When it comes to packing school lunches, sharing is caring. And now that everyone is back at school, there’s no end to needing tips to get us through the year. We asked savvy moms across the web to share how they stay organized, find inspiring lunch ideas, and get their kids to actually eat their entire lunch. Here they reveal their best lunch survival hacks. What tips would you add?
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1. Give them a choice Bay Area mama, Lisa Jackson of Good on Paper tells us that her son's lunchbox usually comes back empty when she gives him a choice of food.
2. Create a snack bin Make grabbing snacks as convenient as possible. With a snack bin busy mornings become a bit less hectic says Samantha McBride. Pro tip from Samantha: keep the snack bin out of your kids' reach!
3. Pack ahead Busy mom Dana Leigh says her method to the lunchtime madness is to pack her kids' lunches the day before. She reveals, "I have found it easiest to pack lunches for the next day the minute my kids walk in the door from school! They empty out and clean their lunch boxes and load them up with the next day's lunch. Our evenings and mornings are hectic so it's nice to take packing lunches out of the equation during the busiest times of the day!"
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4. Teamwork Getting out the door on time with lunches in hand is a team effort says mom of four, Renee Hill. By asking her girls to pitch in, Renee teaches her family responsibility and as a bonus, she buys herself a few more minutes to sip her morning coffee!
5. Add a little treat Packing a lunch EVERYSINGLEDAY is probably one of the most challenging parts of the school year. Chelsea Andrews divulges one of her essential tips to streamline lunches for her picky eater. She surprises her kiddo with a treat in her lunchbox, which makes her little scholar's lunches a bit more exciting.
6. Put your kids to work Ken Kinzie and April Riehm are all about empowering their kids to make their own lunches. They find that their kids are more likely to eat lunches that they made themselves.
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7. Trust that your kids are capable We love Marlynn Jayme Schotland's perspective: your kids are more capable than they let on. She gives her kids tasks like washing fruit to picking out juice boxes to help guide their independence and as a bonus, it helps make her family's mornings a bit less hectic.
8. Prepare Everything on Sunday Kendra Stanton's pro tip: pack the entire week on Sunday. She says this will save you time, energy and may even prevent some fine lines in the future!
9. Let your picky eater make the decisions Picky eaters happen to the best of us. Sara Olsher's daughter has a long history of picky eating. To help her daughter finish up her lunches, Sara gives C a choice by letting her choose her lunchbox and what goes in it.
Xbox. Nintendo Switch. PlayStation. Netflix. YouTube. TikTok. Snapchat…Those are all words (and sometimes used as verbs in the case of Snapchat) we are used to hearing in my house because we have teenage and pre-teen children. Those words used to fill me with anxiousness because most of the time, it meant my kids had their eyes glued to a screen, and I worried they were turning into zombies while connecting to a world that I knew very little about. Not to mention connecting in a world that is technologically and socially a much different landscape than when my husband and I grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Naturally, as a parent, I became concerned about too much screen time, online safety, cyberbullies, stalkers, inappropriate interactions, terrible images, and more. In my mind, technology quickly became the enemy.
To ease my anxiousness and squash my concerns, I gave my children a long list of rules, screen time restrictions and monitored everything they did online. I thought my restrictions would help our family connect more because of their time limits. Let me be clear, my intentions were pure, and it is crucial to protect your children online, but my plan was causing nothing but resentment and disconnection.
I’ve always known that connecting with my children is a critical part of their social and emotional development. One of my favorite quotes is from a Kids In The House video. In the video, ADHD specialist and Author Edward Hallowell, MD, EdD, says, “By far, the most powerful force in life for development, joy, confidence, health; is the force of connection. At its most distilled, we call it love. I think that the bond between parent and child is the single strongest emotion in all of human existence. Then it spreads out into what I call a connected childhood. It is the greatest gift you can give your child.”
