Back-to-school season tends to bring about mixed emotions. Parents are eager for their kids to get back into a routine and kids may feel excited to reunite with friends. It’s also possible to feel a little sad about saying goodbye to the good times of summer. That is true for family members of any age, not just the kids.

Many children also experience back-to-school jitters. Perhaps they are worried about what the school year will bring or how they will fit in. Parents may wonder how to calm those nerves and help their children better navigate this busy time in their lives. In an effort to mitigate those back-to-school jitters, you can get your kids involved in various processes. Asking them to participate in various tasks can help distract them and increase their responsibility requirements. Here are a few ways to prep tips as kids head into the school year. 

Create Family Mindfulness Routines 

Most parents will say that one of the biggest back-to-school adjustments is reestablishing healthy morning and bedtime routines. There is no secret code that unlocks the perfect bedtime or morning routine for every child. One way to incorporate the whole family is to work together to find mindfulness routines that everyone can practice. In the morning, for example, consider reciting a daily affirmation that encourages positive thinking and confidence. Affirmations can help children face tough challenges that they may encounter at school. In the evening, engage in a shared gratitude practice, during which everyone shares one thing they are grateful for. 

Allow Children To Craft Grocery Lists And Help Meal Plan

Whether you have kids or not, grocery shopping is something you must do. Kids can help make grocery lists, restock the pantry or fridge after a grocery run, and write down when things are running low. Take that a step further by involving your kids in meal planning. Come up with a weekly calendar of meals and talk about what you will need to buy for certain meals. You will also need to include snacks and treats that everyone can enjoy. Consider trail mix without chocolate or carrot sticks with hummus. Plus, getting everyone involved with grocery planning can help your kids later in life when they have to shop for themselves. 

Let Kids Pack Their Own Lunches

Take a chore off your morning to-do list by allowing your kids to pack their own lunches. If they are too young to make lunches, let them help place the contents inside their lunch boxes. Giving your children a sense of autonomy over chores is essential for growth and development. They will also learn how the food they pack can help fuel their bodies. To make this process easier, give them a checklist of foods to include. Break it down into protein, vegetables, fruits, and treats. Work with them to help better educate them about healthy food choices. 

Get Out And Explore

One of the reasons that the back-to-school transition proves difficult for kids is because they spend less time outdoors. They are in classrooms all day with a small break for recess. Take them out to walk the dog in the evening or plan small bike rides to the local park. Exposing children to natural light after school can help boost their mood and encourage better sleep at night. You can also plan more elaborate weekend excursions, such as hikes, picnics, beach days, and scavenger hunts. Involve the kids in these plans by having them help pack the essentials for your excursions the night before. 

Create New Family Traditions

The start of the new school year is a time of change. Kids and families can find it very disorientating, but you can help develop new routines that your kids can look forward to. Weekly traditions for the family can be very exciting. Perhaps one plan is a weekly dinner where kids get to plan pizza toppings. Another idea is to have one family member pick a game to play on the weekend. Maybe you have a movie night at home with theater-inspired concessions. The possibilities are endless!

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The back-to-school season is a time for new opportunities and beginnings. For some students, especially those with compromised immune systems, the susceptibility to illness increases. Protecting your child(ren) and yourself against common colds or other infections that circulate the classroom can be a lot easier with the right steps in place. 

Developing a back-to-school routine is a challenge in and of itself. Waking up earlier, establishing a quick and efficient routine, and leaving the house on time can prove difficult, especially after summer vacation. Many health officials state that immune health is tied to diet, sleep, and exercise. Building a healthy diet and establishing movement and proper sleep hygiene can enhance immune function, which your child needs as they face the new school year. Hopefully, the following tips can help better prepare your child’s immune system for the back-to-school reality.

Get Plenty Of Sleep

The Sleep Foundation encourages school kids between the ages of six and 13 to get nine to 11 hours of sleep every night. Without sufficient sleep, the body has a more difficult time regulating biological rhythms. Not to mention, insufficient sleep makes the body more susceptible to sickness. If you or your child has trouble sleeping, there are practices that have proven to be quite effective. Click here to learn more about methods that help you fall asleep.

