Back to School: A Few Good Snacks

Not long ago, I listened-in on a Social at Hello Weldon based on preparing toddlers and preschoolers for back to school. I wrote about the virtual event and some of the tips given to help young kids get through remote or hybrid learning this year. One of those tips is to reward kiddos to keep them motivated and engaged in learning. Experts say it’s good to reward our kiddos and ourselves with a break after doing some good, hard work. Oftentimes those breaks include food. Nothing is better than taking a break to prepare a good snack to share with family. With school starting back and many parents opting for remote or hybrid learning with their kids, we’re all in need of a few good snacks to get us through the day at home.

Snacks are mini meals, complete with carbohydrates, fat and protein. Eating a piece of fruit or some carrot sticks, though healthy, are not the best because they’re mostly made of carbs with minimal protein. Physiologically, our bodies need fat and protein to keep us fuller longer. To start us off on the right foot, here are 5 delicious and nutritious, quick and easy to make snacks to fuel parents and kids during this new school year.

1. The best, and easiest in my opinion. The classic apple and peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter). Need I say more?

2. Make a plate or a board. Freshly sliced turkey and/or ham with some hummus and a fruit a veggie. Challenge yourself to make an Instagram-worthy board and share it with your loved ones.

3. A smoothie! Take anything you have including veggies and throw them in the blender. Don’t forget to add some protein and fat from foods like nut/seed butters, yogurt and avocados.

4. Celery with cream cheese. Top it off with some of Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel Seasoning or some raisins for the kids.

5. Small popcorn – for kids over 5. Before you think this goes against my snack vs. treat rule, hear me out. Unlike foods eaten at special occasions, popcorn has some health benefits including fiber. Go easy on the butter and utilize some of your favorite topping flavors. You could try garlic, onion or chili powder. My all-time favorite popcorn topper is nutritional yeast. Many friends and family disagree with me on this one but I think it’s delicious and cheesy-tasting and a good source of B-vitamins.

As a parent of a 3-year-old who is about to start remote learning next week, I will say I am feeling a bit anxious. Anyone else feeling this way? For us, there’s a lot of moving parts and schedules to juggle. We’ve prepared a color-coded spreadsheet for the month of September so we’re all on the same page and know when and where we need to be present and help each other. We’ve created a designated workspace for our daughter and I’m looking forward to mid-day dance party breaks. I’ve even pulled together some snack ideas! 🙂 Like everyone else, I’m trying my best and hoping to get this abnormal school year off on the right foot.

How are you preparing for the school year? What are some of your favorite snacks for kids? Leave a comment and let me know! Don’t forget to comment, like, follow, subscribe and above all, share! It’s always appreciated when you do and it helps get the healthy messages out into the world. Much love to you!