This post is brought to you by Bolthouse Farms Kids™ and The Motherhood.
All opinions are my own.
The kids are back in school and the new day-to-day routines are starting to feel a bit more normal. Even though we spend our day homeschooling, I find that I’m still getting more done each day. I suppose that’s the beauty of routine!
Our homeschool co-op starts in two weeks. For us, that adds one stressor to our routine…. packing lunches. Hats off to those of you who send your kids off to school with a packed lunch each day! There were several times last year when we ended up taking some “creative lunches” to co-op, because I hadn’t remembered to get to the grocery store the day before! This year I’m determined to be more organized and pack more interesting and healthy lunches.
We’re also thinking about healthy snacks that we can quickly grab when when we get home from co-op. We’re usually really hungry and don’t want to take the time to do elaborate snack prep.
Back-to-School Healthy Lunch & Snack Tips
Back-to-school is a great time to reinforce healthy choices.
Start the day with breakfast. Studying and paying attention require energy! Fueling up with a hearty breakfast, especially one with a combination of protein and carbs, means giving kids what they need to make it through the morning. It doesn’t have to be fancy… just filling and nutritious.
Stock up on healthy snacks. There are so many great grab-and-go options that are kid-friendly. Try raw veggies, whole grain crackers, salsa, peanut butter, fruit, yogurt, or mozzarella cheese sticks.
Schedule fitness. This is the perfect season to make time for a family walk, a bike ride, or other activities to get the whole family moving. This is especially important after a day of sitting and doing school work.
Getting Kids Excited About Eating Fruits & Veggies
Having fruits and veggies in the house is awesome! Sometimes getting kids to actually eat them is another. We’ve been very fortunate that Emma has been willing to give things a try. At our house, we have the one-bite rule. You have to try just one bite before you decide if something is yummy or yucky. She’s often surprised by something she didn’t think she would like. And if it’s not a hit the first time, we often try again down the road.
Give them choices. Take your kids to the grocery store, and let them choose produce they want in their lunches.
Get creative. Have kids try new things. It can take up to 10 times of trying something before you like it. For kids with heightened taste buds, trying is important.
Dip it! Everyone loves a good dip. Kids are often more willing to eat a fruit or veggie if they can dip it. You can buy or make dips based on yogurt, hummus, or even guacamole.
Packing a Healthier Lunch
Packing lunches can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.
Eat the MyPlate way. When you’re planning for lunches and snacks, MyPlate helps you incorporate all five food groups. This helps ensure that kids are getting the essential vitamins and nutrients they need to stay satisfied and energized through the school day.
Involve your kids in the lunch process. Let them choose what they would like to eat. Kids are FAR more likely to eat a healthy lunch when they’re given choices. And really… It’s not nutritious unless they eat it, right?
Let’s Talk Snacks
Snack time is the most tempting time to grab something unhealthy. But a healthy snack packed with quality carbohydrates and protein will help kids maintain steady energy levels and keep them going until the next meal.
Snack Ideas:
- Fruit Kabobs: Let your kids help you make the kabobs and choose which fruits to add. These can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
- Frozen 100% Fruit Bar: Kids like popsicles, but they don’t need added sugar. Go the “stealth health” route with 100% fruit.
- Dried Fruit & Granola: This is a quick energy boost with fiber and no added sugar.
- Fruit, Nuts & Mozzarella Cheese: This is a healthy balance of carbs & protein for long-lasting satiety.
- Grab & Go Muffins: Whole grain muffins with added fruit can provide fiber and natural energy.
- Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Smoothies: These are packed in an individual “kid-sized” serving bottle and are SO easy for on-the-go occasions. They’re packed with 1 1/2 servings of fruit per 6 ounce bottle and contain no dairy, no preservatives, no high-fructose corn syrup, and no artificial flavors. The Strawberry Meets Banana and the Peach Meets Mango are both full of flavor and REAL fruit!
- Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Veggie Snackers: Kids can skip the chips and grab some fresh veggies instead. These fun-sized baby carrot snacks come in two flavors, Carrot Meets Ranch and Carrot Meets Chili Lime. The seasonings are all-natural with just a pinch of salt.
- Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Fruit Tubes: These squeezable tubes of real fruit puree come in three flavors: Mango Meets Banana & Pineapple, Strawberry Meets Banana, and Blueberry Meets Raspberry. We like to pop these in the freezer!
Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Snack Mob & Coupon
The Bolthouse Farms Kids™ Snack Mob trucks have been making their way around Pittsburgh for the past few weeks and will continue into the fall. Their goal is to help kids go back to school in a healthy way! If you want to check out the Snack Mob truck and try some free samples of Bolthouse Farms Kids™ products, you can see the whole list of Snack Mob truck events here.
You can also find their amazing products in the produce section of your local Giant Eagle. You can save $1 on any Bolthouse Farms Kids™ product with this printable coupon too! It’s available through 12/31/15 and valid for two weeks from the date you print it.
Want the Snack Mob truck to crash your next get together? Tweet @BolthouseFarms for a chance to have the #SnackMob truck deliver Bolthouse Farms Kids™ snacks free to you! Be sure to use the hashtags #Snackmob and #Contest in your tweet. Include the date and type of event (soccer tournament, block party, etc.) in your tweet.
Contest ends September 10 at 11:59 p.m. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Maximum of 100 people per event.
