The Best of this Life's Back-To-School Guide

A PARENT'S GUIDE FOR ACING BACK-TO-SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2017-18

BTS

bestofthislife.com 10 KID-APPROVED SCHOOL BAGS Let them pick a backpack they'll want to show off

EASY SCHOOL LUNCHES

TIPS TO GET BACK INTO THE ROUTINE

How to make healthy & tasty lunches your kids will eat

Helpful ways to get back into the swing of thingsÂ

02

Editor's Letter

03

What's For Lunch?

05

WOWBUTTER Energy Bites

08

10 Kid-Approved Backpacks

09

Helpful Tips to Prepare Your Kids

Before School Routine Starts

For more Back-To-School recipes, fashion, product reviews and inspiration, visit bestofthislife.com

Dear Readers, It’s hard to believe the summer is coming to an end. For

I encourage you to make this the best start to the new

some of you, the school year has already begun! In my

school year ever. I wish you and your family a positive

home, we're preparing for a September return and even

and successful school year in 2017-2018!

though I’m still in summer mode, there is a lot of back to school planning to be done. With the anticipation of a new school year, there can be a whole range of emotions you and your children experience. You’re not alone! Whether you’re sending your little one off to junior kindergarten and dealing with anxiety over it, or have a teenager in high school who is wanting a whole new wardrobe before returning to classes - this time of year comes with its challenges. That said, it can also be an exciting few weeks as you help your kids transition into a new season of life: new grade, new teacher, possibly new school. It’s an opportunity to help them grow and even have fun with them - from shopping for cool supplies and clothes to creating an action plan to help them meet their goals this school year. Be sure to visit bestofthislife.com for helpful Back-To-School articles!

Emily Smith EDITOR IN CHIEF BESTOFTHISLIFE.COM

FOOD

What's For Lunch?

WRITTEN BY EMILY SMITH

You’ve probably heard, “What’s for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner?” all summer long and things aren’t about to change now. However, school lunches are a whole other ball game, aren't they! They require strategy, creative thinking, and knowing what food your kid is into that week. When it comes to school lunches, I try to keep things as simple as possible,while considering my children’s likes and dislikes as well as my goal of encouraging a healthy diet. I want them to eat a range of foods that will keep them energized and alert throughout the whole day. With that in mind, I aim to include at least one protein, fruit, and vegetable in their daily lunches. I also allow room for one treat.

When my son first started kindergarten, I skipped packaged goods and sweet snacks, because I didn’t want him to only eat that over his other healthy food. However, his friends were getting cookies and fruit snacks in their lunches and it made him feel like he was seriously deprived! So, now I look for not too overly sugary treats to include one in his lunch. His teacher last year called these “afternoon snacks”, which meant the kids ate their healthy snacks in the morning, for healthy fuel, and their sweet ones in the afternoon when the day was coming to an end. I thought that was pretty smart!

BTS | 03

Keep it easy as 1, 2, 3...

I keep an ongoing list of which fruits and vegetables my kids are into and make sure to include those. Sometimes I add a few of the ones they don’t like so much just to see if anything’s changed and you know what, some days I'm pleasantly surprised! In terms of a main meal, sandwiches, wraps, pizza, chopped cold chicken, and rice cracker sammies are my go-to. I like to include variety in small portions which gives them choices. The important thing is getting them to eat what’s in their lunch box so they don’t crash at school!

One of my tips is to talk about lunch the night before, even have your child help you pack it so they can see what’s coming their way the next day. If they protest on an item, you can discuss it and maybe find a suitable replacement.

Allergy-friendly food is also a must, considering classmates who have allergies. WOWBUTTER (made from soy) is a great swap for peanut butter and offers a good dose of protein. Both my kiddos find it tastes just like the real thing. Just make sure to label food items clearly so teachers know it’s not peanut butter.

There are so many ways to get creative with school lunches, without having to bake from scratch, decorate, and cookie-cut food, unless you like doing that - then all the power to you!

In the end, the best way to make school lunches a success is to start by talking with your kids, taking them grocery shopping to help pick out their lunches for the week and discuss healthy eating habits together.

Grab Your FREE Printable School Lunch List at bestofthislife.com

Strawberry Coconut WOWBUTTER Energy Bites These delicious bites are perfect for sending to school (make sure to label peanut-free) or to serve as a scrumptious after-school snack. They have a PB & JELLY taste that kids love!

