Enjoy this awesome list of {easy budget friendly} back to school snacks!
I am happy to pass some of this parenting onto the teachers in a few weeks. I’m exhausted.
These kids get hot lunch or a sack lunch every day. But guess what? Lunches alone don’t keep your kids full. They want snacks. OFTEN. My oldest last year would get in the van and before answering how his day was would ask me two things.
Can I have a snack when I get home?
and…
What’s for dinner?
So here’s the thing, in order to receive the mother-of-the-year award you need to have snacks on hand and ready at their disposal. Taking one hour on a Sunday to prep these snacks for the week will be a godsend.
What I love about ALDI is that filling my home with kid friendly snacks is easy and economical. For less than $60 dollars I prepped 10 different snacks in under an hour. Most of these will last us much longer than a week {trail mix, spicy pretzels, homemade lunchables} and all were devoured by my kids. In fact, they kinda thought mom was going loco with all this fun food and they had been invaded by a look-a-like.
Not only will many of these last more than a week, you’ll have a lot of leftover ingredients to use in your other every day recipes {canola oil, spices, bread, peanut butter, bananas, apples, etc.}
Here we go mamas, steal these snack ideas, bookmark this post, make your grocery list and stock your fridge for back to school. These are awesome and budget friendly back to school snacks!
Homemade Trail Mix
Dried Cranberries – $1.29
Yogurt Covered Raisins – $1.89
Honey Roasted Peanuts – $2.19
Total: $5.37
In a bowl combine all three ingredients. Store in an airtight container for up to a month for a handy back to school snack every day. You can also add m&ms or chocolate chips if you want.
PB&J Sushi
Strawberry Preserves – $1.79
Natural Peanut Butter – $1.49
Oat Bran Bread – $1.39
Total: $4.67
Take a slice of bread and cut off the crusts. Using a rolling pan, roll over the bread until flattened.
Spread with peanut butter and jelly. Roll tightly and cut into bite sized pieces.
Pickle Wraps
Deli Ham – $3.29
Cream Cheese – $1.29
Dill Pickle Spears – $1.69
Total: $6.27
Lay out two slices {vertically} of ham. Carefully spread softened cream cheese over the ham.
Lay on a pickle and roll up. Slice into bite sized pieces. Some people call this midwest after school snack stable “Lutheran Sushi”.
Spicy Ranch Pretzels
Honey Wheat Pretzel Rods – $3.49
Ranch Seasoning Packet – 49 cents
Cayenne Pepper – 99 cents
Garlic Powder – 99 cents
Canola Oil – $1.99
Total: 7.95
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Dump the pretzels into a large roasting pan. Combine 1 cup of oil, ranch seasoning packet, 1 t. cayenne pepper and 1 t. garlic powder. Stir to combine and pour over the pretzels, tossing to coat. Bake for 45 minutes stirring every 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving. Will keep in an airtight container for weeks.
Mini Fruit Kabobs
Mini Marshmallows – 89 cents
Grapes – $1.78
Strawberries – $2.99
Total: $5.66
Using toothpicks or kabob sticks cut in half, skewer on fruit alternating with mini marshmallows. If you want to add some proteins to this after school snack option, cheese cubes are a good addition.
Dipped Pretzels
Honey Wheat Pretzels – already purchased {about 15 from the bin}
Peanut Butter – already purchased
Schogetten Milk Chocolate Bar – $1. 98
Total: $1.98
In a bowl combine the chocolate bar with 2 T. peanut butter. Melt in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring after each time. Once melted dip pretzels halfway into the chocolate. Lay on wax paper to harden.
Homemade Lunchables
Salami Summer Sausage – $3. 79
Colby Block Cheese
Crackers – $1.59
Total: $7.07
Layer crackers with a slice of salami and a slice of cheese, or have kids assemble their own.
Sliced Apple Bites
Apples – $2. 99
Hazelnut Spread – $1. 99
Granola – $2. 99
$7.97
Slice apple into thin full-body slices. Spread on hazelnut spread and top with granola.
(these back to school snack ideas are also great for teaching kids their way around the kitchen and to make their own snacks.)
Tortilla Roll-ups
Tortillas – $1. 29
Bananas – $1. 12
Hazelnut Spread – already purchased
Total: $2.41
Lay a tortilla flat. Spread generously with hazelnut spread.
Layer on sliced bananas. Roll up tightly and cut into wedges.
Veggie Pizza Cups
Crescent Rolls – $1. 49
8 oz. Cream Cheese – $1.29
8 oz. Sour Cream – $1.19
Ranch Seasoning Packet – 49 cents
Carrots – $1. 09
Cucumbers – $2. 69
Total: 8.24
Spray a mini-muffin pan with cooking spray. Spread out the crescent rolls, cutting each one in half on a diagonal. Push dough into the muffin tin. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from the oven, immediately taking the end of the wooden spoon to create a “hole” in the center. Fill with dip mixture {combine cream cheese, sour cream and ranch packet}. Top with finely chopped carrots and cucumbers.
(Not only does this make a delicious back to school snack, but you can even use it for a meal!)
Grand Total for
10 Back-to-School Snacks from ALDI
$57.59
What do you think? Which of these would be your kid’s favorites? I had one child {because my children always are my samplers} who loved the Veggie Pizza Cups and one who couldn’t get enough of the Mini Fruit Kabobs. Surely your kids will love one or two as well!
I personally snacked on the Homemade Lunchables and well, made it my lunch on this particular day. Sometimes snacks just make the perfect meal too.
Now, do me a favor moms. Share this post with your other mama friends. I know you have many! All parents need help finding ideas to keep their little cherub bellies full and satisfied, while not filling them with junk. I hope these 10 ideas have helped you.
You can follow the original author at @sweetsavoryeats.
Check these out from Ally as well!