Drink Water

Water is essential for a healthy life because it has many roles in the body. Not only does it help with waste elimination, but it also helps the immune system function optimally. If the body is in a dehydrated state, it cannot effectively produce white blood cells, which help fight off bacteria, pathogens, and viruses. Drinking plenty of water can also help flush toxins from the body, which keeps the immune system functioning optimally. Need help getting your kiddos to drink more water? Spice it up by adding fresh fruit to the water, or consider blending some fruit with water to make a healthier rendition of a punch.

Eat The Right Foods

Dietitians agree that one of the best ways to boost the immune system is to eat the right foods. Focus on fruits and vegetables because they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that boost the function of immune cells. High-fiber foods also work to maintain a healthy digestive system. What foods do you eat to encourage better immune function? Consider packing the following snacks in your child’s lunch: 

• Oranges: One orange can have up to 75% of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C. 
• Mandarins: Mandarins pack a considerable amount of vitamin C and make for the perfect lunch snack. They are easy to peel, easy to put in lunches, and their seedlessness makes them easy to enjoy!
• Sunflower seeds:  Make sure to opt for the unsalted, shell-less sunflower seeds because they are very easy to eat. Sunflower seeds are also rich in vitamin E, which exhibits antioxidant effects in the body. 
• Almonds: Similar to sunflower seeds, almonds are naturally rich in vitamin E, which helps to fight off free radicals and boost immune function. They also contain heart healthy fats, protein, and lots of fiber. 
• Broccoli: It may be very difficult to get your child to eat broccoli, but it is an excellent source of vitamin C and sulforaphane, both of which encourage immune function. Sneak broccoli into meals like broccoli tater tots or fruit smoothies!

Exercise Regularly

It’s no secret that kids like to run amok like they haven’t a care in the world. The important thing to remember is to not let your child immediately plop on the couch or bed and watch TV or play video games from the time they get home to the time they go to bed. Even if your child is active in school sports or playground activities, make sure they remain active outside of school hours. This is especially important as they progress through the year and the weather starts to cool off. 

Maintain A Healthy Weight

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States, and it puts children and adolescents at risk for poor health. Between 2017-2020, 19.7% of children between the ages of two and 19 were affected by obesity. Obesity prevalence between two- and five-year-olds amounted to 20.7%, and 22.2% among six- to 11-year-olds. Data revealed that obesity prevalence was higher in Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black children than it was in non-Hispanic White children and non-Hispanic Asian children. Aside from decreased immune function, obesity increases the child’s risk of other health problems. Consult your family doctor if you notice the child’s weight is becoming a problem.

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Leaving your work at the office is easier said than done. Your employer or coworkers can contact you for work information at any second of the day via email, text, or phone call. This is especially true if you work from home, which is more common than ever. In fact, a survey from 2023 found that 35% of people who held jobs that could be done remotely worked from home all the time in 2023, versus 7% before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When Did People Start Talking About Work-Life Balance?

Within the last 10 years, there have been significant changes to work culture, and that is especially true within the last two to three years. The idea of a work-life balance is a novel concept, though. Psychologists have been conducting research on this topic for decades in order to figure out what makes people happy. Through their research, experts hope to better understand which environments enhance overall mental health. 

Ideally, you don’t want to live an unproductive life, but you also don’t want to burn out at work. How do you then find fulfillment at home and at your job? In the present day, work overload is more widespread, and to be honest, worse than ever before. This is because you are faced with 24/7 connectivity, which is why establishing boundaries and expectations is paramount. Both employees and employers have not taken a step back in this regard. People have changed the way they work and live life, so the key is to figure out how to adapt to this change and balance your work and personal life. Work is everywhere, but the following tips may help balance work with home life. 