With connection on my heart, I continued trying to connect with my children in various ways. We would bake cookies, create crafts, go on walks, but often they would get bored, and often as soon as we would finish spending a moment together, they would head right back to technology. I was left wondering why we didn’t feel more connected, so I started researching.
An article I found on Child Development Info says, “Try not to seem judgmental about their hobbies. If your kids aren’t hurting anyone, you shouldn’t be concerned. If they start to feel that you don’t appreciate what they love, they’ll start to push you further away.”
Wait, were my best intentions causing my children to push me away? That was the last thing I wanted. Was my own experience growing up with little to no technology creating an unconscious bias in my mind about how they should grow up? That’s when it hit me; technology may not be the enemy after all. In fact, I could use technology to our benefit and connect with my children.
Instead of just implementing more rules and red tape, I pushed my technology judgments aside and picked up a device. Please understand that I didn’t throw all rules out the window, especially ones about being safe online; I did back off a bit and started playing their video games, watching their favorite Netflix shows, and making silly faces on Snapchat. It was like magic. Suddenly, we were engaging, interacting, laughing at the same memes, and sharing inside jokes. We’ve even had entire conversations using nothing but funny gifs on iMessage. If you don’t think this is possible, try it. I assure you it is. Now, I’m still not good at any of their video games. In fact, I don’t think I’ve won a single Mario Kart race, ever. Whenever I build on Minecraft, I get confused, and I’ve never mastered a TikTok dance. But the reality is that none of that matters. What matters is that we are connecting, and we are having fun.
With technology, the sky is the limit, and you can positively expose your children to a variety of interesting things that might otherwise not be possible were it not for technology. Other ways to connect with your children through technology include:
1. Listen to a podcast of their choice
2. Follow a blog of their choice together
3. Zoom/Facetime extended family and friends together
4. Take virtual field trips
5. Movie marathons (especially Marvel!)
6. Learn TikTok dances
7. Create YouTube videos together on topics of their choosing
8. Create digital art
9. Make digital music
10. Create memes together
11. Build an Instagram page together to highlight an important topic
12. Learn to DJ with your child
Out of curiosity, I asked my children two things. The first question was: Do they enjoyed it when we joined them online for games and connected with them via social media? All three immediately said yes. The second question I asked: Was their favorite way to connect with my husband and me through technology? While their answers were different, their message was loud and clear. My 5th grader said she likes playing Minecraft and Stardew Valley Xbox games with my husband because they spend time together. My 6th grader said she looks forward to watching our favorite Netflix or Disney Plus shows every night because she gets to spend time together as a family. My 9th grader said she likes communicating with the family via Instagram because we all send funny memes and posts. The message? They like being together.
My takeaway through all of this was that I needed to meet my kids where they were, not where I wanted them to be. They are living in a world filled to the brim with TikToks, memes, vines, YouTube clips, and more, so if you don’t speak that “language,” you face the risk of being less connected as a parent. Trust me, engage on their level, and you’ll quickly learn to speak the language. You’ll also quickly find new ways to connect, and connection is the greatest gift you can give to your child.
Jamie is married to her high school sweetheart and has three beautiful daughters. Through years of experience working with children, and raising her own, she knows how difficult parenting can be. She is an advocate for children's mental health and is best known for her creativity, optimism, and kind heart.
I woke up this Sunday morning experiencing the all-too-common feeling of mom guilt. If you’re a mom, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It is a feeling many moms experience regularly, but it consumed me this particular morning. Despite the fact that my coffee was already brewing, and I had a lot to do, I remained in bed pulling the covers over my head, stuck in my own head, feeling tremendous amounts of mom guilt. I couldn’t help but think of a Sunday morning one fall when my kids were younger.
