Back to School Hacks

In Blog by Frances Largeman-Roth

 

If your family is anything like mine, making the transition from the lazy days of summer back to the structured school year is no easy feat. We generally let the kids stay up a little later and sleep a little longer in the summer. And of course, there’s no homework or permission slips to remember to put in the backpacks. And making sure that everyone returns to a schedule with healthy, yet simple meals and snacks is usually one of the biggest transitions for families.

I feel your pain! That’s why I’m sharing some simple ways for the whole family to get back into a routine, save time, and eat healthier. With three kids to get out the door in the morning, I’m always looking for simple ways to streamline mornings.

 

Get Ahead of Breakfast:

One of my favorite tips is setting up breakfast the night before. After clearing the dinner table, I place breakfast bowls, juice glasses, cutlery and napkins on the table, so I have one less thing to think about when that dreaded morning alarm goes off. Also, prep what you can to streamline mornings, like having water bottles and sippy cups already filled and in the fridge, and cutting up and packaging fresh fruit and veggies.

 

Create a “Lunch Zone”

I don’t have much counter space, but it’s important to be organized to streamline lunch prep, so I carve out an area on our kitchen island where I can place the lunch boxes, reusable containers and bags, and individually packaged snacks. This way my husband and I can create a little assembly line to make the lunches. I also like to sneak encouraging notes into my kids’ lunches, which they love!

 

Stock up on Multitaskers

Because we’re always on the go, I look for products that help keep us fueled up and satisfied in between activities. The ideal snack can be grabbed for a quick breakfast or used as a post-run or after school snack. In addition to the fruits and nuts and nut butters we always have on hand, I’m also stocking the fridge with Chobani Smooth, the first-ever non-Greek, classic yogurt from Chobani. It has 25% less sugar and twice the protein of other traditional yogurts*, and I love that it comes in a two-pack, so it’s easy to store and easy to share. It’s also made with real fruit and only natural, non-GMO ingredients, which is important to me as a parent, and I’m sure it’s important to you too. It also has a smooth and creamy taste and texture that the whole family will love–my kids are particularly partial to the peach flavor?

We’ve been using Chobani Smooth for breakfast to make yogurt bowls. Each kid grabs their favorite flavor and I put out small bowls of toppings, including chopped almonds, berries, granola and coconut flakes. The yogurt also is perfect for adding to lunch boxes and works really well in after-school snacks, like these Fruity, Frosty Yogurt Bites. They are super quick to make and are a delicious, healthy treat to help your kids refuel after a long day at school or practice.

Wishing you all good luck and lots of patience as your kids head off to school!

 

 

Fruity, Frosty Yogurt Bites

Active time: 10 minutes

Total time: 2 hours, 10 minutes

Makes 12 bites

 

These yummy, easy-to-make treats are the ultimate after school snack.

 

4 tablespoons whole grain granola

¾ cup Chobani Smooth Vanilla

¾ cup Chobani Smooth Blueberry

¼ cup peeled, diced kiwi (about 1 kiwi)

¼ cup frozen wild blueberries

 

  1. Into a 12-cup mini muffin tin, place 1 teaspoon granola into each cup.
  2. Add 2 tablespoons yogurt to each cup, alternating between vanilla and blueberry. Smooth out the yogurt with a small spatula or the back of a spoon.
  3. Spoon a little bit of the diced kiwi onto the tops of the vanilla yogurt cups. Spoon a few frozen wild blueberries onto the tops of the blueberry yogurt cups. Place muffin tin in the freezer and freeze for 2-3 hours, until frozen solid. Allow to thaw at room temperature for 5 minutes, then serve.

 

 

*Chobani® Smooth: 14g sugar, 11g protein; other traditional yogurts: 19g sugar, 5g protein per 5.3 oz serving.

Blog post content sponsored by Chobani