Make Time For Yourself During The Work Day

Incorporating some time for yourself on a daily basis, even for 10-15 minutes, can make all the difference. This is a little easier to do if you work from home, but it’s also possible if you hold a regular office job. During that free time, you can take a walk around the block on your lunch break, meditate for 10 minutes, or do any activity that makes you happy. Most employers won’t mind if you take a short break, so long as you get your work done. 

Use Technology In Smarter Ways

Sure, willpower plays a role in checking your many devices, but you also have to make your technology work for you. The brain gets a little boost of excitement with every notification, though, even if it is a text from a friend, an invite from your boss, or a marketing email. You need spaces where you don’t, and physically cannot, check your phone, tablet, or laptop. Enforce this norm by not having phones during your meals, during family time, or during meetings. Limit your social media activity to scheduled times during the day, even if that means putting a time limit on the amount of time you get to view certain apps. Technology is not bad, but your habits are. 

Try To Find A Job That Aligns With Your Values

Although you need to draw a line in the sand between your nine-to-five and your personal life, establishing your work-life balance is also about aligning your work with your personal values. One study from 2022 found that better job quality, including security, salary, and satisfaction, led to better physical and mental health. Another study found that doing a job that aligned with personal values was associated with increased well-being the following day. When you engage in a job that aligns with personal values, you enhance your career satisfaction. That alignment also leads to a better sense of purpose, motivation, and overall fulfillment. 

Establish Boundaries

Everything in life requires boundaries, from relationships with friends and family to your work and home life. Enforcing boundaries that your employer and employees respect is a hurdle not everyone jumps over. If you work remotely and no longer have a commute, you have to find a routine to fill that time. For example, take your dog for a walk before you start work, or close your computer at a certain time when you have to feed cats or get children from school or after school activities. Schedule a workout once you clock out to separate the close of your work day and the rest of your evening. 

Don’t Mistake A Flexible Work Schedule For Full-Time Availability

Working for a company that allows flexible hours does not mean that you have to make yourself available 24/7. If you leave the office at 3 p.m. for an appointment, maybe your employer lets you make up the hours you missed from home. That doesn’t mean that you have to work all night or do more work than what is required of you. Establish what your colleagues and boss expect from you! Don’t reply to an email at midnight, either. Developing the expectation that you are always available can make it hard to separate your work life from personal life. Plus, it gives people the wrong idea about your availability.

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A recent analysis shows that firearm homicide rates increased almost 35% from 2019 to 2020. Firearm suicide rates and disparities by race/ethnicity and poverty level also remain high. In 2020, firearms were involved in 79% of all homicides and 53% of suicides. This piled on top of the tragic backdrop that was the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which recorded the loss of hundreds of thousands of people. 

Counties with greater poverty lines saw the largest increases in firearm homicides. To give you the numbers, 2020 recorded approximately 45,222 gun-related deaths in the United States. That roughly averages to 124 people dying from a gun-related injury each day, which is the highest number of gun-related deaths ever recorded in the U.S. In 2022 alone, the U.S. recorded 233 mass shootings, with the most recent tragedy occurring at the school in Uvalde, Texas. 

What Does The Data Say?

According to the data, states with stricter gun laws generally experience lower firearm mortality rates. Some of these states include New York, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and California. A January 2019 study stated that states with higher rates of gun ownership tend to have more mass shootings. Some statistics are difficult to measure, but the current data suggests that gun regulations reduce overall gun mortality rates. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting System examined mass shooting data from 1998-2015. The definition of a mass shooting is when four or more people are killed by a firearm. Experts used the data to calculate annual rates of mass shootings by each state. Researchers separated mass shooting events and rates into categories where victims were immediate family members or partners and where victims had other relationships with the perpetrator. After full analysis, a 10-unit increase in state gone law permissiveness saw a 11.5% higher rate of mass shootings. States with more permissive gun laws and greater gun ownership, then, had higher rates of mass shootings. 

Where Is Gun Violence Highest In The U.S.?