Like every Sunday morning, we were hurriedly making sure everyone was fed and dressed in their “Sunday best.” Despite our best efforts, we arrived a little late but walked into church with smiles on our faces. Before going into the service, my three kids and I climbed up the mauve-colored steps to drop them off in their Sunday school classrooms. I wasn’t sure what the sermon was going to be that day. To be honest, I’m not sure I cared; I was just looking forward to being in a room with adults for an hour. My hopes of being in an adult-only room quickly faded when my oldest daughter refused to go into her classroom. The teachers repeatedly tried to entice her into the colorful room full of interactive toys while catchy music played in the background. It didn’t matter what creative technique or bribe they used to get her to enter the room; she didn’t want to go.
I knew that if I forced her into the classroom, she would cry for the entire hour, and I would be called out of the sermon to come to pick her up. Either that or I wouldn’t be able to pay attention to the message because I would be so worried about her. That’s when voices from how I was raised filled my head.
“She’s manipulating you.”
“Don’t let her win.”
“Use tough love.”
“This will be good for her.”
“Be strong!”
At that moment, I felt guilty regardless of my choice. According to advice from the generation that raised me, if I let her come with me, that meant she would be getting her way. However, my heartstrings ached because I knew she was going through separation anxiety, and she wanted me close. At that moment, there was a mom guilt battle going on inside of me.
This wasn’t the only time I’ve been in the middle of a mom guilt battle. Other times haunt me as well. Like when we were late for grade school every day for two straight weeks. I will never forget the look on the secretary’s face each time we’d walk in late to the office. Her disappointing and judgmental look filled me with mom guilt after tough mornings.
Or what about the numerous times I’ve lost my cool, or let my kids have too much screen time because I needed a break, or walked away from my crying child because I was about to break down too? What about serving them yet another frozen pizza for dinner after they’ve already consumed way too many goldfish crackers? What about that one time when I decided to homeschool my kids, only to return to public school three years later. Or how about one of my biggest guilts—my heart sinks every time I think about all the times we’ve moved and uprooted the kids.
Ugh. Discouragement filled my heart just thinking about these moments. Then my mind went to what others thought. I knew that my mom and grandmother wouldn’t approve of some of my choices and the secretary’s look kept haunting me. Then I thought of my friends that were seemingly perfect moms. Oof, if I continued with that train of thought, I’d never get out of bed. That’s when I snapped back to reality and pulled the covers off. I got up and poured myself a cup of coffee that I had been smelling for the past several minutes. I was hoping it would snap me out of my “mom guilt” mood.
As coffee touched my lips and I looked out the kitchen window to the yard, I was reminded of the outcome and takeaways of the stories I was thinking about.
I knew leaving my daughter in a classroom, be it school or elsewhere, was an inevitable part of her growing up and that there were healthy ways to deal with separation anxiety. However, on that particular Sunday morning, my mom intuition kicked in, and I decided to keep my daughter with me. I remembered that we grabbed a donut at the church café, and I listened to the sermon in the hallway. Though my choice was frowned upon by some fellow churchgoers, I don’t regret that moment. Why? To this day, my daughter remembers how good those donuts were. My takeaway? My relationship with my daughter was far more important than any class.
As far as the disapproving look from the secretary? After a few stressful mornings of yelling, rushing, and tears, I realized I would rather be late and calm than on time and stressed. So that was my excuse every time we were late after that. The secretary would ask, “What is the reason why you are late today?” I’d reply, “Just another tough morning, and we would rather be late and calm than on time and stressed.” My takeaway? My children’s mental health was far too important to worry about being late to school.
Parents, if you’re feeling the same way this morning, grab your morning coffee and remember that your child was made for you. You know your child better than anyone else on this planet. So be you, trust your gut, and be proud of your parenting choices. Give yourself grace, and do not worry about what others think or say. Focus on the positive and learn from the mistakes. Take it from this coffee-loving, imperfect mother of 15 years and know it’ll all be okay.
Jamie is married to her high school sweetheart and has three beautiful daughters. Through years of experience working with children, and raising her own, she knows how difficult parenting can be. She is an advocate for children's mental health and is best known for her creativity, optimism, and kind heart.
