Sharing is caring!

When the kids come home from school, you can almost guarantee the first words out of their mouths will be, “What can I have for a snack?” Instead of reaching for the same bag of chips or granola bar every afternoon, make snack time a little more fun with an After School Snack Board!

This is such a cute and easy way to serve an assortment of snacks, and the best part is that there really are no rules. Grab a charcuterie board, cutting board, or even a large platter and fill it with a combination of sweet, salty, fresh, and protein-packed foods.

For our snack board, we used cheese cubes, boiled eggs, grapes, sliced tomatoes, cheddar crackers, gummy candies, chocolate cookies, and homemade peanut butter protein bites. It had a little bit of everything, which makes it perfect for hungry kids who want to pick and choose.

And honestly, that's half the fun!

Why You'll Love an After School Snack Board

One of my favorite things about making a snack board is that you don't have to cook an entire recipe. You're simply taking foods you probably already have in the refrigerator and pantry and making them look a little more exciting.

It's also a great way to offer kids a variety of foods without making snack time complicated. Add a few fruits and veggies alongside their favorite crackers and sweets, and then let them choose what looks good.

Snack boards are also perfect for:

• After-school playdates
• Homeschool snack breaks
• Movie afternoons
• Weekend snacking
• Sleepovers
• Game nights
• Feeding several hungry kids at once

You can make the board as simple or elaborate as you want.

What We Put on Our Snack Board

For this particular charcuterie board, I wanted a mixture of protein, fruits and vegetables, crunchy snacks, and a couple of sweet treats.

Here's what we used:

Cheese cubes — Cheddar, Colby Jack, mozzarella, or whatever cheese your kids enjoy will work.

Boiled eggs — These add some protein and make the board a little more filling. You can serve them whole, halved, or quartered.

Grapes — Grapes are easy to grab and add a naturally sweet element to the board. Be sure to cut them appropriately when serving younger children.

Sliced tomatoes — Cherry or grape tomatoes are especially easy to add to a snack board. You could also use sliced cucumbers, carrots, or bell peppers.

Cheddar crackers — A crunchy, cheesy snack is always a hit. Use your favorite cheddar crackers, mini pretzels, pita chips, or other crackers.

Gummy candies — Because a snack board should have something fun! A small handful of gummy candies adds a little treat without making the entire board about sweets.

Chocolate cookies — Mini cookies work especially well because kids can grab one or two alongside their other snacks.

Peanut butter protein bites — These help make the snack board more satisfying and are a great make-ahead option to keep in the refrigerator.

How to Make an After School Snack Board

You don't need any special equipment to make one of these boards. We used a charcuterie board, but a large cutting board, serving tray, or platter works just as well.

Start by adding your larger foods to the board. Small bowls are helpful for anything that might roll around or make a mess, such as candies, dips, or smaller snacks.

Next, add your protein choices, such as boiled eggs, cheese, protein bites, or sliced meats.

Fill in the board with fruits and vegetables. Then add crackers or another crunchy snack.

Finally, tuck a few sweet treats into the empty spaces.

That's it! Set the board on the table and let everyone dig in.

More After School Snack Board Ideas

The possibilities really are endless with this idea, which means you can make a completely different board every week.

Try adding foods like apple slices, strawberries, blueberries, orange slices, bananas, watermelon, cucumber slices, baby carrots, celery sticks, mini peppers, snap peas, pretzels, popcorn, tortilla chips, mini muffins, granola bars, yogurt-covered raisins, trail mix, deli turkey, pepperoni, string cheese, hummus, ranch dip, yogurt dip, or peanut butter.

You can also use leftovers from the pantry. Have half a bag of pretzels, a few crackers, some berries, and a handful of cheese cubes? Put them all on a board and suddenly those odds and ends look like a fun afternoon snack.

Try a Themed Snack Board

Once you start making snack boards, it's easy to change them up for holidays and special occasions.

For fall, add apple slices, caramel dip, pretzels, popcorn, and pumpkin-shaped treats. At Halloween, use orange and purple foods and add a few pieces of Halloween candy. Christmas snack boards can include red grapes, strawberries, green apple slices, cheese, crackers, and holiday cookies.

You could even make a Friday Movie Night Snack Board with popcorn, fruit, cheese, crackers, candy, and cookies.

It's an easy concept that can be changed for just about any occasion.

Tips for Building the Perfect Kids' Snack Board

Try to include a few different categories of food when you're putting your board together. I like having something fresh, something crunchy, something with protein, and something sweet.

You also don't need huge portions of everything. The whole idea is to give kids several small choices.

And don't worry about making it Pinterest-perfect. Fill the spaces, use what you have, and have fun with it. Kids are usually much more interested in eating everything than whether the crackers are arranged perfectly!

If you're serving younger kids, remember to prepare foods according to their age and eating abilities. Cut grapes and other round foods appropriately, and avoid foods that may be choking hazards.

Make It Ahead of Time

If afternoons are busy at your house, you can do most of the prep ahead of time.

Boil and peel eggs, wash and cut produce, cube cheese, and make your peanut butter protein bites at the beginning of the week. Store everything separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

When everyone gets home, all you have to do is grab your board and arrange the snacks.

You could even create a designated snack board bin in your pantry with crackers, pretzels, dried fruit, and other shelf-stable options so everything is easy to find.

Let the Kids Build Their Own

Another fun idea is to turn snack time into an activity.

Put several snack options on the counter and let the kids help build the board. Give them the job of arranging the crackers, adding the fruit, or deciding where the sweet treats should go.

Older kids can even make the entire board themselves.

It gives them a little ownership over their snack and may encourage them to try something they wouldn't normally choose.

The Easiest After School Snack Idea

An After School Snack Board doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. It's simply a fun way to take everyday snacks and turn them into something everyone gets excited about eating.

Use what you already have, mix in a few favorites, and don't forget a little something sweet.

Whether you make a big after school snack board for a group of kids or a smaller version for your family, it's an easy after-school snack idea you can change again and again.

And when the kids ask, “What's for snack?” you can just point them toward the after school snack board and let them choose!

Love Making Kid Friendly Food? Check Out These Recipes

• Homemade Cheese Crackers
• On the Go Granola Pouches
• Chocolate Covered Fruit Yogurt Bites