How to customize box of donuts?

box of donuts, I just got in the groove with having the boys' home for the summer and now they're back to school! No more relaxing mornings and carefree nights without having to worry about waking up early or finishing homework! I'm not sure who needs more preparation for school; me or the boys! Lucky for me I've gone through this a few times so my shock wears off fast.

1. Healthy lunches are important to me and it's all in the packaging for my kids!

Although CJ had a rough start and had eating issues as a child, he has certainly made up for it and eats a lot of healthy stuff! I make sure he has enough to eat throughout the day; we pack his lunch in a fishing tackle box! There's lots of room for his food and drinking water. Thank goodness lunch containers have come a long way since my Partridge Family metal box. You can now easily find a fun AND practical insulated lunch box for your child to meet his or her needs. For some food, we use Lunchbot stainless steel containers. They have a variety of sizes. PlanetBox has several eco-friendly options, plus they look pretty cool. Go Green Lunch Box is another fun option and includes a reusable ice pack. Bento boxes offer another way to provide your child with a healthy lunch in a new and entertaining way.

2. Get your children involved with making their healthy choices.

Include your child in the shopping process. If their choices tend to be highly processed and/or sugary, redirect them to something similar, but healthy. Switch out potato chips with Plentils or Mayakaimal Chickpea Chips. Let your children prepare their lunch as much as possible. CJ loves to make his own salsa, mixing in different veggies and herbs depending on what looks good to him. Nuts are great for snacking as well as cognitive health and provide protein. The Darling Bakers have one month of lunch ideas and tips that include fermented foods! I generally stay away from processed meats, but I do like Applegate deli meats because they are organic and gluten-free. You can really taste the difference between their meats and cheaper brands loaded with chemicals. Making lunch the night before not only keeps you organized, but also helps you stay with healthy choices. You won't want to cut up veggies if you only have 5 minutes left to get out the door! I like to cut them up the night before and drop them in reusable cloth bags and refrigerate. They are amazing and produce stays so fresh.

3. Be careful what you put your child's food in.

I am very careful what touches the food CJ eats. If I'm spending a ton of money on healthy food, why would I put it in plastic? I wrap everything in Natural Value. Unbleached wax bags if I need to use a plastic container/bag. A recent study found that all plastics will harm your body, so why take a chance with putting your child's food in a plastic bag? I prefer glass for storage, but that is not practical for children in school. Reuseit.com has reusable sandwich bags in several patterns to choose from. They are easy to clean and store.

4. Start the morning off with a good breakfast so your child can make it to snack/lunch!

After eating a breakfast of Purely Elizabeth or Namaste Foods gluten-free waffles/pancakes or an Applegate bacon or sausage sandwich on gluten-free bread, CJ leaves the house sipping on a green smoothie with added fermented probiotics. With his day off to a good start, I know he's ready to do the best he can at school. The probiotics, live enzymes and amino acids protein replenish his good gut bugs and provide not only aid in digestion, but also boost energy levels for better awareness during class. Processed foods tend to leave a child craving for more due to the high sugar content. Bad gut bugs love to gobble up that sugar and want more! Fermented foods on the other hand, gobble up the bad bacteria AND leave your child feeling satisfied.

5. Remember that these tips are also for adolescents as well as adults.

You are never too old to start eating healthy or too old to have a cool lunch box for work! I lead by example, for instance, I would love a donut now and then, but what it can do your health, I don't love and don't want to deplete my good gut bugs. Fill your lunch box with healthy alternatives to the afternoon cup of coffee or candy bar. Nuts and infused water are great pick me ups for any age! Try adding cumber and mint or lemon and ginger to your water. Adults may want to sip on green tea instead of heading off to the coffee machine or local cafe. Put the money you save on sugary coffee and snacks into a special coin jar. You'll have enough extra money to buy organic produce and splurge on green matcha tea! You'll be surprised how quickly it adds up! (The average café coffee is $4, that's $20/work week, $80/month and $960/year - and you thought buying organic was expensive).