Back to School: Healthy Snacks & Fitness for Kids

Going Back to School means kids (and YOU) eating and drinking fresh! Fresh fruit, water and Rainbow Light Gummy Power Sours Multivitamins help support proper nutrition.

Now until September 15th, the Kids Back to School Campaign is promoting healthy lunch and snack choices. Really we all should be making them but our young people are being left at the gate, so to speak. Keep in mind that another problem is that an estimated 65% of Americans are chronically dehydrated! Adding fresh, juicy fruits and vegetables to our diet will add to our daily water intake.

NatureBox
This is a monthly subscription that delivers delicious, theme based snacks to your door. This Back to School Box for August includes a nice sampling of very fresh dried fruits, nuts and crunchy noshes. If your favorite student is off to college, you can arrange to have their NatureBox delivered to their dorm or college post office. I can remember getting "C.A.R.E. packages" on campus, but they were never like this and most certainly not every month.

PHOTO: NatureBox Back to School assortment. Need some ideas for those lunches and snacks? NatureBox gives you five each month.

NatureBox has something for everyone's tastes. I especially like the Santa Fe Corn Stix with their bold tomato, green pepper and onion flavors. The Cherry-Berry Bonanza and Sweet Blueberry Almonds were also extremely good. NatureBox includes approximately 20 servings of five individual, nutritionist-approved snacks and...

• Snacks are carefully sourced by local growers/independent food producers
• The NatureBox snacks can be incorporated in recipes and other ideas for healthy eats. Their blog has a ton of ideas: NatureBox Blog
• Starting at just $19.95 per month purchase a box for as many months as you like and can pause or cancel anytime.
• Gluten-free and vegan-friendly snacks available too
• Use the Coupon Code "SHARE 10" to get a sweet discount on your first order!

Bike to School
Now's the time to check to see if your child's campus has a "Bike to School" incentive or even bicycle racks in place. Estimates show 2 out of 3 boys get the recommended amount of exercise each day but only 1 in 3 girls do! There is a very easy way to make sure your child gets a regular amount of exercise during the school week. Simply stop driving them everywhere and let them walk or use their bicycles to get around. 

Check to see if your child's school has a Bike to School Program.

The Nutrition and Exercise Connection
I think we all know that when we eat right, we have the energy to WANT to be active. The same is true for children. While it is great to improve their nutritional status, they also need to be more active. When they are more active, their appetites are going to increase to the point that hunger may make them want to try new, healthier meal options. 
This is your chance to positively impact your child's future success in nearly every aspect of their lives. Start by having them take a part in preparing their school lunches the night before. Store it in a insulated tote and it's ready to grab in the AM. Put the lunch tote on their bicycle and you have a winning combination going, (literally)!
 

Reusable lunch-ware and insulated drink container all fit easily in this thermal lunch tote and on a bicycle. 
Below is a Back to School Special going on now from DontGetHit.com on reflectivewear & bicycle lights  for the kids!

Make Your Move: Fall Bicycle Touring

Cooler temps and changing colors make autumn the perfect time for a bicycle tour. Basil Cosa Rear Basket on an Schwinn Admiral

Now is the time to start planning your fall get-away...by bicycle! Really any destination can be made even more special with the addition of a bicycle tour. If you are going on vacation, check and see if there is a local bicycle rental shop in the area. When I sailed to Nantucket Island during my Cape Cod vacation a few summers ago, there was a local bicycle shop that offered rentals by the hour. It was a great way to see the town as the streets are tiny and often congested with traffic during the tourist season.

You can either rent a bicycle or take along a foldy like this Barcelona model from Citizen.

Folding Bicycles
An alternative to renting a bicycle on location is to bring along a foldy. Many of these models pack down to almost luggage size and allow you to take them on board a bus, ship, train or airplane.

My Greenzone Alloy Folding Bicycle weighs about 25lbs. PHOTO: Chelsea Piers, NYC

I've traveled with my Greenzone Folding Bicycle by train and it was really easy to set up and ride once we disembarked.Starting at Penn Station on 34th Street and 7th Avenue, it took less than 20 minutes to roll downtown to our destination at the Lighthouse Restaurant at Chelsea Piers. I recorded such a ride with my Greenzone for this NYC Bike Path Film.

Brompton folding bicycle goes anywhere!

Ride Destinations from Home
If you are doing a "stay-cation", you can use a full sized bicycle that will hold a lot more gear for your day out. This would be a day-trip on bicycle so you just need enough things for a picnic lunch and a comfortable day out.  Just like a backpacking trip but on your bicycle!  Here's how:

Detours Sodo Front Bag has a clear sleeve for your ride map and phone.

• Map your destination ahead of time. I like Detour's Sodo Front Bag as it has a clear case for your ride map and iPhone. A trunk and panniers hold enough for a day's worth of travel gear.

•  Don't forget to bring a picnic blanket if where you're going does not have tables and benches. 

•  It's always good to pack your food in a separate thermal tote. It will keep your food and drinks cold until your stop to eat. They come in different sizes and shapes to fit your bicycle rack or panniers.

My Gore Bike Wear Phantom SO Lady Jacket has removable sleeves-perfect for bicycle touring and stow away in my trunk and panniers!

• Remember to pack a flat kit and a small first aid kit for emergencies on the road. I like the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight-Watertight series.

• Bring a change of clothes and a water-proof jacket in case of rain. Shower's Pass Portland Jacket is perfect for cooler fall weather and heavy downpours.

Tour-ready and easy to pack, Portland Jacket by Showers Pass

•  Bring enough water or if you are going to a place where there is a safe water source you can take along a CamelBak All Clear UV Microbiological Water Purifier. It uses UV light to treat the water so you needn't haul large amounts for the trip. 

Water and juicy snacks are perfect for a bicycle tour!