Getting back into a routine after summer vacation is always challenging but the reopening of schools for in-person learning makes for a bigger adjustment this year.
After-school activities are opening up, too. Kids are eager to go, go, go — and they need snacks that provide enough energy for them to manage their busy schedules. What they eat during the car ride from school to [fill in the blank: music lesson, sports practice, playdate, homework, etc.] can make a big difference.
A lot depends on your child’s tastes and needs, but packing snacks in our reusable, unbreakable containers ahead of time will make the ride easier for everyone and set children up for a successful transition.
Whether you need to consider allergies or strong preferences, you can pack snacks for different children in bags of different colors so it’s easy for them to grab their own.
Peanut butter balls gave my active children a boost quickly. Soon they started making them on their own and I stopped making them altogether. Even now Emma whips up a batch to tide her over when she has little time between zoom calls. Who knew?
Peanut butter balls
1 c. peanut butter1/2 c. honey (or less, depending on tolerance for sweetness)
1/2 c. oatmeal
chocolate chips, optional
Mix and roll into balls. These can be frozen - a bonus for managing those “where did the time go?” days!