These recipes will really make young students look forward to the end of the school day
Doritos, grilled cheese, Little Debbie snacks, bologna on saltines, Fruity Pebbles, Pizza Rolls and SpaghettiO’s. Bring back any mid-September, 3 p.m., junior high school memories? Ah yes, it’s coming back, right? I’m talking about the highly anticipated after school snack.
When I asked Facebook friends their favorite childhood after school snack, I was inundated with over two dozen enthusiastic, reminiscent responses. Some, I’ve mentioned below, and nearly all were unhealthy, processed, but oh-so-nostalgic treats.
As a mom of three boys, two of which are now school aged, daily I don snack chef hat. This is a tall order and, if I’m honest, one that I fail at quite often. Twenty years ago, Pizza Rolls were considered a perfect after school snack option – one that I routinely devoured as a pre-teen. But as many of us have come to learn either by choice or osmosis in recent years, these brightly packaged foods probably aren’t the best form of sustenance and nutrition, especially for growing bodies.
Clearly, children should be content with a banana and glass of water after school, right? Unfortunately not. A kid’s day is long – many heading out the door by 7 a.m. or earlier and with lunchtimes ending before noon. Because no more than four hours should lapse between refueling, after school snacks that incorporate both lean protein and healthy carbs actually provide kids the proper nutrition required for growth, energy, homework and participation in activities throughout the evening.
Homemade Pizza Rolls
Pizza-Rolls
Ingredients:
• 2 sheets of puffed pastry, defrosted
Or 1 refrigerated roll of pizza crust
(or homemade, if you are so inclined)
• 6 tbsp pizza sauce
• 2 tsp Italian herbs
• 4 slices of ham, diced
• 2 cup grated pizza cheese
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper and set aside.
2. Spread puff pastry sheet or pizza dough with pizza sauce, sprinkle with Italian herbs and diced ham. Spread the pizza cheese over the top.
3. Roll tightly into a scroll and slice the scroll evenly into 12 pieces.
4. Place on tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until bubbly and cooked through.
Apple Nachos
applenachos
I love this food concoction. It requires no baking, and it is visually both fun an colorful. It’s nutritious and definitely a winner with kids. (Adapted from www.manifestvegan.com, pictured on previous page.)
Ingredients:
• 3 crispy and slightly tart apples
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp peanut butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips
Method:
1. Slice the apples thin enough for easy eating. Rub each apple with just a bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning. Place on a large plate, piling the apple slices like chips.
2. Melt the peanut butter in the microwave for 20 seconds or until runny. Drizzle over the apples. Top the apples and peanut butter with coconut, sliced almonds, a few pecans and, of course, chocolate chips.
Brownie Bites
These couldn’t be simpler and take the place of a pre-packaged sweet snack. Make a couple of batches, mixing flavors to your tastes and keep them stored in the freezer. An hour before school ends, take them out of the freezer and let them defrost on a plate. Serve a couple of these brownies with veggie sticks and hummus for a well-rounded after school snack.
Ingredients:
• 1 c. butter
• 8 oz. semisweet chocolate
• 1 2/3 c. sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 3/4 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 3/4 c. flour
• 2/3 c. chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a heavy large saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring as it gets smooth. Remove from heat and cool.
3. Stir in sugar, vanilla and eggs and mix well.
4. Add in flour, salt and baking powder and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Pour batter evenly into the muffin pan. Top with an assortment of flavors (see below) and bake for 18-20 minutes or until just a few brownie crumbs stick to a toothpick. Cool, remove from pan and enjoy.
Mix-in ideas:
• Strawberry slices
• Banana
• Peanut Butter
• Walnuts
• Blueberries
• Cooked and crumbled bacon