Back to school season is underway! I have tips and meal ideas to help kids and busy parents have a healthy and happy school year. My first tip is to build balanced lunch boxes that include following: protein, grains, fruits, veggies and dairy.
Three kid-approved options that check three of those boxes are buffalo style boneless chicken bites, breaded mozzarella sticks and mozzarella bites. These snacks are great to have stocked in the freezer because you can throw them in the oven or air fryer and they are ready in minutes to add to lunchboxes or enjoy as an after school snack. Just add fruits and veggies to your box and your kiddo is ready to go.
My next tip to teach kids to snack smarter. There are plenty of healthy snack options that give your school-aged kids important nutrients and can help satisfy hunger between meals. Generally, you want to combine fruits, veggies or whole grains with dairy or protein. Pistachios are a great option because not only contain healthy fats and are a good source of fiber, they are one of the few plant-based sources of complete protein. A recent study out of Cornell University found that pistachios are very high in antioxidants. In fact, the level of antioxidants in pistachios rival that of other popular foods commonly thought of as high in antioxidants – including pomegranates, blueberries and red wine. Build a balanced snack by pairing a handful of pistachios with piece of fruit. Makes ants on a log with pistachio butter and raisins or build a pistachio trail mix.
Finally, take care you and your kids wellness with probiotics. TruBiotics Kids chewables and sugar free Gummy Supplements feature the most clinically researched probiotic strain that supports a healthy digestive system. The Women’s Capsules contain one of the most scientifically studied strains of beneficial bacteria for digestive health, plus calcium and vitamin D3 to support bone and immune health. And the Sugar-Free Gummies contain probiotics, cranberry, biotin and collagen for hair, skin and nail health. You can find Probiotics at Walgreens and on Amazon.
