Healthy Back To School Recipes

Hello, August! A new school year is upon us, and I have a great list of treats and snacks to share with you.

Quick breakfasts, lunchbox snacks, and after school treats all abound!

This list is full of recipes that are easy to make and that my kids actually like. I hope yours will too if you try any!

Quick Breakfasts

Overnight Oats

Nothing comes together faster in the morning than something you prepared the night before, am I right?

My kids all love overnight oats, and they’re easy for me to make. Natalie is particularly partial to the cookie dough version.

For nut-free tots, try this simple recipe made without chia seeds.

This happens to be my favorite!

Finally, if you’re a peanut butter lover, this peanut butter version is outta bounds!

This one might actually be my fave…oh, why don’t I have three stomachs?? 🙂

Granola

Granola is dangerous for me to have around, since I can never seem to stop eating it!

With the proper amounts of sugar and fat, however, it makes for a great, energizing start to a day, especially for a kid.

If you’re staying away from grains, my lentil granola is awesome. Those red lentils are filled with nutrition and protein, making it more satiating and a bit more balanced for blood sugar purposes.

Buckwheat is another grain-free granola option.

My chocolate buckwheat granola reminds me of Cocoa Krispies, though buckwheat groats are not exactly as light and airy as the puffed rice version I grew up with.

The kids love the pseudo-grain prepared this way, AND you still get that chocolate-y cereal milk to drink at the end.

If you’re searching for more traditional granola recipes, I have a healthier version for you.

It’s nut-free and has less than 10 grams of sugar per serving. Toss in a few raisins and serve it with a good, cold Coconut Milk, and the kids will never know.

For a super duper basic granola, you MUST try my four-ingredient version. It’s the one I make at least once a week for the kids because it’s so fast and easy.

The last honorable mention goes to my peanut butter granola.

This is the one that I literally can not stop eating. Crisp-ety, crunchy, peanut butter-y goodness, and quite easy to make!

Granolas are all great to make at your convenience and have on hand when needed, either in the morning with cold milk or in a baggie as a snack.

Blender Breakfasts

I love my Vitamix, especially for its ability to blend together a delicious and healthy breakfast for multiple kids. Ultimately, that’s why we invested in this powerful machine. The Nutribullet wasn’t cutting it for making big-batch smoothies anymore!

So, in asking my kids which smoothies are their favorites, here’s how the polls came back, beginning with number five:

Free of both bananas and nuts, this allergy-friendly smoothie is creamy, filling, and oh so scrumptious.

Keep this one in mind for the upcoming Fall months. The spices are spot on, and it truly tastes like you’re drinking the popular Thanksgiving treat.

Number three on the list, this thick and fruity drink tastes like strawberry ice cream and is a big hit over here!

Number two is this faux vanilla milkshake. I’m a big fan of this one myself! Creamy with a good hit of vanilla flavor and (again) NO added banana.

And number ONE…

Is it any wonder that kids chose a chocolate smoothie as first place? This one is so delicious and filling, full of healthy fats. NO banana needed for those with allergies.

Lunchbox Snacks

Alrighty, now you’ve got a complete list of easy and fast breakfasts, let’s move on to what the heck to put in those daunting critter-emblemed, middle meal holders.

Crackers

My girls (and guy) all love crackers, but geez la weez, they’re expensive to buy!

While I oftentimes give in to buying them, if I find the time to make a batch, I have an easy cracker recipe for you.

For a sweet version, try my homemade buckwheat graham crackers.

If you’re interested, I’ve recently made these and lowered the sugar to one tablespoon of coconut sugar and one tablespoon of molasses (adding in a bit more water, as needed), and the kids still loved them.

Of course, I’ve been training their sweet buds for a few years now, so use your best judgment with your own kids.

No-Bake Energy Balls

Energy balls are quick, easy, require NO baking, and lend a nice dose of carbs, fats, and fiber. These could all double as after-school snacks. Here are a few easy recipes to whip up!

The best thing about this particular recipe is there’s NO food processor needed! Just use oat flour and mix everything in a bowl.

Try these faux chocolate balls made with carob powder. NO caffeine in these, which would be more important if you’re handing them out after school at 3 or 4 o’clock.

This recipe is made with a combination of oats, walnuts, and dates, which is a bit more classic, in terms of energy balls.

Cookies

These chocolate chip biscuits are my girls’ favorite right now.

They’re soft and a bit ‘cakey’ with crisper edges. The hubs also went nuts for these, which pleasantly surprised me!

If you’re searching for a good lower sugar oatmeal raisin cookie, you ought give these babies a try!

They’re vegan, made with a combination of oat flour and oats, and only have ONE tablespoon of added sugar!

Here’s another low-fat chocolate chip cookie that is also low in sugar!

Applesauce and a copious amount of chocolate chips give these cookies all they need in terms of sweetness.

For a good natural protein cookie, these black bean cookies are a great pick.

I am reminded of those gas station Grandma’s cookies that come in the two-pack. The kids go nuts over these!

Lastly, these grain-free chickpea flour-based cookies are a reader fave.

A few words to the wise on these: 1) Don’t sample the batter (raw chickpea flour ain’t tasty); 2) Follow the directions carefully; and 3) Do be sure to bake them completely, (reread 1).

They’re worth it though!

Alright, I think you’re covered for crackers and cookies. Consider also a good potato chip (made without canola oil!) and some homemade popcorn in your rotation and you’re good!

Let’s move on to after school treats!

After School Treats

While any of the cookie or cracker recipes above could double as an after-school treat, there are a few other options to look at.

Here are a few things my girls enjoy when they arrive back home.

Fruit with Nut/Seed Butter

My mom was huge on this, feeding me a cut apple with sunflower seeds every day after school.

Nat is a big fan of the classic apple and peanut butter combo, but if you have a peanut allergy in the house, try my pumpkin seed butter instead.

I’ll add in a touch of sweetness to this recipe, as the taste of raw pumpkin seed butter can be a bit off-putting to young palates.

Chips and Hummus

I’m a big fan of pairing protein with pretty much everything, particularly quick-burning carbs like chips! Hummus is the perfect balance to tortilla crisps, and it’s a snack that my kids love.

Jade’s favorite hummus is this black bean variety.

The kids also love this more traditional chickpea-based version.

Pudding Snacks

These chocolate pudding snacks take a little prep time, but they are far healthier than the packaged kind!

I love to eat this myself, especially with a dollop of real whipped cream.

If you want something a little quicker to put together, my energizing blueberry pudding is a great choice!

Sometimes, I’ll even make this for breakfast!

Another healthy and delicious choice is this lime pudding.

This one combines a natural sweetener with stevia, making it a lower sugar choice for hyperactive kids.

Popsicles

Another ‘pudding’ option comes courtesy of these cold delicious chocolate pudding pops.

This is another one that requires a little foresight, but they are so worth it! If you buy a couple of pop molds, you can keep batches of these in the freezer, ready to pass out to sweet kiddies who get all their homework done.

Since kids love anything cold on a stick, these vanilla ice cream pops are another go-to treat, as is this peanut butter banana version. NO sugar needed for the latter!

Well, there you have it! I hope this give you some ideas for your upcoming school year. If you have any additional ideas, don’t hesitate to comment below.