Head back to the stone age. International Delight is making breakfast time even more fun with new Fruity PEBBLES and Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamers. Find them now at retailers nationwide for a limited time.
This month, in celebration of PEBBLES cereal’s milestone 50th birthday year in 2021, the coffee creamer brand is bringing the signature flavors of the classic PEBBLES cereals from the bowl to the coffee mug. With the new International Delight PEBBLES creamers, fans can join the celebration and get even more of the classic flavors they love with a splash in their morning coffee. Whether fans prefer Cocoa or Fruity, they can enjoy their favorite PEBBLES cereal and coffee creamer to feel transported back to Bedrock.
“At International Delight, we are always looking to give our fans innovative, can’t-get-it-anywhere-else flavors to enhance their coffee,” said Marie Dobson, Marketing Director for International Delight. “We want to make that first cup of joe a delicious and fun experience – which is why we are excited to partner with PEBBLES cereal to bring these favorite flavors from your bowl to your cup. We hope coffee lovers everywhere shout ‘Yabba Dabba Doo!’ with every sip!”
“The International Delight team did a great job of capturing the craveable flavors of Fruity and Cocoa PEBBLES cereals in these new coffee creamers,” said Leah Broeders, Head of Licensing at Post Consumer Brands. “The PEBBLES cereal brand has been sparking imagination and bringing joy to fans for 50 years, and we think the new coffee creamers are another fun way for fans to enjoy the flavors beyond the cereal bowl.”
International Delight Fruity PEBBLES Coffee Creamer delivers a sweet, fruity flavor, while Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamer is perfect for anyone who wants to start their day the chocolatey way. Both creamers deliver a bowl’s worth of flavor in every sip.
International Delight Fruity PEBBLES and Cocoa PEBBLES Coffee Creamers are sold in 32 oz. bottles with celebratory PEBBLES packaging for a suggested retail price of $3.29.
Now more than ever, we’re looking for new and fun ways to keep our kids busy—and whenever possible, learning at the same time. Skip Hop just released a new line of preschool toys that checks all the boxes. From puzzles to stacking games, scroll down for their newest toys to put in your shopping cart ASAP.
Sort & Stack Cupcakes
This 18-piece set will help your kids learn their colors and shapes, all while practicing their fine motor skills as they stack the cupcakes, frosting and cake toppers.
These sturdy cards—perfect to teach them memory and matching—are great for little kid hands. For the youngest toddlers who may not quite grasp the idea of the memory game, we suggest scattering them around and letting them find match up each animal pair.
They may not be able to actually serve make your morning coffee, but how about the next best thing? This coffee set will have your little baristas whipping up morning delicacies. The 20-piece set is perfect for encouraging their imagination with pretend play.
Take their love of singing and dance to the next level with a microphone that actually amplifies their voice (yes, you can ask them to take the singing into the next room while you're on your Zoom call). The microphone comes with three songs they can sing along to: Old MacDonald, Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
When you have a preschooler, you can never have too many puzzles. This one has eight chunky pieces (best for beginners) and will teach them hand-eye coordination and their animals and colors.
Encourage them to play with their food without the mess. The What's for Lunch game offers up multiple ways to play—you can switch up the rules for younger players and make it more complicated for the older, more advanced kiddos. No matter the level, this game encourages matching and memory skills for all involved.
Bring together your love of coffee and Hostess with this epic mashup. Following the widely successful launch of Hostess snack cake-flavored coffees, cappuccinos and hot cocoas, Trilliant Food & Nutrition announced they are expanding their partnership with the launch of Hostess inspired Ready-To-Drink Flavored Iced Lattes. It doesn’t matter which cake you like best, now you can enjoy a latte that makes your morning coffee taste like dessert.
Whether you like Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Honey Bun or Sno Balls, this iced beverage has you covered. Twinkies Iced Latte pairs the taste of coffee with vanilla creme and Ding Dongs Iced Latte adds a splash of chocolate and vanilla to your drink. Honey Bun Iced Latte has a distinctive honey flavor while Sno Balls Iced Latte tastes like chocolate cake and coconut.
