Filling and Fabulous After School Snacks

Famished kids can be one rowdy bunch and there is only one way to tame them, with filling and fabulous after school snacks. These recipes will give you some quick, healthful and satisfying snacks that will get your kids through those long hours after school and before dinner.

Teeny Tiny Tortilla Pizzas

(Adapted from Perelman, Deb. 10 Super Yummy After-School Snacks, Parenting.com)

What you'll need:

• Bag of round tortilla chips
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Salsa

Lay down some foil on a tray if using a toaster oven or on a baking sheet if using the oven. Arrange the tortilla chips on the foil and dab little globs of salsa on each. Sprinkle a bit of cheddar cheese on top of the salsa so that it melts and seals the salsa to the chip. You can also let your chefs-in-training garnish their own chips with preferred toppings like beans or rice.

If using a toaster oven, bake until the cheese melts. If using a conventional oven broil the chips. This process will cook the tortilla pizzas quickly so they need to be watched with a close eye. When finished, let the kids add more toppings like guacamole or lettuce. If your little ones have more voracious appetites try using tostada shells, which are a bit bigger and have more surface space for toppings.

Easy Picking Snack

Kids love small foods they can easily pick up and combine to make their own edible creations. You can use this to your advantage when thinking about healthy after school snacks. By keeping a variety of cut up veggies on hand, some air popped popcorn or pretzels, and some healthy dips like hummus, you can let your kids come up with their own snack creations. Some popular choices for making these little DIY snacks include: