For some, school has already started, but for many this is the last week of summer before the schedules, homework and activities start up again. It is a hectic and busy time of year and can be stressful for both kids and parents.
From worrying about what to pack for lunch, to wondering what types of germs they are going to be bringing home, these 6 blogs will provide tips, tricks and ideas to make the transition from summer to school a little easier.
Healthy School Lunches: We all want healthy meals for our children – but in a busy world, achieving this is sometimes easier said than done. Continue reading “6 Blogs to Help With Back to School”
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The school year has wound down around here, and that means that routine goes out the window. My kids go from 3 healthy meals and 2 snacks per day to continuous grazing, thanks to a mostly unscheduled summer. The problem is that this lack of schedule tends to lend itself to higher fat, higher sugar and less nutritious diet because the snacks my kids gravitate toward tend to be granola bars and freezies! So, although the summer is more free-flowing, to encourage healthy snacking, I find it important to have tasty and filling snacks ready to go. I plan ahead and make big batches, and freeze them, where appropriate. 
Every day I send my kids to school with strawberries, carrots, blueberries, cukes and carrots… and many days they come right back. Even trying my best, my kids won’t always eat what I wish they would, so this is when I turn to supplements. I realize that nothing can replace the quality, variety and even the availability of nutrients found in food, and in no way are supplements a replacement for a proper meal. But I also don’t want to my children to be deficient in important nutrients.
This is a daily struggle in my household. My kids love fruits but getting them to branch out and try different vegetables is hard and I know I’m not alone. In the past I have hidden vegetables in sauces and soups so I could ensure my kids had a more balanced meal, however, research shows that hiding veggies is not the best way to promote lifelong healthy eating. In order to do that, we have to build a child’s taste for veggies that will last them into adulthood, choosing healthy choices for life. I still hide them when I can just to get them into their bodies, but I also try and follow these tips to get my kids to eat their vegetables.
Many kids went back to school last week, and for more, today is their first day. There are some challenges associated with school, especially for young ones. But whether you have a 5-year-old starting kindergarten or a teen entering his senior year of high school, these blogs will give you great tips from making healthy lunches, to keeping your kids healthy from September to June.
