Back To School Board: How to Create The Ultimate Afterschool Snack

I remember coming home from school as a kid feeling ravenous and ready to raid the fridge and pantry every day. It was the 90’s, so while my mom tried to have healthy options readily available, most of my afternoon snacks consisted of Gushers and Lunchables. We’ve come a long way. 

Now as an adult, I see the struggles my parent friends have also trying to have fun, healthy and diverse snacks available for their kids after school. When Molly and I decided to create a “back to school board” to share with y’all, we felt like kids again reminiscing on our favorite childhood foods, memories and embarrassing school stories (not included in this post)! Here’s the breakdown of our board and some tips for you to create your own snack board masterpiece. We think grazing boards are the perfect after school snack because they are visually fun and eye-catching, combine a great balance of foods and are easy to switch up with different snacks you have on hand or find at the store. Perfect for littles and adults alike!

• Trader. Joe’s. AKA snack heaven, it’s the perfect place to pick up snacks and cheese for your board! They have an ever-changing variety of snacks, some healthy and some more indulgent. We think there’s a place for both on a board. Here’s what we picked up from TJ’s:

  • Organic rainbow baby carrots

  • Cornichon pickles

  • Genoa salami

  • Prosciutto

  • Roasted almonds

  • Pretzel crisps

  • Rice crackers 

  • Flatbread crackers

  • Tom Thumb grapes (they’re so cute!)

  • Berries: raspberries, blackberries and strawberries

  • Butter waffle cookies 

  • Ruby cocoa wafers (pink, tart, chocolate chips!)

  • Cinnamon schoolhouse cookies to practice spelling! 

  • Dark chocolate peanut butter cups 

  • Pink + white frosted cookies 

• For adults, we prefer to shop as local and small as we can for artisanal cheese, but with kids who still have developing palates and may have some less robust taste buds, picking up cheese at TJ’s is the perfect compromise. While it’s harder to find as high quality cheese there than at your local cheese shop, they still source some unique cheeses that are a far cry from commodity cheddar (aka, lunchable cheese). Here are the cheeses we picked from there:

  • Mozzarella pearls 

  • New Zealand grass-fed sharp cheddar 

• Other cheeses: Along with the mozzarella pearls and prosciutto-wrapped cheddar sticks, we also included Campo de Montalban, a mild manchego-style we picked up from Central Market and Vermont Creamery’s Madagascar Vanilla Bean creme fraiche. All of these cheeses we chose to complement each other: Soft, lactic mozzarella to pair with salami and carrots, sharp cheddar to snack with prosciutto and crackers, Campo de Montalban to eat with pretzel crisps and grapes, and creme fraiche as a “dessert cheese” to pair with the schoolhouse cookies, berries and butter waffle cookies. Variety is key to help with palate development and pairing with all your snacks! 

• Flow + Function: You might notice the shift from savory to sweet as your eye moves up this board. For kids’ boards we like to encourage our eaters to start with savory snacks like veggies and protein first, and then have them finish with the top of the board and the dessert section. That’s the goal at least, but we all know those dark chocolate PB cups are tempting for pretty much everyone! Functionality wise, bite-sized everything makes for less mess, and more food eaten! Plus, finger foods are just the best. 

Last but not least, have fun, tailor to what you need and don’t be afraid to switch it up! This board is just a suggestion for snacks, and foods we felt most kids would enjoy. You could totally switch up the veggies, cheese or pretty much anything else to fit your family’s needs! Dairy free? Try different hummus dips instead. Trying to reduce sugar intake? Stick to fresh fruits and lots of savory options. The choices are endless and your kids will love having a board built just for them, or better yet, have them build the board with you for the perfect afterschool activity and snack! 

Bon appetit, les enfants!