In 2018, the U.S. ranked 20th for having the highest firearms death rate in the world. As stated earlier, gun-related deaths hit an all-time high in 2020, with more than 45,000 Americans dying because of firearms. That made firearm injury the 13th leading cause of death in the U.S. The Centers of Disease Control and Development (CDC) states that Mississippi, Wyoming, Alabama, Missouri, and Louisiana have the highest firearm mortality rates. South Carolina, Alaska, Tennessee, Arkansas, Montana, and New Mexico also have high firearm mortality rates. 

States with the lowest gun-related deaths include Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York. International comparison studies looked at mental illness rates, levels of education, demographics, and money spent on education and mental health. You want to know what made the U.S. stand out with its very high homicide rates? The sheer number of firearms that are available to U.S. citizens. 

How Do Gun Laws Contribute To Firearm Deaths?

According to research studies, states with lenient gun laws tend to have higher numbers of unintentional gun injuries that result in hospitalization. Gun-related suicide attempts are also more common in states with relaxed gun laws. This isn’t to say that states with stricter gun laws are free of gun violence, though. It can still happen, especially if there are nearby states with weaker gun laws. In regards to high rates of gun violence and weak gun laws, thirteen states are “national failures,” according to researchers. Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Kentucky, Alaska, Mississippi, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, New Hampshire, and Arkansas have the weakest gun laws and highest rates of gun violence. 

Studies confirm that states with stricter gun laws tend to make it harder to purchase a gun. Universal background checks, ID requirements, and checks for ammunition purchases lead to lower rates of firearm injury and mortality. There are more mass shootings in states where stricter measures are not enforced, and in open carry states. 

Overall, it is still difficult to measure the impact that certain policies have on gun violence. One jurisdiction or county may enforce laxer laws than a neighboring jurisdiction. Because of this, there is some bleed over from trafficking firearms from places without strict regulations. In order for change to happen, it seems that local policymakers have to understand local contributing factors. Recognize that regulations have their benefits, and may even reduce the rate of gun-related deaths in this country.

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If you have school-age children, there’s a chance that they have already talked with classmates about the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. How do you mold the conversation or inform your children about what happened? Every parent will handle the conversation differently, as the pain of the grieving families is every parent’s worst nightmare. It triggers fear 

in both the children and parents. Could it happen at the school your children attend? This is why having an open dialogue about the situation is necessary. 

In case you haven’t seen the news, nineteen children and two adults were killed during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The Uvalde shooting came just 10 days after a shooting at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York, where 10 people died. These horrific events brought trauma and anxiety to many people around the country. Unfortunately, these incidents are not the only two that have happened this year. According to Education Week, there have been 27 school shootings with injuries or deaths in 2022. On top of that, the United States surpassed 200 mass shootings this year, counting 212 shootings since January 1st, 2022. 

How Do You Talk With Kids About What Happened?

The key to talking with kids about this type of situation is communicating relational safety. This can only happen if you listen to their fears and co-regulate their responses to what you say. But first, parents will have to process their own feelings and work through emotions related to the tragic event. If your kids come to you with questions about the event, though, ask them about things that they heard about. Tell them to tell you what they know and do your best to provide simple facts that are age appropriate. 

If you have teens or tweens, it’s possible that they received information via TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram. Not all of the information on these platforms accurately depict the situation, and this can be confusing, conflicting, and incomplete, in regards to news coverage. When you communicate with teens, stick to facts and answer the questions they ask. If you don’t have the answer to one of their questions, it’s perfectly acceptable to tell them that you don’t know the answer. No matter the age of the children, though, take a break from social media and the news to decompress. Nobody benefits from that much exposure to information about tragedy. 

Talk To Your Children

It can be scary to discuss school shootings with your children. You don’t want to scare your children, even though many children are aware of school shootings nowadays. The attention that the media brings to these events makes them ever-present, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Discussing the topic in a relaxed way can help alleviate anxiety and make your children feel more at ease. 

