March may have left you wondering how homeschool parents do it (“it” being balancing work/school/family time/life in general), but this fall is your chance to slay your new homeschool life … or at least feel slightly more prepared. 

No matter what your schooling options are this year, there’s a good chance you’re doing at least part of it from your living room — while also taking a conference call, re-teaching yourself algebra, and trying to keep everyone fed. We can’t help with math, but we do have tips to keep your tiny humans full, healthy, and happy and...keep you sane.

1. Set a Snacking Schedule

If being home all day turns your kids into bottomless snacking machines, you are not alone. (And honestly, who hasn’t been there themselves?) But putting some limits on their all-day nomming is good for everyone.

When we take a break from eating for at least a few hours, we’re more in-tune with our bodies’ hunger cues and more likely to fill up on the healthy stuff at mealtimes.

2. Choose Snacks That Satisfy

When the officially scheduled snack time rolls around, swap the sugary stuff for snacks with protein and healthy fats. Because you do not need to add “Calm the hangry, sugar-crashed child” to your to-do list. Whether you’ve got time to whip something up or need a grab-and-go option, here are some of our fave easy snacks for kids:

Make-it-together snacks:

• Country Archer Mini Original Beef Sticks

• Sliced fruit and nut butter

• Yogurt with fruit, nuts, or seeds

• Ants on a log

• Healthy banana bread muffins

• Hummus with bell peppers, carrots, or celery

Grab-and-go snacks:

• String cheese

• Hard-boiled eggs

• Healthy jerky and meat sticks (duh)

• Nut butter packs

• Mamma Chia squeeze snacks

• Low-sugar trail mixes

• Dried pea crisps

3. Lunch on Leftovers

So simple, it’s barely even a tip. Double (or even triple!) the amount you cook for dinners so you’ll always have leftovers for lunch. For extra convenience, pre-split those leftovers into individual portions when you refrigerate or freeze them, so you’ll always have a meal ready for the microwave.

4. Get the Kids Cooking

There’s no reason you should have to do everything yourself, right? Right. Add cooking “class” to your homeschooling curriculum, and teach the kids how to prepare their own snacks and help out at mealtime. 

They’ll build independence and healthy eating habits, and you’ll (eventually) catch a break from the kitchen.

Not sure how to start? Tons of parents swear by the Kids Cook Real Food course. It focuses on cooking real, healthy foods (which you know we’re all about) and has three levels for kids of different ages and skill sets.

5. Fun Food Fridays (Or Any Day!)

Making a fun meal together once a week is a great way to add some fun and positivity to your new normal of homeschool life. If your kids are missing a favorite cafeteria meal, try to recreate it at home. Plus, you can make healthier versions of chicken nuggets or mini pizzas with these easy, better-for-you recipes of classic kid favorites:

• Gluten-free chicken nuggets

• Zucchini mini pizzas

• Gluten-free fish sticks

• Grass-fed burgers 

• Chicken and veggie quesadillas

• Healthy chili cheese fries

You’ve got this, parents! 

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