Quincy, Massachusetts-based Stop & Shop is hosting a free, live educational and interactive webinar series for parents of elementary and middle schoolers called Back-to-School Wellness Checklist. Taking place at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 and at noon on Aug. 26, the webinars will be led by the grocer’s team of nutrition partners, registered dietitians and pharmacists.
During the webinars, Stop & Shop’s trained and trusted dietitians will guide attendees through the essentials needed to help keep their families healthy this back-to-school season, covering immunization recommendations, nutritious lunchbox staples and tips for food allergies, along with how to make sure physical activity, sleep and stress management get checked off your child’s wellness list.
Back-to-School Nutrition Tips from Stop & Shop Nutrition Partner Emily Hayes, RD, LDN, include:
- Enjoy Breakfast: If your family is sick of the same old waffles and cereal each morning, switch it up. The goal of breakfast is to fuel you with a balanced meal that can power you through the first half of the day. But there are no rules for how you can get those fiber-rich carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats in. For something different, try a burrito in a whole grain tortilla with black beans, sauteed peppers and zucchini or a pizza on whole wheat pizza dough with eggs, cherry tomatoes, spinach and shredded cheese.
- Commit to Hassel-free After-school Snacks: Create a designated “snack drawer” in your pantry or “snack shelf” in your refrigerator. Stock with pre-portioned nutritious snacking options, such as whole grain crackers, roasted nuts, pre-cut fruits and veggies, yogurt and hummus. When kids get home from school, allow them to independently grab their own balanced snack from your snacking selection. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to pick their own snack, and you’ll be happy to save time on daily snack-prep.
- Think Outside the Box for Healthy Lunches: Kids will be more likely to dive into their lunches when they are fun. One way to mix up lunchtime and get the kids involved is to try a “snackable” lunch. Lunchtime doesn’t always have to be a sandwich and some kids may enjoy picking on a few different things. Provide some healthy fruit, protein and snack options for them to choose from and allow them to create their own lunch. Using leftovers from last night’s dinner is another fun way to mix up lunchtime. If you have kids that like to get creative in the kitchen, challenge them to find unique ways to transform their dinner leftovers into tasty lunches. Maybe they’ll want to try adding leftover protein and veggies to whole grain pasta with pesto, or attempt to roll leftover salad greens into a hearty wrap. They’ll have fun experimenting in the kitchen and will look forward to tasting their creation the next day.
Click here to sign up for the webinars.
