It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and that start of the school year is just around the corner! As you and your children begin to gear up for the new school year, it is important to plan out school lunches together in order to discuss the best healthy choices that will still please your child.

My son is 12, and he is going into the 7th grade this year. He is anxious about starting school in a whole new state, and he's excited to meet new people and make new friends. I don't think he's prepared for the winter time, though. Here in Ohio, kids go to school even when there's snow on the ground. In Virginia where he's lived his whole life, they'll shut the entire county down if they're calling for an inch.

Anyway, one way I am preparing Kyle for the new school year is by stocking up on nutritious snacks he can stick in his bookbag. My son is a growing boy, and I want to make sure he has enough fuel to get him through the day. He has a pretty big appetite and usually requires a couple of small snacks throughout the day. Rather than load him up with candy or chips, I like to find options that are organic and free of preservatives, chemicals and GMO's.

Earth’s Best has a variety of products for growing children that are delicious, nutritious and are also the perfect size to pop in a lunch box! Earth’s Best Sunny Day Snack Bars are naturally sweetened cereal bars filled with real fruit! Sunny Day Snack Bars come in two delicious flavors, strawberry and apple and are individually wrapped, making them perfect for on-the-go kids. Sunny Day Snack Bars are also excellent sources of calcium, iron, zinc and contain six B vitamins. Even my toddlers love them!

Other back to school lunch tips include:

-When it comes to feeding children, finding a balance is very important. Adding different fruits
like grapes, strawberries, blueberries and melons in a fruit salad to your child’s lunch is a great
idea as bite size pieces are easier to chew and it may even look more visually appealing to your
child.

-Stay away from sugary soft drinks. Include low-fat milk, water or 100% juice drinks like Earth’s
Best juice boxes.

-Sending along carrot sticks? Put a little bit of veggie dip in a container as a fun addition on the
side.

-Make it a healthy habit to go to the store at least once a week to stock up on necessary lunch
items. Having a variety of items on hand will make the early morning planning process much
easier.

-Instead of packing chips and cookies, try including whole wheat pretzels or crackers.

-Let your child feel like they are in control by offering them two healthy snack items to choose
from. This gives them a choice while parents still maintain ultimate control.


HOW TO CONNECT :

You can find Earth's Best products wherever groceries are sold.

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One very lucky reader will receive their own Sunny Days Snack Bars to enjoy! How cool is that?!

Simply enter on the Rafflecopter form below!

This giveaway is open to US  Residents 18+ until 11:59PM on August 30, 2012. No PO Boxes. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!


***Disclosure: I received a complimentary sample to facilitate my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***