Back to School Tips & Strategies
Oh my goodness it is hard to believe it is August already and many kids go back to school this week. When I think of school I know that getting back into the swing of things can be challenging. Establishing your routine and planning can really help. Back-to-school shopping typically gets kids excited to go back to school—and now is a good time for you to focus on what increases your enthusiasm to take healthy actions like the following examples:
- Buy new tennis shoes to encourage movement
- Buy new lunch box to encourage healthy eating
- Buy new fun book to read to encourage earlier bed times
So let’s strategize to ease the morning stress that can happen while adjusting to the new school year! Pick out tomorrow’s outfits…when you decide what everyone is wearing the night before, it can save a lot of time, stress and drama in the morning. Lay out clothes early in your evening routine in case you have ironing or a quick load of laundry to do to round out tomorrow’s outfits. Pack it up…pack lunches, backpacks and your own bag the night before. This will save time in the morning, plus it will trigger you to take care of tasks such as checking homework or packing your workout clothes and lunch. Have breakfast ready to grab-many are not use to getting up so early so start setting that alarm clock and have breakfast ready to grab just in-case something goes array…think crock pot oatmeal, overnight yogurt & oats, or egg sandwich. Below is a checklist to help pack lunches the night before:
- Make sure that there are clean water bottles available
- Get the veggies ready – broccoli, snap peas, bell pepper strips, celery, cucumber, raw zucchini, carrots, &/or salad
- Prepare a lean protein – this can be a healthy dip for the veggies/salad dressing (hummus), quinoa, beans, Greek yogurt, chicken, fish, etc.
- Have a little healthy fat – raw nuts or seeds, nut butter, hummus, guacamole
- Look to include a healthier carb – if you haven’t already added in quinoa or beans it can fit here, tortilla, fruit (apple, berries, orange, cherries), homemade soup, rice, etc.
- Make lunches more fun for all family members by including encouraging notes inside – I found lunch notes at Walgreens the other day that are so sweet
Now that we’ve got through the school day what’s next? After-school healthy actions can go hay-wire if you don’t plan things out. The kids are hungry, you may be hungry…so prepare healthy snacks ahead of time so that their ready and convenient which will make a world of difference for the family that’s on the go. Just like the importance of packing lunches the night before, chopping up veggie sticks or making a fun snack that is ready to grab when family members walk in the door. Healthy snack ideas include:
- Homemade Trail Mix (raw nuts & dried fruit)
- Homemade granola & Greek yogurt
- String cheese or Cottage cheese
- Healthy baked goods (see NuStart website)
- Granola bars (NuStart bar!)
- Ants on a log
- Fruit & Almond Dip
- Veggie Sticks & Homemade Guacamole or Hummus
The more we plan ahead & prepare in advance the easier parent’s lives will be when life get’s a little more hectic. So take a deep breath and think of three things you can do now in your last few days of summer break to ease the transition from summer to the first week of school. Email me what you will do?
Click here to find more NuStart-approved recipes for healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options. Good luck!
