Balanced Snack Platters
Snack platters are the perfect way to feed hungry kids after school – quick to prep, fun to eat, and surprisingly balanced.
Just grab a plate, add a couple of foods your kids already enjoy, and balance with some fruit, veg, and a little protein. It’s a win-win.
Snack platters are the perfect way to feed hungry kids after school – quick to prep, fun to eat, and surprisingly balanced.
Just grab a plate, add a couple of foods your kids already enjoy, and balance with some fruit, veg, and a little protein. It’s a win-win.
Why snack platters work
Snack platters are a great choice for busy afternoons. They’re:
Balanced – combining carbs, protein, fruit and veg in one easy dish
Familiar & fun – include something they already love and build around it rather than trying to ‘swap’ items that kids enjoy
Interactive – kids love picking and mixing their own bits
Low effort – minimal prep, zero cooking required
Win-win – they get the choice and some sense of control, but you get to choose the options
Unbranded – branded snacks can build loyalty fast, so a quick and effective tip is to decant them first. Try taking everything out of its packaging – fruit, veggies, even crisps. It removes that ‘shiny’ packaging pull, and makes everything feel equal.
Snack platters also help avoid constant grazing by creating a proper snack moment – enough to fill the gap before dinner, without spoiling appetites.
How to build a better snack platter
No need to overthink it. Just aim for:
Favourite foods
One or two favourite foods (even if they’re a bit less healthy)*
Fruit/veg mix
At least 1-2 types of fruit or veg (aim for about 40g or half an adult handful as a portion for kids)
Dairy
Dairy (or similar protein) – like cheese, yoghurt, egg, or nuts (aim for about 15g cheese or one small yogurt pot as a portion guide)
Dip
Optional: a dip – hummus, yoghurt, nut butter, salsa… pick a favourite!
*Try to keep high fat/salt/sugar items (like crisps, biscuits or sweet yoghurts) to small amounts – just part of the mix, not the main event. For more info on easily navigating food labelling – head to our shopping guide here [add link to shopping guide].
8 Quick and Balanced Platter Ideas
No cooking, no stress—just mix and match from the fridge or cupboard.
Tip: Use a muffin tin or lunchbox tray to create mini compartments if you’re packing on the go!
Cheese + apple + breadsticks + cucumber
Hummus + a few crisps + pepper + apple
Half a snack bar + banana and berries + plain yogurt
Cream cheese + celery + pear + breadsticks
Peanut butter + crackers + apple + berries
Biscuit + cucumber + blueberries + cheese
Plain yogurt + carrot + strawberries + crumpet
Slice malt loaf + soft cheese + orange + celery
Dips to serve them with
Tasty combos and 5-minute prep—ideal for busy families.
Half a snack bar + banana and berries + plain yogurtHalf a snack bar + banana and berries + plain yogurt
Irini’s Veg Souvlaki Salad Sticks & Red Pepper Dip
Irini Tzortzoglou
Zoe’s Summer-on-a-Stick Salad Sticks with Yogurt-Mint Dip
Zoe Griffiths
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