If you aren’t sure how to start the conversation, ask your children if they have any questions about the event. Because children, especially young children, have a wild imagination, you should not use fuzzy language or euphemisms. Be clear with what you are saying without stepping over the line into the inappropriate realm. For example, truthful answers are direct and clear, but use discretion when necessary. 

For The Kids Who Were Present Or Heard On The News

19 children being gunned down is an unacceptable situation, and there are no rules about how to grieve. It may take some time to process the situation. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the symptoms you experience, as symptoms of trauma can often mimic those of depression. Anxiety, sleep disturbances, changes in eating habits, or mood swings are all common things to experience after a traumatic event. If your children start experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to them about what’s going on. They may occur immediately after the event or several weeks later. Children can experience gains and loss as they work through a tragic event. You may even want to seek help from a licensed child psychologist to better handle the situation.

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There’s an excitement that kids experience when the time comes to return to school. This is an interesting phenomenon considering the elation kids feel when summer break rolls around and they get to leave for a couple months. The start of the school year, however, gives kids the opportunity to catch up, reconnect, and share all sorts of germs. That’s great news for parents, right? 

Back to school is a challenging time for families, and the 2021 fall semester is no different. With delta variant surges occurring all over the United States, sending kids back to school can be a terrifying thought. Millions of students are preparing for fully in-person education for the first time in over a year. In addition to shopping for school supplies, there are health issues to consider. Ensuring that children understand the importance of hygiene and masking policies is one primary job. While the physical health of children is something that parents need to worry about, mental health may also be a topic of discussion. 

Returning To School: A Mental Struggle

Clinical psychologists have been receiving calls about assisting children with their reentry to in-person classes. Each child has their own set of concerns, worries, or fears about heading back to school in general. Lack of enthusiasm to go to class, developing a morning routine, and cementing an after-school homework ritual are all things that require work, but this year presents a different challenge. The coronavirus is still in the air, spreading rapidly with the newer delta variant. Kids may feel worried or nervous to be around their peers. Will kids abide by masking guidelines and practice proper hand-washing? Kids who are old enough understand that it’s much easier to get sick, and that worry may make it difficult to head back to the classroom. 

Whether you are an educator, parent, administrator, or counselor, the following tips may help students start the year off right. There will be inevitable challenges, but you can tackle them as they come. 

Create A Morning Checklist

Heading back to in-person school involves a much different routine than heading to the dining room table to start Zoom classes. Aside from equipping kids with a mask, hand sanitizer, and lunch, there may be other things to pack. Consider after-school programs, sports, or musical instruments that also have to go with them. Create a daily checklist for children to reference every morning. This will be interactive and fun, and it will help get them ready for each day. 

Refresh Proper Coughing & Sneezing Etiquette

Everyone coughs and sneezes, which can make people nervous in today’s day and age. Remind children to sneeze and cough into their bent elbow, not their hands. This is to help prevent germs from clinging to their hands, which can inevitably touch their face. 

Prioritize Mental Health

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that mental health can dictate how you feel overall. Encourage your children to speak up if they experience too much stress, pressure, or anxiety about returning to school. Remind them that counselors and educators are there to help. Tackling mental health problems in their early stages is the best way to combat the issue. Children have demonstrated incredible resilience during the pandemic, so make sure they know to speak up about anything and everything. There may be learning gaps or loss, but children became resilient and learned to cope with how the world changed. 

Read School Emails

This tip is for parents because there will undoubtedly be more emails this coming school year. Schools will most likely update parents via email about events, COVID-19 concerns, or learning opportunities. Always keep an eye out for new information, especially before classes start and during the first month of schooling. 

Remind Them Of Proper Hand-Washing

A classroom is a breeding ground for bacteria, even if kids are wearing masks. Touching any surface in school, even if there are enhanced cleaning measures, means that germs end up on hands. Failure to keep hands clean can cause anything from pink eye to COVID-19. Make sure children have hand sanitizer and that they wash hands after dirtying them. Encourage frequent hand-washing by practicing this at home. In fact, making children wash their hands upon returning from school is also a healthy reminder and good idea. 

