We may only be two weeks into the new school year but First Grade has been keeping Toodie and I both very busy. Adapting to a structured routine after a relaxed summer has actually been much easier than I anticipated. I’m still struggling with the early mornings but it can’t all be sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it’s been a complete breeze. Waking up earlier than need be, writing thoughtful lunch notes, carefully crafting themed bento boxes, ironing uniforms, and making flashcards can be exhausting. Insert more over-achieving mom problems here. First Grade is proving to be much different than Kindergarten, from the challenging curriculum to the weekly spelling tests. Each day there is something new to be learned. If there is one thing that makes it all worth it, it’s the enlightening car ride home where I get to hear about the highlights of Toodie’s day.
This year may bring changes but there are still many things that remain the same. These include but are not limited to- the slew of sand that makes it’s way from the playground to our carpet thanks to Toodie’s cavernous sneakers, the loss of color coordinated hair bows which will never be seen again (we already have one casualty during week two), and the insatiable hunger that creeps upon her as soon as she walks into the door after a long day of school. Before she even gets the chance to raid the pantry I make sure to have an after school snack tray ready to go. This makes getting homework done much easier and prevents her from snacking like a maniac before dinner time.
Each week I try to include different snacks and foods that Toodie enjoys, sometimes introducing new things as well. When stocking up on snacks I prefer to shop the savings at Publix because I get high quality products and am able to take advantage of the regular promotions. Some of her favorites include Vanilla Yoplait Greek Yogurt, Mighty Mango Naked Juice, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Chex Mix, Totino’s Pizza Rolls, and Shark Fruit Snacks. I usually keep our stash stocked by buying the value packs which often have a coupon.
Some other after school snack tray ideas include:
- fresh fruit
- mini sandwiches
- nuts
- cookies
- crackers & cheese
- veggies & salad dressing
- granola
- meat roll ups
- pretzels & peanut butter dip
- yogurt
- graham crackers
Have a hungry kiddo of your own? You can save $5.00 instantly when you buy $20 worth of participating items from PepsiCo, General Mills, & Unilever between 9/24 and 9/30. Visit the Publix landing page to redeem your $5 Digital coupon.
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