Food for Tots is here to keep your little ones full and focused throughout the day with nutritious lunches and snacks. When the kiddos come home at the end of the day asking for something to eat, there may be concerns about A) spoiling their appetite for dinner and B) finding something that is healthy AND easy to prepare AND child-friendly. All fair points, but let’s put those worries to rest: young children have smaller stomachs that hold less, so eating smaller portions more frequently is a normal part of their eating pattern. You can think of the after-school snack as more of an appetizer. “Healthy” doesn’t have to mean time-consuming or complicated, either!

Here are some fun snacks your children might ask for and some equally fun (yet nutrient-dense) alternatives you can feel good about offering before dinner: