Top Back-to-School Tips for Parents

Tip #1. Dealing With Bad School Food 

Unfortunately, many school lunches are high in saturated fats, sodium, and artificial ingredients. While these foods might taste good, they are unhealthy and not good for them. As a result, parents must discuss what their kids should eat and why. 

Let them know what they should eat. 

Stress the importance of a balanced meal. Explain how the body needs nutrients that can only come from certain foods. For example, vitamin D is necessary for strong bones. Encourage your kids to get a fruit and a vegetable with each lunch. This will help them get the nutrients their bodies need to be healthy and strong. 

Pack lunch 

Another option is to simply pack a lunch for them. The key here is introducing these healthy foods to them early so they are used to eating them. In other words, if they enjoy eating them at home, you also increase the likelihood they will eat them at school. 

Provide them with healthy snacks before, during, and after school. 

The following are healthy snacks that are popular among adults and kids alike:

• Grass-fed meat sticks
• Cut of veggies
• Grass-fed raw cheeses
• Dark chocolate
• Berries
• Nuts
• Full-fat yogurt

In addition to healthy foods for your kids, consider a multivitamin also: 

Systemic Formulas: #520 - Fun Play - Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Liquid 

Multi-Vitamin & Mineral Liquid is an excellent way to help your kids get a nutritionally balanced formula of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients their growing bodies need in a great-tasting liquid.

This product contains many key nutrients, including vitamin A, vitamin C, Vitamin D, B vitamins, magnesium, and manganese. 

Tip # 2. How to Protect Kids from School Bullies 

Bullying can occur in many ways. Therefore, it’s critical parents are aware of the different types of bullying:

• Physical bullying. Aggressive behavior, which includes hitting and kicking.
• Verbal bullying. Name-calling, teasing, racial slurs, or spreading rumors.
• Cyberbullying. Harassment via the Internet or cell phones.

Is your child being bullied? They often won’t say anything, so looking for any possible clues of abuse is important. Here are a few warning signs to watch for:

• Seems depressed when they come home from school
• Grades begin to drop suddenly
• Has few friends
• Difficulty sleeping
• Has mysterious injuries
• Has missing or damaged personal items

If your child exhibits any of these behaviors, do the following:

• Open the lines of communication and attempt to talk to them
• Check their online activities and who they interact with
• Talk to their teachers and any friends they may have

If your child is being bullied, try the following:

• Immediately talk to the child’s teacher and principal
• Enroll them in self-defense classes (Karate, taekwondo, etc.)
• Suggest they surround themselves with friends and not be alone
• Encourage your child to talk to a trusted adult or older sibling
• Build self-esteem through sports, music, art, etc.
• Have the child talk to a counselor.

Combining these tips can help a child build their self-esteem, let them know they are not alone, and provide the ability to protect themselves. All are key to decreasing the negative effects of bullying. 

Tip #3. Protecting Kids From School Toxins 

Toxins are everywhere we turn. That includes in schools as well. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to avoid all toxins, but we can try to decrease our exposure to these unseen dangers.

Toxic school supplies

Some school supplies have been found to contain toxic materials:

• Crayons. They may contain traces of talc or asbestos. Studies have linked an increased risk of cancer due to asbestos exposure. ^[1]
• Dry-erase markers with scented ink.These may contain trace amounts of BTEX, including four chemicals linked to liver, kidney, and immune system damage. ^[2]
• 3-ring blue binders. Some binders contain phthalates, which are chemicals used to soften plastics. Childhood exposure to phthalates has been linked to an increased risk of allergic diseases, including asthma and eczema. ^[3]

Opt for school supplies that don’t contain harmful chemicals or are labeled chemical-free.

• Hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizers have become popular in schools, but they also pose dangers. Germs could become drug-resistant to hand sanitizer, making them ineffective. Over the past two years, the FDA has warned consumers on which hand sanitizers they should not use because they contained “unacceptable levels of benzene, acetaldehyde, and acetal contaminants.” ^[4]

Instead of using hand sanitizers, washing hands with soap and water is considered the best option. 

Top Detox Foods 

In addition to decreasing exposure to these and other harmful toxins, some foods can also help the body remove harmful toxins. Here are some of the top foods that can help the body detoxify itself. 

• Broccoli
• Sunflower seeds
• Cucumber
• Turmeric
• Red pepper
• Walnuts
• Citrus fruits

Discover which of these your child likes and add them to your child’s daily diet.  

Summary 

These are just a few ways to protect our kids this school year. Do you have any additional tips? Please share them below. Let’s make this school year the best.

References 

1. T Kishimoto. Cancer Due To Asbestos Exposure. Chest. 1992 Jan;101(1):58-63. doi: 10.1378/chest.101.1.58. PMID: 1729111.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1729111/
2. Emily J Werder 1, Juliane I Beier 2, Dale P Sandler, (et al). Blood BTEXS and heavy metal levels are associated with liver injury and systemic inflammation in Gulf states residents. Food Chem Toxicol. 2020 May;139:111242. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111242. Epub 2020 Mar 20. [PMID: 32205228].https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32205228/
3. Joseph M Braun 1, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Russ Hauser. Phthalate Exposure And Children's Health.  Curr Opin Pediatr. 2013 Apr;25(2):247-54. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32835e1eb6. [PMID: 23429708]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23429708/
4. FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use | FDA. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-consumers-should-not-use