Whether you are sending a student off to school or are going to classes yourself, you’ll want to stay healthy! Back to School Naturally gives healthy alternatives for snacks, re-usable storage containers and food specifically for those with multiple food allergies.
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Do you have a teen in your life that desires to eat healthier? Clean Eating Tips for Teens is an encouraging article with ideas specifically for pre-teens and teenagers.
Doesn’t it just warm your heart to hear one of your children (including teens) say that want to eat healthier food?? They like how they feel when they stay away from food void of nutrition.
Let’s make it easier on them and even entice those who are new to eating cleaner and healthier to enjoy food!
I’m going to focus on 4 areas that will make going back to school easier for you and your students!
- Healthy Breakfast
- Re-usable Food Storage
- Supplements
- Healthy Snacks
Back to School Naturally – Breakfast
The focus is going to be on food that is quick, nutritious, energizes and is gluten-free & dairy free.
Rest assured the products and recipe ideas are all items my teenage daughters have tested and highly recommend!
Favorite Gluten Free & Dairy Free Options. You don’t have to have a food allergy to enjoy these suggestions. They are intended for those desiring to make healthier food choices as well.
- Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Blueberry Hemp Granola.
- Cream of Buckwheat – Recipe here.
- Omelet Breakfast Muffins. (Note: Great for making ahead either on the weekend or the evening before you’d like to enjoy them.)
- Purely Elizabeth Vibrant Raspberry Oatmeal Cups
- Homemade granola.
- Organic Gluten Free Maple Buckwheat Flakes with a non-dairy milk.
- Chicken Chili or Soup. (Great way to use up leftovers; serve them for breakfast!)
- Quick Healthy Breakfast Recipes
- Chia pudding topped with your favorite granola.
Eco-Friendly Back to School Products
You want containers that are easy to use, wash and are friendly to the environment. Most of all, you don’t want chemicals to be leaching into our nutritious food while it’s being stored. You’ll be teaching your kids how to store food without the waste!
- Reusable Food Storage Bags – an alternative to plastic that is BPA free & PVC free. These come in many sizes. Stasher Platinum Silicone Food Grade Reusable Storage Bag | Cook, Store, Sous Vide, or Freeze | Leakproof, Dishwasher-Safe, Eco-friendly | 9.9 Oz
- Insulated Food Storage Jar. It’s BPA & BPS free. Keeps food warm up to 8 hours. Lille Home Vacuum Insulated Stackable Stainless Steel Thermal Lunch/Snack box, 2-Tier / Blue
- Stainless steel LunchBots come with or without compartments. LunchBots Medium Snack Container – Divided Stainless Steel Food Container -Eco-Friendly, Dishwasher Safe, BPA-Free – All Stainless
- Bees Wax Reusable Wraps. Bees’s Wrap Print Sandwich Wrap.
- Insulated water bottles with stainless steel inside. Epic Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle with Filter | USA Made Filter | Dishwasher Safe | Stainless Steel | BPA Free| Removes 99.9% Tap Water Contaminants | Coldest
- Reusable utensils sets.Utensils,Reusable Silverware Set To Go Portable Cutlery Set with a Waterproof Carrying Case for Lunch Boxes – School
- Homemade snack bags and drawstring bags. My family uses ours for packing granola bars, holding tissues, packing utensils, and keeping fruit clean.
Reusable Silicone Food Storage
I recently bought the silicone reusable food storage bags. They are impressive! The zip closure keeps food fresh, they are easy to clean, and lightweight. Reusable Easy to Open and Close Silicone Food Storage Bags for Snacks,Fruits, Vegetables, Freezer.
Try Silicone Reusable Cupcake and Muffin Baking Cup for keeping food separate.
Back to School Naturally – Snacks
Snacks are never ending!! Does it feel like a full time job keeping your household supplied with nutrient dense snack items??!
We all know that snacks come in handy for after school programs or athletics. They give energy when your kids are working through their homework. It’s important that we chose a snack that isn’t empty calories.
The goal is to chose a snack with essential nutrients, tastes good, and is food allergen friendly. (Gluten Free & Dairy Free Snacks!)
- Hummus with carrots, celery sticks or cucumber slices
- Rhythm Dried Carrot Sticks (easy to pack!)
- Rhythm Dried Sea Salt Beet Chips
- Homemade Chocolate Mint Granola Bars
- Celery sticks with sunflower seed butter.
- Himalayan Sea Salt Plantain Chips with Salsa
- Fruit! Apple slices dipped in nut butter, organic grapes, grapefruit
- Plant Snacks Dairy Free Cheddar Cassava Chips
- Homemade Smoothie (be creative!)
- Boiled eggs and Himalayan sea salt.
- Quinn GF Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
- FitJoy Grain Free Pretzel Twists – White Cheddar
- Granola and non-dairy yogurt
- Make your own peanuts, fruit & pretzel mix.
- Homemade No-Bake Peanut Butter Energy Balls.
Do you need more Gluten Free Snack Ideas? The 8 Best Grain Free Healthy Snacks; based on taste, texture, and ingredient list.
Supplement Suggestions for School!
It would be an ideal world if all our food was highly nutritious and we ate exactly what our body needed to stay healthy year round. Thankfully we have supplements to fill those gaps.
My family tries to eat nutrient dense food, manage stress, use germ fighting essential oils, however, we still get sick. Not often! But once year for the kids and my husband. I get sick every couple of years when I’ve worn myself out. Either way I’d rather prevent illness!
Supplements for Students
- Elderberry Syrup – Boost Immunity with Elderberries
- Elderberry Gummy – Garden of Life Elderberry Immune Boosting Gummy – easy to take & pack.
- Vitamin C; naturally sourced, 250-500 mg doses – reduce inflammation
- Ashwagandha – Organic India Ashwagandha – naturally manage stress & anxiety
- Probiotics – supplements, drink Kombucha, eat fermented veggies
- Multi-Vitamins – Made with real food not artificially sourced. Try Garden of Life Organic Kids Gummy Multivitamin Fruit.
- Naturally Calming Supplement; Primal Blueprint Primal Calm
- Magnesium Supplement like Natural Vitality Calm Supplement Drink. (Note: The Naturopathic Institute in town sells this product. You can also order it online here.)
- Herbal Teas – Celestial Seasoning Honey Chamomile Tea or Traditional Medicinals Chamomile and Lavender Tea
Learn more about the power of Elderberry Syrup & a Free DIY Syrup.
Back to School Naturally
I hope you ease into school this year without too many bumps. Hopefully the ideas on allergen friendly breakfast and snack ideas will get you started.
It’s amazing the food options available for those of us looking for nutritious food that is both gluten and dairy free!
- Breakfast is vital to our day, so let’s make it worth taking the time to eat!
- The no-waste, eco-friendly storage options are a huge plus for the naturally minded household.
- Keep healthy allergen-friendly snacks available.
- Lastly, chose supplements that are naturally sourced and either boost immunity, reduce inflammation, help manage stress or simply aid in relaxation.
What ideas were helpful for you? I’d love to hear what your kids chose for healthy snacks!
Pursing Better Health Together,
Jenn says
Where did you purchase your square silicone “cupcake liners” that are reusable for food on the go?
Michelle says
Thanks for asking Jenn! I added the Amazon link under eco-friendly products for school. The item listed is the exact set I bought about 4 years ago.