Healthy After School Snacks Kids Love (Tampa Heat Edition)

Kids come out of school starving, and in Tampa they’re also hot and thirsty. The right healthy after school snacks keep them full until dinner, give them energy for homework and avoid the sugar crash at 5 PM.

A good snack has two parts: something with protein or fiber to keep them full, and water to keep them going.

You don’t need fancy products. Most of these ideas cost less than a bag of chips.

Snacks that keep kids full

• Apple slices with peanut butter (or sunflower butter if there are nut allergies)
• Cheese cubes with whole-grain crackers
• Plain yogurt with banana or berries
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Black bean quesadilla cut into triangles

Cool snacks for hot Tampa afternoons

Frozen grapes (cut in half for small kids), watermelon, cucumber sticks with lime and homemade fruit popsicles help cool them down after a sunny walk from the bus stop.

Water first, juice later

Florida heat dehydrates children faster than we think. Offer water before anything else. Juice and sports drinks add a lot of sugar and don’t hydrate better than plain water.

Small safety reminder

For children under 4, cut grapes, cherry tomatoes and hot dogs lengthwise, and avoid whole nuts and popcorn. They are common choking hazards.

Need someone to pick up your child after school and keep them busy until 7 PM? Learn about our after school care or call Little Champions Daycare at (813) 447-6356.