Summer Time Coming To An End....

Well here we are as we see all of the back to school sales, school supply lists that summer is coming to an end and students are getting ready to go back to school. School starts here next week!

That usually means getting back into a "normal" routine, what ever normal is! It means earlier bed times and earlier wake up times.

As your students prepare to go back to school, lets try not to do a breakfast of convenience! It is really easy to get into the pop tart, toaster strudel, cold cereal and milk kind of thing. But try starting the day with less sugar and more protein! Try making breakfast burritos made with eggs and turkey sausage and shredded cheese on a whole wheat tortilla. It really doesn't take that long to make. Get the kids involved too! Try oatmeal with fruit in it. Children need that extra in the morning to keep their brains working solid until lunch time.

Lunch time is another thing. After working in the school district for a few years, I observed a few things. Usually your children don't eat what they buy for a school lunch. Most students throw away over half their lunch. I always made a point to make lunches for my children. We always made it the night before to save time in the morning. Lunches usually consisted of a sandwich on sandwich thins, carrot sticks and ranch, and a fruit cup in its on juice (less sugar that way.) Every now and then we would do baked chips and maybe if we made homemade cookies etc at home, we would put a couple of those in there. We have done salads in the lunch box, etc. Plan those healthy lunches and that will help them until they get home in the afternoon. Also make sure to put an ICE PACK of some sort in their lunch box. I saw several students with gogurts (which is another yummy option) or sandwiches with mayo on them, cheese etc with no refrigeration at all!!! That will cause food to spoil and in turn cause tummy problems.

I remember getting home in the afternoon from school wanting a snack. Make sure you have healthy options for after school snacks. Apple slices with peanut butter is a yummy option especially with a nice cold glass of milk! String cheese and grapes is another yummy option.

Make an effort to help your students this school year to do the best that they can do at school. Healthy foods will help make a huge difference in their day!!

Make sure that your students get to sleep at a good time. Make sure that backpacks are ready the night before and that will help save time in the morning and homework put in after it is completed that way there is no risk of leaving it at home.


Have a wonderful school year!!
Keep on Keeping on!!