Makes 18 1/2 cup WOWBUTTER 1/4 cup local honey 1 cup rolled oats 1/3 cup finely diced fresh strawberries (or dried strawberry bits) 1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut Combine honey and WOWBUTTER in a mixing bowl until blended.

Gently fold in the strawberries. Roll into small bite-sized balls. Roll each one in coconut, place on a serving tray and refrigerate for 20 minutes before eating. Keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days.

05 | BTS

YOU'RE OFFÂ TO GREAT PLACES. TODAY IS YOUR FIRST DAY! YOUR MOUNTAIN IS WAITING, SO GET ON YOUR WAY! DR. SEUSS

LEGO Brick Heritage

Baggu Backpack in

canadaluggagedepot.ca

Night Mountain well.ca

Wonder Woman Backpack with Detachable Cape toysrus.com

SoYoung Olive Fox ca.soyoung.ca

States Bags Greenpoint Kane nordstrom.com

TruBlue The Original Backpack walmart.ca

Paw Patrol 'Pups At Play' childrensplace.com Skip Hop Zoo Unicorn indigo.ca Parkland Bayside, Locker Blue indigo.ca

08 | BTS

Digital Camo Print childrensplace.com

10 KIDAPPROVED BACKPACKS

PARENTING

DON'T MISS THE BUS! It's not easy jumping back into routine after summer vacation. Here are some helpful tips to get you and your kids back on schedule.

WRITTEN BY NICOLE LAFRANCE

09 | BTS

Did you say August: August

1. Announce – make it known

already! Teachers, parents, kids

loud and clear by mentioning it

we all know what that means:

in your conversations and

back to school is just around the

interactions. Talk about it with

corner, which also means

your kids choosing a time and

getting back into routine. There

space such as the breakfast

are numerous benefits for

table or at bedtime. Regardless

everyone involved when a

of age, from 4 to 18 years old,

routine is planned, established

this opens a healthy dialogue

and maintained. Of course

and gives your children a chance

expect the usual protest and

to voice their thoughts and

resistance but research

emotions on the topic. It creates

confirms a balanced routine

opportunities to debunk any

diminishes stress and anxiety

fear or anxious thoughts.

for children of all ages and for grown ups too. So, here are a

2. Participation – participate

few simple tips to help ease

together in preparing a visual

everyone into the reality of

schedule (using a white board or

back to school mode.

calendar) that is age appropriate.

DON'T MISS THE BUS (...CONTINUED) Kids do well when invited to participate in designing a structure they will later be required to follow.

Remind them it might need adjusting after the first week of school or even later in the fall season.

3. Practice run – practice run anything and everything about the school routine. One of my best suggestions for parents with children in elementary school is to begin by practising for school lunches and snacks. Why not set aside a few days before school where lunches are served in a lunch box, packaged the same way you would send them to school. For the younger ones this gives you a chance to observe what works for them. Can they open their yogourt, open their juice or even peel a banana. You would be surprised what comes back home untouched because little hands couldn’t manage something as simple as peeling a banana. Think of making a tiny cut at the top so little hands can crack that

5. Plan your shopping

These simple steps can debunk

peel open!

adventures –

some of the unknown and ease the

of course, back-to-school also

transition from the schedule-free

4. Visit the school area – whether it’s

means shopping for new things.

summer days to a September

a new school or the same stomping

Review and assess what you

routine. Plus, for your kids,

grounds as last year, it is always

already have, discuss what is

participating to the process of

helpful to visit the school. This gives

needed, make a must have list

planning a routine not only boost

children a real hands on experience

and then a ‘maybe, we’ll see’

your children’s confidence, it helps

before heading back to class,and for

wish list. Talk about budget with

them feel more secure about their

new students, a place they can

your kids and invite them to

little world and the new school

identify with: this is my school!

participate in the process.

year they are about to step into.

Share your #BOTLbacktoschool Moments We'd love to see how you do Back To School! Share your #BOTLbacktoschool moments with us on social media, so we can follow along!Â

INSTAGRAM: @BEST_OFTHISLIFE TWITTER: @BESTOFTHISLIFE FACEBOOK: FACEBOOK.COM/BESTOFTHISLIFE

www.bestofthislife.com