“We’re proud to announce our next venture with one of the most loved American brands”, said Christoph Zickler, Marketing Vice President for Trilliant. “We’re bringing innovation to the Ready-to-Drink category with these iconic Hostess flavors. They’re the perfect, sweet-treat pick-me-up for any time of day.”
Hostess Ready-To-Drink Flavored Iced Lattes will soon be available at retailers nationwide.
Are you already humming “This Is Halloween”? Then you’ll be over the full moon for the new Nightmare Before Christmas kitchen collection at Target.
It’s not yet Halloween and nowhere near Christmas but Nightmare Before Christmas fans will love filling their kitchen cabinets with this new collection that features mugs, bowls and plenty of tricks and treats to enjoy all year round.
Jack and Sally Salt and Pepper Shakers
Spice up your meals with your favorite Halloween couple.
Good news ladies; your absolutely necessary morning coffee — and that five-o’clock glass of wine — are good for your gut health! A new study found that consuming coffee and wine (in moderation, of course) helped maintain the beneficial bacteria found in the gut.
Dutch researchers surveyed over 1,100 people on their diet, medicine prescriptions, and overall health. After, they studied the participants gut DNA from their stool.
They found that those who drank tea, coffee, and wine had more diverse gut bacteria than those who didn’t. The other foods they concluded are good for gut health? Yogurt, buttermilk, fruits and vegetables. Whole milk and high calorie diets, on the other hand, were shown to decrease the good bacteria.
Definitely something to drink to, right? Cheers!
Are you a coffee and wine drinker? Tell us in the comments below!
Tell your kids you’re headed to Sea Ranch, and they might envision a SpongeBob SquarePants circus of sorts, full of seahorse cowboys and underwater rodeos. But a visit to Sea Ranch will be one of the most restful sojourns you’ll ever take as a family.
Sonoma County’s Sea Ranch was a pioneering eco-community, began in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The connection between the landscape and the architecture is masterful and certainly contributes to the serenity of the place. The sometimes simple, sometimes elaborate wood-frame structures were inspired by the local ranches and are designed to cope with the weather while meshing with the topography.
How to get there: One hundred miles north of San Francisco, the drive takes a good three hours if you take time to gawk at the coastline. Stop in Bodega Bay for fish and chips or clam chowder for lunch to break up the drive. Fair warning: it’s not a great trip for those who get easily car sick.
Where to stay: The well-equipped rental houses, many of which have hot tubs with a view of the ocean (take a dip with morning coffee in tow before the kids wake up). Prices on rentals range from about $200-$500 a night depending on location, size and amenities. It is a perfect venue for family reunions, romantic getaways or multi-family trips.
What to bring: Bikes, yoga mats, board games, books, food, baking projects, and lots of reading material.
What to see:If you are game there is plenty to do around Sea Ranch. Hikes, kayaking, golf, breweries and wineries and a lighthouse in Point Arena can fill out your relaxing days walking along the coast. You may catch some migrating whales and many seals hang out on the rocks so bring your binoculars. You might try making a driftwood fort on the beach and hanging out inside it.
Eateries: Bodega Bay offers some great seafood options like chowder in a bread bowlor a full elegant meal. A big surprise is Sizzling Tandoor; the crowds get there early and it is quite an anachronism to find such popular Indian fare in the small town of Jenner. Bones Road House in Gualala is a biker spot and you can get ribs, chicken or other BBQ meals. The ambiance keeps the kids riveted, and there is lots of local color.
Bonus: There is an elegant pool that is kept heated year-round. The dry sauna makes the pool all the more enticing, particularly after an invigorating bike ride against the wind.
How to dress: Always dress for blustery winter weather, a hat, gloves and a windbreaker are de-rigueur. Sunscreen is a must but it doesn’t help against windburn. Make sure you have solid walking shoes.
