It’s that time of year again – when your hungry child hops off the bus and heads straight to the kitchen for the perfect after-school snack. Preparing snacks for your baby doesn’t have to be complicated or take you forever, and that’s where yogurt comes into play. We’ve got some perfect yogurt recipes that make after-school snacking easy, fun, and healthy. But what makes a healthy snack healthy?
It’s easy to opt for ready-made, pre-packaged items when thinking of quick things to curb your child’s hunger until dinnertime. The truth is that these are not the healthiest choices most of the time. These items are often highly processed, high in sodium, and packed with added sugars. To make the perfect after-school snack, add protein and fiber and avoid added sugars.
The perfect snack ingredients
Protein and fiber are two important components of a great snack. Not only do they help balance blood sugar, but they also keep kids full for much longer than simple carbohydrates like potato chips or cookies.1 In general, it’s easier to get fiber in a snack than in protein, as fruits and vegetables are full of fiber. Protein can be a challenge, but a great kid-friendly option is yogurt. Yogurt gets its complete protein from milk, making it vegan-friendly and full of other nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D.2 It also contains probiotics, which may have benefits for your child’s immune system — which we all know can take a hit come back-to-school season.3
Avoiding high-sugar options is the final key to keeping kids full longer. Sugar is a fast-burning source of carbohydrates, often resulting in a sugar spike hours before bedtime.
Now that you have the tools to prepare healthy (and kid-friendly) snacks, here are four yogurt snack ideas you can prepare in advance, either with your child or on the spot, to curb after-school hunger. Best of all, it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.
1. 3-ingredient frozen yogurt bites
These yogurt bars are great to prepare and serve later in the day as a kid-friendly treat. It makes eating yogurt more fun, and your child can customize what they want in their yogurt cup. For this yogurt snack recipe, you’ll need muffin pans and a 12-count muffin tin.
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a description
These yogurt bars are great for preparing and serving later as a kid-friendly treat. It makes eating yogurt more fun, and your child can customize what they want in their yogurt cup. It’s like a delicious frozen parfait bite that your kids are sure to love!
For preparatory school; Cut fresh fruit into small pieces.
Place muffin tins in a muffin tin and sprinkle a layer of granola (about 1 tablespoon) in the bottom of each liner.
In a bowl, add Stonyfield yogurt and 1½ cups chopped fruit and mix together. Use a fork or potato masher to mix the fruit into the yogurt until most of it is combined.
Place a layer of the yogurt and fruit mixture, about 2 tablespoons, in each cup over the granola.
Top each with a sprinkle of granola, then the remaining berries.
Place the muffin pan in the refrigerator for 4 hours or until frozen.
Take them out of the fridge when ready and let them thaw for 10 minutes before enjoying!
Notes
This recipe is good in the freezer for up to two months! Place in a freezer-safe container for storage.
Preparation time:25 minutes
Cooking time:0 minutes
category:Snacks
road:Cold
kitchen:American
2. Strawberries topped with cheerio and yogurt
Here’s another easy 3-ingredient yogurt snack recipe! Meet the healthier chocolate-covered strawberry cousin! Your child will love this healthy yogurt snack with the added flavor of Cheerios. For this recipe, you will need parchment paper and a large plate or baking tray.
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a description
Meet the healthier chocolate-covered strawberry cousin! Your child is sure to love this healthy snack with the added flavor of Cheerios.
Wash whole strawberries and pat them dry.
Then hold each strawberry by the stem and dip each end into Stonyfield yogurt.
Place Cheerios on the yogurt around each strawberry, covering completely. Another option is to place the dipped strawberries on a parchment-lined plate or paper tray and sprinkle Cheerios chips over the yogurt-covered strawberries.
You can enjoy it immediately or transfer the tray of cheerio and yogurt-covered strawberries to the refrigerator and refrigerate!
Notes
For this recipe, you will need parchment paper and a large plate or baking tray.
Preparation time:15
category:Snacks
road:Cold
kitchen:American
Key words: Strawberries covered with yogurt
3. Yogurt Pops
These two-ingredient yogurt popsicles should be a healthy homemade popsicle staple. It’s easy to make and keeps in the fridge for when your child wants sweets. This also makes it a fun after school activity and treat! You will need six popsicle sticks for this recipe.
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a description
These two-ingredient yogurt popsicles should be a healthy homemade popsicle staple. Not only is it easy to make, but it also keeps in the fridge for when your child wants dessert.
Take the yogurt cups, remove the wrapping on the surface, and stick the popsicle stick inside the yogurt.
Place it in the refrigerator for at least four hours until it solidifies.
When set, remove the straw from the desired yogurt cup without disturbing the stick. Roll the pop into your child’s favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
You will need six popsicle sticks for this recipe.
Preparation time:2 minutes
category:Snacks
road:Cold
kitchen:American
4. Yogurt, granola, and bananas
Another great option for freezing can be made using bananas. These make the perfect treatment for warm weather. For this recipe, you will need eight popsicle sticks, a baking sheet for freezing, and parchment paper.
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a description
Here’s a delicious freezer option using bananas. Perfect snack for kids and the whole family!
Peel the banana and cut it in half vertically.
Slide a lollipop stick or cookie stick through the cut end. This makes the bananas easier to grip and decorate.
Dip the banana end into the yogurt. You can roll this into a bowl, but we found it easier to dip straight from a Stonyfield yogurt container.
Place the granola and dried fruit on a lined baking sheet and then roll the yogurt-covered bananas in the mixture. Another option is to sprinkle granola and dried fruit. Have fun with the class. These can also be dark chocolate chips!
Place the bananas on a lined baking tray and place them in the freezer for 2-4 hours before serving.
Notes
For this recipe, you will need four popsicle sticks, a baking sheet for freezing, and parchment paper.
Preparation time:10 minutes
category:Snacks
road:Cold
kitchen:American
These four yogurt snack recipes are quick, easy and affordable ways to get your child eating more protein and fruit. The staples of a healthy snack can allow you to get creative with your choices, such as high-fiber fruits and vegetables like bananas, berries, apples, pears, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower.4 High-protein options that avoid meat include yogurt and cottage cheese.5 Whether these yogurt snacks are a treat or an everyday staple, your child will love a healthy and sweet way to satisfy their after-school hunger.
