8 Easy-to-Make Meals for the Perfect Afterschool Snacks

Don’t you just hate it when you get home from school completely exhausted and starving? Then you find out there’s nothing to eat at home? Well, I’m here to the rescue! As a girl who has grown up in an ingredient household (a house with no real snacks or ready-made food), I’ve had my fair share of rage-bait days when I’m hangry, and the fridge is full but empty.

So here are a few quick and easy recipes that will change your life. They’re not only scrumptious but (kind of) healthy and fill you up.

1. Ramen

Not a healthy start, but a start nonetheless. Here’s how you can elevate your ramen and make it more filling, as we all know one packet does absolutely nothing:

• Veggies: they can be frozen or fresh (I usually sauté mine). Sauté the veggies for 3–4 minutes before adding them to the broth so they stay flavourful and crunchy.
• Some sesame seeds (adds SO much flavour + is healthy)
• Boiled eggs or leftover chicken

All these add-ons make it filling and comforting, especially after a long day of all work and no play.

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2. Sandwiches

There is SO much scope with just two slices of bread: you’d be surprised. Some quick and easy sandwiches you can make:

Savoury (quick and filling)

• Avocado toast (add some chilli flakes, drizzle some honey; have fun with the spices)
• Fill it up with raw vegetables: tomatoes, cucumber, onions, some cheese, and seasoning
• Scrambled eggs
• Cottage cheese and other veggies like lettuce, bell peppers, mushrooms, etc., with some chili oil or sauces (one of my favourites since cottage cheese has a high protein count)
• A basic grilled cheese (or to spice it up: add green chilies, onions, and some garlic)

The best part about these is that you can use the same exact ingredients on wraps, too! Take a pita wrap and make a super quick roll instead of grilling a sandwich.

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Spread-Based (if you’re feeling super lazy)

• PB&J (we all love a sweet treat)
• Peanut butter + banana
• Nutella + strawberries (seasonal, sadly.)
• Peanut butter + honey
• Cream cheese + cucumber
• Hummus + veggies and olives
• Mashed avocado with seasoning

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3. Salads

And not sad ones, too. (I’m not a monster!)

• Fruit salad with nuts, honey, seeds, and granola
• Pasta salad (just boil it, takes ten minutes tops) with cherry tomatoes, olives, veggies, and some grated cheese
• Chickpea salad (you’ll have to soak this overnight; some prepping required) with onions, lemon, olive oil, and finely chopped tomatoes, and whatever other veggies you like
• Watermelon with some cottage cheese, black olives, and feta cheese

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4. Loaded Nachos

I just love a bag of chips, sitting on the sofa, crumbs falling to the floor, as soon as I’m home. There’s just one problem… one bag of chips is never enough.

So, take some chips (nachos preferably, but Lays or whatever you have in your pantry works too), and add some beans, veggies, and a disgusting amount of cheese. Bake it, and enjoy a warm, filling, messy snack.

You can also add guacamole, salsa, and sour cream (healthier option-yogurt) to elevate your nachos experience to the next level.

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5. Quesadillas

We’ve got multiple filling options for this:

• Cheese and veggies
• Cottage cheese
• Chicken

Do not forget to add some spices (I love chili flakes and oregano; salt is a must). Take a dip on the side, like yogurt or some salsa, to make it tastier. Cook on medium heat and flip once the cheese starts melting so it doesn’t burn.

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6. Salsa (the dip, not the dance)

Here’s how to make salsa really quickly:

You’ll need a tomato, an onion, salt, lime, and, personally, some coriander to make it pop.

Chop the tomato and onion into really tiny pieces, mix it up, and add (to your taste) some amount of salt, a squeeze or two of lime, and some coriander leaves.

7. Air Fryer Addicts, Assemble

If you’ve got an air fryer, here are some recipes to get your money's worth out of that thing:

• Frozen mozzarella sticks
• Potato thingies (elite category) — fries, wedges, smileys, hash browns, baby potatoes, and whatever else you can dream of
• Spring rolls
• Samosas
• Veggie snacks (for some crunch) — air fry carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, mushrooms, and have it with a dip (ketchup, mustard, honey chili oil, etc.)
• Chicken nuggets

Most of these take 8–12 minutes at 180°C, depending on your air fryer. It often also depends on the brand you've purchased (instructions will then be on the packet).

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8. (my) Milkshake (brings all the boys to the yard)

Sometimes, though, it’s been a long, hot day, and you just want a drink that not only refreshes you but fills you up. Water-based drinks don’t really do much for hunger, but smoothies and milkshakes do.

Here are some of my favourites (add milk to ALL):

• Peanut butter + banana
• Chocolate syrup/ cocoa powder
• Oreos
• Nutella
• Fresh fruits: mango, strawberries, banana, mixed berries (can be mixed together or drunk separately)
• Soaked dates + almonds (not my fav, but a healthy choice)
• Coffee (my go-to; I might be addicted.)
• Vanilla syrup
• Caramel syrup
• Apple + cinnamon + honey

Blend everything until it's smooth (some do taste better chunky, like the Oreo milkshake, which you can also make with any other biscuit of choice).

If you want a super-sweet, thick shake, add a scoop or two of some ice cream. I don’t think you can ever go wrong with vanilla, but if you want to experiment, I’d recommend butterscotch. Also, if you want an extra dose of healthy-ness, add some chia seeds to fruit-based shakes (doesn't give much flavour but does provide much-needed nutrition).

Tip: You can also use ice or frozen fruits to make your shake thick.

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Well, this is it for this time. Let me know if you'd like different recipes and variations because I've got numerous more. Enjoy your snack!