11 Easy, Healthy Back-to-School Snacks Kids Will Actually Eat

The switch from lazy summer days to jam-packed school schedules is a lot—for kids and parents alike. Between early mornings, making lunches, and the after-school hunger monster, having a lineup of easy, nutritious snacks on hand makes all the difference. The catch? They actually have to taste good enough that your kids will eat them.

Luckily, PB2 checks all the boxes! With 4 to 6 grams of protein per serving, PB2 helps kids stay full, focused, and energized between meals—so you can skip the sugary stuff with the long list of questionable ingredients and reach for something you feel good about. As a plant-based, gluten-free alternative to traditional peanut butter with just 1.5 grams of fat and nearly 70% fewer calories per serving, it's a pantry staple that really pulls its weight whenever hunger strikes.

And this year, keeping PB2 in the rotation is easier than ever thanks to new PB2Go Cups, now available at Walmart stores nationwide. These handy, ready-to-mix cups deliver all the goodness of PB2 in a grab-and-go format—just add cold water to the fill notch, stir with the spoon tucked right inside the lid, and you're set. No kitchen required! Each cup has 10 to 11 grams of protein and slips easily into any lunchbox, backpack, or gym bag. Kids can enjoy them on their own or as a dip for apple slices, banana coins, pretzels, crackers, or veggie sticks—and with two flavors to pick from, Original Powdered Peanut Butter and Peanut Powder with Chocolate Chips, there's something for everyone!

But the grab-and-go goodness doesn't stop there. Once you've stocked up on PB2Go, round out your snack arsenal with these equally easy ideas that follow the same formula: quick enough for busy parents to whip up without a second thought, nutritious enough to feel good about, and tasty enough that kids will actually ask for them again. So whether you're packing lunches, prepping after-school bites, or racing through a hectic morning, here's how to build snacks the whole family can get behind. 

Easy Snacks Kids Can Help Make

Getting kids involved in the kitchen makes them way more likely to actually eat what ends up on their plate—and these snacks are simple enough for them to take the lead (with parents handling a little prep here and there). Even better? PB2Go Cups work beautifully in every single one, so kids can mix up their own peanut butter anytime, anywhere.

Start with the classic pairing of fruit and PB2: parents slice up apples or bananas, kids stir up a PB2Go cup for dipping, and snack time is served. Or let them build a fun, mini Banana Sandwiches—no knives required beyond the initial slicing that can be completed with a kid-safe option. Yogurt is another easy win: kids can stir PB2 right in for a protein boost, or (along with a little supervision) mix together Peanut Butter Yogurt Bites and PB Freezer Yogurt Pops for a no-heat-needed, after-school frosty treat that is ready by the time they finish their homework! When there's zero time to spare on a hectic night after bus drop-off, a Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake tastes like dessert before dinner while simultaneously delivering protein and flavor kids will happily gulp down. But really, you can never go wrong with a Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich— pack a PB2Go cup alongside bread and a jam packet, and little ones can assemble a fresh PB&J right at the lunch table. No soggy sandwich in sight!

Prep-Ahead Snack Favorites for Busy Weeks

A little weekend prep sets you up for a whole week of grab-and-go wins, and no-bake snacks are your best friends here. Protein Balls with Almond PB2  are poppable, lunchbox-friendly, and come together in minutes, while Peanut Butter Oat Bars travel well and satisfy between classes. We recommend making a double-batch, because parents have been known to save a bar or two for themselves! Prep-ahead works for breakfast too: Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats can be made the night before and grabbed on the way out the door—bonus: overnight oats keep in the fridge for 3-4 days, so one prep session covers half the week. 

Kid-Approved Baked Snacks Worth Turning on the Oven For

Baking is another sneaky-smart way to work in extra nutrition, and these recipes reward the effort all week long. For crunchy, snackable goodness, Chunky Monkey Granola can be portioned into baggies or sprinkled over yogurt for days. Peanut Butter Banana Protein Muffins are perfectly sized for little hands and easy to eat in the car or on the sidelines during weekend sports meets or to bring along on playdates. And Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread tucks veggies and protein into every chocolatey slice—no one will be the wiser.

However your family fuels up, keeping PB2 and PB2Go stocked means you've always got protein-forward options for lunchboxes, after-school pick-me-ups, and everything in between. Stock up, prep ahead, and let the kids pitch in—here's to a happy, well-fueled school year!

	Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake Made with PB2 Cocoa, this creamy shake tastes like a milkshake but sneaks in real protein for growing kids. Blend it up on rushed mornings or serve it as an after-school reward.
	Peanut Butter Yogurt Bites These frozen little bites made with PB2 Crunchy are the after-school snack kids will race home for. Prep a batch on Sunday and keep the freezer stocked all week.
	Banana Sandwich Banana slices become the “bread” in this adorable mini sandwich filled with PB2 Crunchy. It’s a fun, fruity snack kids can stack together all by themselves.
	Apple Peanut Butter Overnight Oats Five minutes of nighttime prep equals a ready-to-grab breakfast made with PB2 when the morning rush hits. Sweet apple and cinnamon flavors make it an easy sell with the whole family.
	Peanut Butter Oat Bars Chewy, wholesome, and made with PB2 Natural Peanut Butter Spread, these bars are built for lunchboxes and backpack side pockets. Trust us—you are definitely going to want to make a double-batch of this recipe!
	Chunky Monkey Granola Banana, chocolate, and PB2 Performance Almond Protein are formed into cute clusters kids will happily munch by the handful. Portion it into baggies for the easiest grab-and-go snack of the week.
	PB Freezer Yogurt Pops Starring PB2 Natural as the main ingredient, these creamy freezer pops are a more nutritious alternative to typical ice cream treats—protein and probiotics mean parents can say yes every time.
	Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread This rich, chocolatey loaf made with PB2 Performance with Cocoa hides a serving of veggies in plain sight. Slice it up, serve, and enjoy how quickly it disappears.
	Classic Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich A lunchbox legend gets a lighter update with PB2 standing in for traditional peanut butter. Same nostalgic flavor, but 90% less fat per serving!
	Peanut Butter Banana Protein Muffins Perfectly portioned for small hands, these muffins made with PB2 Original work as breakfast, snack, or sideline fuel. Bake a dozen (or two!)
	Protein Balls with Almond PB2 No oven, no fuss—just PB2 Almond Powder and pantry staples rolled into poppable, kid-approved bites. A great recipe for little helpers to practice shaping up themselves.