Healthy Snacks For After-School Fuel

We know they aren't slaving away at a nine-to-five job, or worrying about paying bills and putting food on the table, but kids do work hard. All day, their brains are working in overdrive, absorbing information from subject after subject. They're getting up early, they're worrying about their assignments, and they're doing this at least five days a week. But it doesn't end there!

Click here for the 11 Healthy Snacks to Fuel After-School Activities (Slideshow)

After school, there are plays to act in, soccer practices to attend, and a ton of other fun things to do that make them well-rounded students. The problem is, after a day of learning and flexing those brain muscles, it can be kind of hard to stay motivated for that necessary extracurricular fun.

As a parent, it is your duty to make sure your kids can function happily at these character-building after-school activities. In order to do that, they need to be armed with school snacks that will keep them fueled and focused. Not only do these snacks need to be healthy and delicious, they also have to be portable, so your kids can eat on the go. You want to collect foods that are high in fiber, healthy fats, and solid carbohydrates that can fuel their afternoon fun. We've compiled a list of delicious and healthy snacks that will totally get the job done so your kids and be ready to go during the afternoon!

Sunflower Seeds

sunflowerseeds
Salty and snackable, sunflower seeds are packed with the vitamins your kids need to make it through their afternoon activities. Well, one vitamin in particular: Vitamin B5. Your little one needs sufficient amounts of this vitamin to produce energy, and one ounce of sunflower seeds can give him or her up to 20 percent of the daily recommended amount.

Dried Fruit

dried fruit
Flavorful and tough enough to last all day in your kid's backpack, dried fruit is great for a pick-me-up in the afternoon. Just be careful; too much sugar, even the natural kind from dried fruit, can be dangerous. 

Click here for more snack ideas.