hungry.

2. Fruit Smoothie

A fruit smoothie is a healthy drink that can energize you after a tiring day of school. After all of the homework and tests, you can come home to a nice cold smoothie. The recipe is easy as well. Puree 1 cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 frozen banana, and 1/4 cup of orange juice in a blender until smooth. Then enjoy a flavorful smoothie. 

3. Yogurt Drops 

Yogurt drops are pretty easy and very addicting. Spoon some yogurt into a plastic bag. (Flavored yogurt is best, I recommend strawberry.) Poke a hole in the bottom and squeeze blobs onto a cookie sheet. Freeze for an hour. They don’t expand while freezing so you can make as many as possible. They should be roughly ½ an inch by ½ an inch. 

4. Apples & Peanut Butter

Another easy snack to make is Apples and Peanut Butter. This delicious combination can help you find balance when you eat. All you have to do is cut an apple, or ask a parent to do it for you, then spread peanut butter on it and enjoy your snack. You can also dip it in the peanut butter. 

5.  Fruit & Dip

This one is a lot like number 4, except it has more variety. You can use any fruit you like. Set up a bowl and prepare your fruit (clean it and cut it up). Dips include the obvious four: chocolate, caramel, Nutella, and peanut butter. Nutella includes hazelnuts, and peanut butter contains peanuts. Here are some alternatives for those with allergies: a substitute for peanut butter is Wow Butter or soy butter. A substitute for Nutella is Soom Foods Chocolate Sweet Tahini Halva Spread. This snack is for someone with a sweet tooth, who wants to eat something healthy, or someone who isn’t ready to completely throw away their unhealthy snacking habits.

6. Salads

Salads are very healthy, but that depends on what you put in it. Salads can have multiple styles and ingredients in it. Even though they can be tough to make, it’s worth it. This snack is for someone who likes to eat green and a lot of vegetables. You can also throw in some croutons. This is a recipe for one of my favorite salads, but it’s a little on the difficult side. First, in a small skillet, add pecans and toast on low-medium heat until you can smell it and it’s brown-ish (stir often). Transfer the pecans to a cutting board, let them cool a bit and chop coarsely. Second, in a medium bowl, add the toasted pecans, chicken, celery, onions, and parsley, and sprinkle some salt and pepper. Stir it gently to mix and adjust salt (taste if necessary). Third, refrigerate, as salad tastes best cold. Then you can enjoy it!

This is not only a way to eat healthily.  It’s also a way to enjoy yourself. It’s fun to make your own snacks sometimes. With these recipes listed, I hope you’ll find healthy foods more delicious. So, the next time you’re hungry after school, look in your fridge instead of your pantry. You might find something even better there.