Know When Staying Home Is Best

Now more than ever, staying home during sickness is paramount. If you notice the subtlest hint of illness, keep the child at home and away from other kids at school. If a fever, cough, or congestion develops, consider getting a COVID-19 test to confirm whether or not that is the cause. Determining this will dictate how soon or if they go back to school or not. 

Always err on the side of caution with children, especially this year. Be the voice of reason and roll with the punches, just like we’ve been doing since the beginning of the pandemic. Your kids are resilient and they will persevere. 

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The beginning of the school year is fast approaching, which means that you and your child may soon be exposed to all sorts of germs and bacteria. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or full-time worker, back to school stress can affect every parent. Organizing pick-up and drop-off times, afterschool practices, and packing lunches all take time out of your day, so finding a routine that works for you is the best way to stay on top of things. What steps are you taking to start the school year off on a healthy foot?

If you are a parent, “back to school” is both a blessing and a curse. The kids are finally out of the house after being at home all summer, but they are also sharing germs with all the other kids in school, coming home with the sniffles, coughs, or fevers. One of the hardest tasks as a parent is to keep your kid(s), and ultimately yourself, from getting sick as the school year begins. Lucky for you, we have some great tips to help you and your kid(s) stay healthy this fall.

Sleep Well

During the summer, bedtime was probably not as strict, and kids went to bed and woke up when they pleased. That life is no more! The return to school means that kids will have to wake up earlier than they would like, meaning parents have to convince kids to go to bed earlier. Have fun fighting that fight, but it is for the betterment of their health. Set a good example by turning off screens (computers, phones, and TVs) at least two hours before bed to allow the production of natural melatonin. A regulated sleep schedule with adequate sleep will help to keep immune systems stronger, and they’ll be more focused in class. Aim to get 8-10 hours of sleep for kids between the ages of 5-15.

Feed Kids Healthy Snacks

This tip applies to both adults and children because sugary snacks, potato chips, and other processed food snacks are loaded with chemicals, dyes, and artificial ingredients that can compromise immune health. The body becomes more sluggish when there is an overabundance of these snacks in a person’s diet. Start packing healthy snacks for you and your kid(s) because they are not only better options, but they are also loaded with vitamins and minerals that can boost the immune system. Great options include cut up fruit, veggie sticks and hummus, homemade energy bites, or chia pudding.

Clean Kid-Friendly Spaces With Non-Toxic Products

Due to the dangers of chemical cleaning products, more brands, like Meyer’s, are creating cleaning products that sanitize areas without exposing you to harmful chemicals. Maintaining a clean space reduces the chances of you and your children coming in contact with bacteria that can cause common colds or flus. Along with this tip, make sure that proper hand washing rules are set in place. You can obtain natural hand soaps that encourage healthy immune function, as opposed to chemical-based antibacterial soaps, which can actually weaken immune function.

Start The Day Off Right

When you set the example that breakfast is an important meal to boost metabolic function and provide energy & sustenance, kids carry that lesson with them throughout life. Don’t settle for white foods (e.g. white bread, whit rice, bagels, or sugary yogurts) because they have no fiber and those foods lead to unhealthy cravings. Eating a bowl of oatmeal, a smoothie, chia pudding, smoothie bowls, or fruit salads supply the body with fiber, protein, and vital nutrients that can keep kids satiated until lunch. Now just don’t forget those healthy snacks we talked about.

Teach Kids Not To Share

This tip opposes the “sharing is caring” motto, but it is beneficial to limit the sharing of water bottles, ear buds, snacks, and other personal items. All of these items are exposed to bacteria, especially from saliva. You aren’t teaching selfishness with this tip; rather, you are making kids aware that germs can easily be passed if the right measures are not taken.

Even if you put a bunch of preventative measures in place as the school year arrives, you have to face the facts: you and your kid(s) will most likely catch a cold. Remember that if the sickness comes on, it is always best to start with natural remedies before resorting to antibiotics or cold medications, which are often overused and can weaken immune function. Soothing medicinal teas, immune-boosting extracts, sleep, and much more can help naturally fight off colds.

