6 Back-to-School Healthy Feeding Habits for a Successful Year

Another school year is quickly getting underway! This year, consider tweaking your feeding routines to help your kids have a smoother...and healthier...transition back to school.

Let's face it, structure helps all kids to know what is expected of them. When kids get used to structured routines and expectations, they are at a better place to (eventually) go with the program. This goes for eating, too.

Here are some quick tips for structuring to support healthy eating routines for your family:

Being prepared is half the battle. A little simple menu planning can go a long way to help you serve quick and healthy meals and snacks at regular times (goodbye, grazing).

Consider posting simple written or picture menus in your kitchen so kids (particularly picky ones) know what to expect, especially if they're prone to protesting.

Organize your pantry and fridge so that healthy snacks are available. Only have available the snacks that you want your kids to choose from, and give younger children two choices. Basically, you set the parameters and your child chooses within those parameters of healthy choices.

Kids are usually super hungry when they get home from school. Give them healthy options, and small portions for after-school snacks, teaching the difference between healthy snacks and ‘sometimes treats’.

There is plenty of time for sweet treats or crunchy carbs later after you've gotten some of the 'good stuff' into their bodies. When we structure after-school snacks like this including limiting portions and drinks, it leads to better overall success at dinnertime.

The key here is to only make available those snacks that you want your kids to choose from.

Know ahead of time what you will do...what behavior plan you will have in place to manage resistance as you adopt these new 'house rules'. Do whatever you can as part of the evening routine to make your school mornings go smoother. It is so helpful to prepare school lunches the evening before so that finishing up in the morning will be more of a breeze.

Be prepared with healthy on-the-go car snacks to nourish your kids for after-school extracurricular activities.

Remember, it takes about 21 days—just three short weeks—for new habits to take root. At first, shifting mealtime routines may feel like a lot, but with consistency, those small daily changes begin to add up. Progress doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be steady.

In the end, every effort you make to simplify the process and bring your picky eater on board is a step toward less stress and more success at the table. And that’s a win worth sticking with.

Get the Build a Better Eater guidebook to help turn your picky eater into a Brave Taster!

You may also like these related posts:

4 Essential Feeding Tips for Back-to-School Focus for Kids

Back-to-School Lunch Must-Haves for Picky Eaters

Top 5 Foods for Improved Concentration in School

All blog content shared through HealthSmart! Kids is for informational purposes only and not to be construed as medical advice. Always talk with your qualified health care provider for managing your health care needs.