Camp B:<\/em>\u00a0 Sad to have your child back in school.<\/p>\n I’m a mix of both to be honest.\u00a0 Sending Sienna off is great for so many reasons, including seeing her grow in so many ways (she learned how to count in French on day one!).<\/p>\n But being in school is also synonymous with afternoon hunger pangs.\u00a0<\/strong> That 3pm to 5pm window isn’t my favourite part of the day. The kids are hungry (likely a little cranky too) but dinner time is around the corner.<\/p>\n Then parents are scrambling to shove something in their mouth to stop the whining and be able to focus on dinner prep.\u00a0 The key (and challenge) is finding the right after-school snack.<\/p>\n Lunch was hours ago…<\/p>\n Dinner is hours away…<\/p>\n Your kids\u00a0will\u00a0need something to keep them satisfied and provide solid nutrition.\u00a0 It will also need to be exciting so that they want to eat it!\u00a0 You may also have some dietary issues to contend with, like a \u200bgluten-free or dairy-free member of the family\u00a0or someone who has food allergies.<\/p>\n You probably have an entire pantry full of packaged snacks that are ready to eat \u2014 because what parent doesn\u2019t?\u00a0 Not only are\u00a0those snacks\u00a0not\u00a0likely\u00a0the healthiest stuff on the planet\u00a0but they could also\u00a0be\u00a0costing you quite a lot of money in the long run.<\/p>\n These days, kids consume\u00a0cookies, cakes, cereal bars,\u00a0rice snacks, breads and pastries after school.\u00a0\u00a0All in all,\u00a0these are\u00a0high-carbohydrate, nutrient-poor snack food choices, which are likely to be leaving children at risk of overeating and weight gain long-term.<\/p>\n Ideally a child\u2019s snack will keep them full for 2-3 hours and offer some positive nutritional properties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Nutrients such as fibre and protein will help to keep kids full, while calcium and iron will support optimal growth and development.<\/p>\n Here’s what we are trying to achieve in that 3 to 4pm window:<\/p>\n Give\u00a0your kids just enough food to take the edge off.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Use it as an opportunity to introduce\u00a0your kids to new foods (because they are hungry).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ensure\u00a0your kids still have an appetite for dinner.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If your after school snack is at 4pm and\u00a0your family eats dinner at 5pm, I wouldn’t suggest something too sweet\u00a0or filling. But if dinner is at 6:30pm than something more substantial works well.<\/p>\n So here are\u00a010\u00a0of my go-to\u00a0after-school\u00a0snack ideas – solutions for those times when you want\u00a0to give your kids\u00a0something healthy but satisfying at the same time.\u00a0Keep your rotation of healthy after-school snacks fresh and exciting with these easy, gluten and dairy-free snacks. I\u00a0believe in keeping it simple, fun and delicious!<\/p>\n Berry Blast Smoothie<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0gluten-free oats<\/a>\u00a0in this smoothie will help to stabilize your kids\u2019 blood sugar before dinner rolls around and the berries will give their brains the boost they need to perform well in school.<\/p>\n Protein Powder Cookies<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n These easy-to-make cookies combine healthy fats, fibre and protein that will help to satiate your kids long enough until dinner is ready. Try my favourite protein powder Sunwarrior<\/a> when making your next batch (use PROMO CODE<\/a>: BINNS to save 10%!)<\/p>\n Homemade Granola Bars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n These pack a nutritional punch using super foods like chia and hemp seeds. The chia seeds contain calcium, protein, omega-3\u2019s and fiber while the hemp seeds add healthy fats, manganese and iron to these snacks.\u00a0 Try these hemp seeds<\/a> the next time you whip up batch.<\/p>\n Hummus with Cut Veggies<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Kids love dips, which is why I always have a bowl of hummus handy for after school. The tahini<\/a> provides a great source of iron and selenium while the chickpeas<\/a> provide lots of fibre for healthy digestion.\u00a0 For the veggies, try snap peas, bell peppers, cucumber, jicama, carrots…and so many more options!<\/p>\n Healthy Trail Mix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Your kids will love the variety in a bowl of trail mix! Nuts provide a load of nutrients including vitamin E, magnesium, selenium and fibre combined with healthy fats to curb their appetite until dinnertime.\u00a0 Try adding in these cacao chips <\/a>\u00a0and get creative by adding in other pantry items.<\/p>\n Ants on a Log<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n A fun, quick, crunchy snack that your kids can help you to make. By adding pumpkin seeds<\/a>, you get a good dose of magnesium which can help with your kids\u2019 growing bones<\/p>\n Cinnamon Apple Chips<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n These apple chips are full of antioxidants and fibre. Your kids will love them because of the crunch they make when they bite into them.\u00a0 Try this organic cinnamon powder<\/a> when baking your next batch!<\/p>\n Apple and Almond Butter Bites<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n These mini bites are fun to make and eat and can be done in under 5 minutes! For the healthiest version, try out this organic almond butter<\/a> from Nuts to you Nut Butter.<\/p>\n Avocado Banana Cookies<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Avocado\u2019s have to be one of my favourite foods because they are loaded with so many health benefits. By combining them with bananas, the avocado banana cookies pack a potassium punch that can help your kids recover quickly from after school sports.<\/p>\n![\"healthy](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/qtq80-zwFfME-1024x683.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nWhat makes a healthy after-school snack?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Coconut](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_2969-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n
The goal with after-school snacks:<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
<\/h2>\n
10 must try after-school\u00a0snacks<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Energy](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/food1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"3](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/IMG_0615-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"after-school](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Hemp-Chia-Protein-Bars_3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Roasted-Beet-Hummus-minimalistbaker.com_-680x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"after-school](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Healthy-Trail-Mix-Recipe-by-Five-Heart-Home_700pxCollage-341x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"after-school](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/3531-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Cinnamon-apple-chips-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Applesliceswithalmondbutter.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Dairy-free](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Avocado-Banana-Cookies-4-1024x1024.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"After](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Banana-Sushi-600x400.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"after-school](\"http:\/\/www.daniellebinns.com\/stagingsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/qtq80-EEEH8F-1024x680.jpeg\")
<\/h2>\n