An After School Snack Board is a fun and easy way to treat the kids in your life to something special. Whether they’re coming home from a full day at school or an after school sports event, one thing is always the same—they’re hungry!
This snack board is filled with a colorful mix of fruits, veggies, cheese, mini sandwiches, and sweet treats, making it perfect for picky eaters and big appetites alike.
I’ve been having so much fun creating food boards for different occasions, and this one quickly became a favorite with my grandchildren and neighbor boys.
I try to keep foods on hand so that I can create treats when needed. They all like it when I make the treats a little special. They are use to sandwiches cut out of cookie cutters, or themed tables.
Some other fun food boards are
BRUNCH BOARD FOR 2
SUPER CHEF SALAD ON A BOARD
WINTER WONDERLAND SNACK BOARD
HOW TO MAKE AN AFTER SCHOOL SNACK BOARD:
Use what you already have on hand and customize it to your kids’ favorites.
INGREDIENTS
Fresh Options
- Strawberries, grapes, apple slices
- Baby carrots, cucumbers, celery
- Cheese cubes or slices
Savory Snacks
- Mini grilled cheese sandwiches
- Ham and cheese pinwheels
- Crackers, pretzels, popcorn
- Goldfish crackers
Sweet Treats
- Donut holes
- Small candies
- Chocolate for dipping
INSTRUCTIONS
Creating this board is simple and fun:
- Start with a base
Use a wooden board, platter, or tray. For smaller groups, a round board works perfectly. - Add a focal point
Begin with a bowl of fresh fruit or a dip in the center. - Place larger items first
Add sandwiches, pinwheels, or bigger snacks around the board. - Fill in with smaller items
Use crackers, veggies, popcorn, and treats to fill empty spaces. - Add something fun
A small bowl of melted chocolate for dipping makes it extra special! - Finish it off
Fill in any gaps so the board looks full and inviting.
Start with a board or tray.
Begin with a focal point in the center and arrange foods around it.
Here are some other views of the board.
A few weeks earlier I was visiting with my grandsons out of state, and they helped me make one of these boards.
They enjoyed going through their pantry finding snacks. I had taken some healthier options and added them.
Here are some other healthier after school snack ideas.
Why Everyone Loves This After School Snack Board
- It is bright and colorful which makes everyone happy. There is a combination of sweet and savory foods on here.
- The boards are easy to make. You can use a combination of store bought and fresh treats.
- Go through your pantry and refrigerator to find foods to put on here. It doesn’t require a lot of any one food. I try to keep a stock of non perishable items in my pantry just for this purpose.
- Kids (of all ages) love finger foods.
Helpful Tips For The Best After School Snack Board
Keep foods on hand so that you can create treats when needed. They all like it when I make the treats a little special.
Make sandwiches cut out of cookie cutters.
When possible, make the board with a mixture of fresh and store bought foods. Try to fill every space on the board and it will look more impressive.
When you are assembling the board be careful not to place crackers beside fruit that could make them soggy. If I am adding something hot (like a grilled cheese sandwich), I put them on last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this board ahead of time?
The boards will not stay fresh if assembled a day ahead. You can do it a few hours ahead and wrap it tightly with Cling Wrap, then refrigerate. You can prep some of the foods ahead such as washing the fruit, slicing the cheese, cleaning and cutting veggies. If I do this, I put each food in small Ziploc bags and then assemble them on the board just prior to serving.
What if I don’t have a wooden board?
You can use anything you have and it will look great. Some ideas are platters, baking pans, cutting boards, plastic trays, and flat dishes. I pick a lot up at The Dollar Tree for holidays. They always have Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July etc. If you are not using a plastic or glass tray, place a sheet of parchment paper on it before you add the food. Some wooden boards are not food safe.
MAKE IT A FUN MEMORY
One of my favorite moments was making a snack board with my grandsons while visiting them. They loved picking out snacks from the pantry and helping arrange everything.
It’s not just about the food—it’s about making memories together.
This post was shared on Sweet Little Bluebird Weekend Potluck.
AFTER SCHOOL SNACK BOARD
Ingredients
- 3 cups fresh fruit
- 2 cups fresh veggies any variety
- 1 cup cheese cubes
- variety of snacks such as popcorn chips, pretzels, goldfish
- variety of small candies and sweet treats like donut holes brownie bites, mini cookies
- mini sandwiches cut out with cookie cutter
- 1/2 cup of melted chocolate
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- Arrange fruit in a small bowl in center of board.
- Line vegetables in a section on side of board
- Arrange cheese cubes in a section of board.
- Set small cups of any dips you are serving on the board.
- Arrange groupings of the other treats around the sides of the board
Notes
What a great idea! The way you arranged everything makes it so appealing to even the pickiest eater. I have tried to make snack assortments before but always draw a blank at the store. Now I can use your list for buying. I also like how some things (mini muffins, popcorn, etc) can be either home made or purchased depending the amount of prep time you have. Looking forward to your other arrangements!
Thank you Joyce. I agree that some will have more homemade items. That’s the good thing about it, use a mixture depending on time!
Yummy and healthy!!
Thank you, the kids actually ate the healthier foods as well as the sweets. They liked it all.
Looks great Pam, will make for grandkids when we go to Baltimore next week !,
Looks wonderful Pam, will make for grandkids when we visit Baltimore in a few weeks !,
Aweseome!!! Thank you.