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New York City has the country’s largest public school system, and Mayor Bill de Blasio recently dictated that Meatless Mondays will be put into effect in the fall of 2019. Kids in public schools will eat vegetarian only lunches on Mondays with the hopes of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving child health. Will the new menu make kids healthier, though?

There is no denying that child obesity rates have grown exponentially over the past 20 years. Climbing obesity rates can be attributed to increased consumption of processed foods, hormone and antibiotic-filled meats and dairy, and refined carbs and sugars. There has not been a lot of focus on fresh fruits and vegetables, which contain essential nutrients that the body needs to function correctly.

De Blasio has argued that Meatless Mondays will improve the health of students in the 1,800 plus public schools in New York City. Consuming a vegetarian diet, however, only has its benefits if the foods that are being consumed are indeed healthy. An early peak at Meatless Monday menu items doesn’t show a healthy future, though. Mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and grilled cheese sandwiches are on the menu. While these are typical kids menu items, Meatless Mondays don’t seem that healthy if those will be the vegetarian options.

According to several studies in different schools, the Meatless Monday concept resulted in more food waste and noncompliance. A few studies revealed 40% more food waste on vegetarian days. Because kids are picky eaters, it can be hard to introduce healthier, vegetarian options. It may be more advantageous to start gardening programs and nutrition classes for kids to understand what a healthy diet consists of. We aren’t saying that the average first grader is going to choose kale over a grilled cheese, but learning about food is never a bad idea.

De Blasio’s idea of instituting Meatless Mondays is not a bad idea, considering 65% of American children between the ages of 12-14 show signs of early cholesterol disease. Is it a solution to the growing child obesity epidemic? Not likely. A better first step might be to eliminate things like mozzarella sticks, fries, grilled cheeses, and onion rings, and replace those with healthier options. Simply cutting meat out is not going to magically make kids healthier. Vegetarians can eat unhealthily too.

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It’s that time of year when school is about to be back in session. Packing your child’s lunch, or your own lunch, can be a stressful situation. Is there enough sustenance? How healthy is the lunch? Should you be worried about how healthy the lunch and snacks are? Yes, you should absolutely take this into consideration.

If a child learns that eating a bag of chips with some sugary, gummy snacks and a soda is par for a daily diet, then he or she grows up thinking that that is normal. This type of diet as a child can lead to health complications or and increased risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, or cancer in adulthood. While it may seem easier to buy these processed snacks than to make homemade treats, is it worth it to jeopardize future health?

Easy is usually not healthy, but that is not always the case. There are tons of products on the market that are organic, raw, and made without processed ingredients. You just have to look for them. Since we promote homemade snacks, we have a few recipes to share with you that will be perfect for back to school lunches. Try them out and let us know how they go over.

Homemade Mango Fruit Roll-ups

Some people live by the motto, “You are what you eat.” Well, if this is true then most kids are walking sugar cubes, assuming that kids still eat sugary, unhealthy snacks with artificial flavors. To help break this mold, here is a super easy recipe for healthy fruit roll-ups.

Click here to make the recipe.

Homemade Energy Bars

These bars are packed with energizing nutrients and they help to keep you full. They are sweet, tasty, and you can personalize some ingredients to appease your taste buds.

Click here to make the recipe.

Power Your Day With These Carrot Cake Bites

While these are not Full Body Cleanse approved, you don’t have to bake them. They are ready in no time and provide a ton of nutrients.

Click here to make the recipe.

Overnight Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

If you make a large batch of this, you portion little servings off in glass jars or Tupperware. It is like having a pudding cup, but it is healthy. The best part is that you don’t have to make it in the morning before school!

Click here to make the recipe.

Homemade Banana Chips

Now that you have this recipe, you won’t want to snack on anything else. Bananas are filled with nutrients that can help improve digestion and respiratory health!

Click here to make the recipe.

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