In our community, school starts today! Yes, this is quite early for some but perfect for our family. Because after eight weeks of unstructured endeavors, my kids stop appreciating their time spent with me and Dad and each other. Swimming is no longer enjoyable because the pool‘s refreshing chill has been replaced by the warm, and rather gross, feeling of bathwater. Playing outside is also a challenge because the heat index routinely hovers above 105 degrees. It’s also around this time that I realize the money tree should have been cut down a month ago!
Back-to-school prep, I’m sure, is no different in our household than yours. We shop for clothes and shoes, purchase new backpacks, get haircuts and try to abide by a decent bedtime schedule a few nights before the big day. Fortunately, school supplies are no longer on my to-do list. We now pre-order those through our PTA. It’s well worth the money and aggravation. It’s a rather effortless time for me.
One thing that does pose a challenge year after year, however, is the kids’ snack schedule. You see, we are required to send our kids to school each day with a water bottle and healthy snack. That whole snack concept was surprising to me at first because when I was in elementary school it was forbidden, almost sinful, to be caught on school grounds with any food or drink. Heck, we needed a handwritten note from our parents just to carry a box of Luden’s cough drops in the front pocket of our nicely starched, white uniform blouses. But as much as I appreciate the necessity of a mid-day snack, staying on the creative side of healthy options that are portable is tough. So I’m sharing my go-to list with you hoping that you’ll write back with a few of your own great snack ideas:
- Fresh or dried fruit
- Fruit Leather
- Fresh Vegetables
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Truth North Nut Clusters
- Trail Mix
- Dry unsweetened cereal
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Lara Bars
- Triscuits and string cheese
- SunChips
- Whole grain and fruit muffins
- Whole grain and fruit granola bars
- Oatmeal cookies
- Mini-Bagels with peanut butter
- Mini-Pitas with hummus
- Frozen GoGurts
- Smartfood Popcorn Clusters
- Fig Newtons
- Homemade Granola (Homemade Granola Recipe )
Oh, and if you have a child like my oldest who doesn’t really enjoy drinking water I have a tip. Spike their water bottle with a packet of Propel beverage mix or similar product. I prefer Propel because it comes in lots of yummy flavors like Kiwi-Strawberry and Berry and mixes clear so it doesn’t become an issue at school.
Genêt
