After School Snacks

Vegetable sticks and a dip
Fresh fruit
Dried fruit
Nuts (unsalted)

Couple of oatcakes with maybe with some teeny tiny cubes of cheese and some grapes or cherry tomatoes.

Couple of crackers and cheese,
Small glass of homemade banana (or other fruit) milkshake,
Homemade oat flap jacks
Yogurt /yogurt drink
Round of wholemeal toast with cream cheese /peanut butter/ hummus
Round of cheese on toast

All depends on timings I think! If they are having a snack at 4:00 and eating at 5:30 then probably not too much so fruit or milk based but if they are waiting until nearer 7:00 to eat main meal in my experience they will need a bigger energy boost!

My two are always starving after school (as was I!). I think toast is a good idea, cheese sticks, some fruit etc.

If you are always getting told off, aren't the parents suggesting what they'd like you to give the children? If not, I'd ask.

OTHill If I have my DGCs after school I more often than not give them a wrap filled with cheese and salad and share it between them or a bowl of mixed fruit to keep them going washed down with milk or orange juice.I do not think it is anyway fair that you get told off for not supplying the correct snacks as long as they are not loaded with sugar and E numbers the parents should be grateful they have you on hand to do this for them.

I agree with you glamma! Told off indeed!
I always aim for healthy after-school snacks, but it doesn't always work out that way. When I pick my DGC up from school, there's a 30 minute car journey back to my house. Always fruit here for when we get back but they need something to keep them going during the journey.
A variety of events this morning have limited my access to healthier in-car snacks, so when I pick them up today they are having......

Jammy Dodgers!

notso can you pick me up as well I love jammie dodgers !!

I think occasional specials like a jammy dodger or two are very good for children...and their carers!

I think children (well everybody really) should eat when they're hungry so if the children are hungry when they come home from school and want their tea then, let them. The parents should just lump it, adapt, and stop selfishly expecting the children to adapt to their hours. I know family meals are good but I think it's unreasonable to expect children not to eat until late in the evening. Maybe the family should do breakfast together instead, or concentrate on family meals at weekends. At any rate, stop making it tough for the kids and their carer.

Plus I'd agree with ask the parents. They could even provide the snacks if they're fussy.

Are you actually having them every day after school OT
If it is then I can see why parents want some kind of routine. But if it is say, once a week, why not just let them have their tea with you and chillax!
But I do recognise the parental food anxiety syndrome. PFAS as we could call it henceforth.
When my young friend aged 9 comes round we make pancakes or apple fritters and he pigs out on them - its a treat. And they contain all the major food groups.

I like your acronym, jess, PFAS.

There is a lot of it about. It comes next to FAS in the list of syndromes don't you think. Back when I were a lass nobody bothered themselves about whether food was good or bad for you. They were just glad to have some, after all those years of rationing.

I've faxed you some Jamie Dodgers glamma

Yes, and when I was growing up what we ate was largely determined by what my parents could afford so, for instance, fruit was limited because it was often too expensive, but we always had vegetables. Biscuits were limited too. The rule was if a packet of biscuits hadn't been opened Woe Betide (remember that?) if any of us five kids opened it. Once a packet had been opened, my mum knew she'd have to lock them away (or us!) to keep us off them. Puddings were provided though, and some kind of cake at tea time. We were allowed to fill hunger holes with bread and jam/peanut butter, or cornflakes and milk.

Mind you, I think my youngest two brothers got away with stuff we older three couldn't have. I was still getting blamed for stealing the cooking chocolate when I was several hundred miles away .

Life is so unjust!

Thanks for that notso I will save for after my dinner when I am watching Emmerdale,I have banished mr.glamma to the bedroom TV as there is no way we are having football on in the lounge to-night !!! foot down with a firm hand job in this house.

We often had overseas visitors when I was little who would bring delicious food gifts. I remember pomegranate, turkish delight and baclava. Also given sugar and condensed milk sandwiches and oranges with 2or 3 sugar lumps pushed down the middle to suck the juice through! I agree that children should not become overweight but treats should be part of a balanced diet!

glamma! Love your last sentence.....

I'm having GCs to stay most of the summer hols so I'm building up ideas-for snacks I was thinking about getting them to cook their own-and as they are not used to English food Iwas going to introduce Welsh cakes and Scotch pancakes. I have thought of Lakelands fairy cake maker the mini one -can anyone recommend this ?as I thought they could make the batter and cook and eat without spoiling dinner

glamma I second Anagram's comment - but my mind is absolutely boggling! If he is in the bedroom and you are in the lounge, where does that colloquial term actually take place?

Well that sound fun stansgran. How about bread pudding. The kind where you soak the bread and fruit and have a great time squiging it with your hands to mush up the bread. Lots of dried fruit, not too much sugar. Counts as one of your 5 a day
(You can buy this food of the gods in a place called Essington Farm near Wolverhampton btw)
My GKds also very much enjoyed making bread - they don't get bored with kneading it like I do. ANd ideally you have to knead it twice...
How about bruscetta for a snack - small but thick slice of bread, chopped up toms, bit of cheese or pesto? Spot of olive oil? Snack to cheer the hearts of the most PFAS parents?
Or use a single crumpet to make a mini pizza. One crumpet (they are low fat!) (yes i know until you put loads of butter on)
AN-Y- way one crumpet. grill both sides. bit of mushed tomato, and a teeny spot of cheese, herbs if child has sophisticated tastes, grill top. I have now made myself hungry.

jess

JAM and butter on crumpets! Anything else is sacrilege! Jess, I'm SHOCKED!

Try telling that to my GS who is fanatically attached to Nutella. Yuk!