| Hey folks, It’s been a long time since I had to worry about packing school lunches or getting kids off to their first day of school, but I remember it well. It can be stressful, or it can be grounding. After all, “back to school” is one of the last great rituals and traditions that tie everyone together. If you have kids, you have to go back to school. If you have kids, you’re in it together with all the other families. It’s the rhythm of the year, the circadian alignment of society, and you want to make it a positive experience. So these are some of the principles my wife and I followed when going back to school to make things as stress-free as possible. Early bedtime: Early to bed means waking up isn’t a battle. It means there’s plenty of time in the morning to get ready, eat breakfast, and get to school. You don’t want to be racing to school, getting there just in the nick of time. Morning should be relaxing and leisurely. Plus, sleep is even more important for young people than it is for adults—particularly for consolidating all the things they’ll be learning. Feed a solid breakfast: So many kids run off to school with a last minute piece of white bread for breakfast, or nothing at all. I’m a firm believer that adults can do great skipping breakfast, but kids, especially younger ones, really need a solid meal to start the day. A good whack of animal protein, some dairy, some fat, and some healthy carbs like blueberries can make all the difference. Here are some of my go-to's. - Eggs
- Greek yogurt
- Steak, burger patties
- Sweet potatoes, potatoes (pre cooked and ready to be sliced into fries and crisped up in the pan, served with ketchup)
- Glass of milk
- Bowl of berries, sliced apples, mango, pears, watermelon
Start the day outside: Have breakfast outside. If you can get your kids outside before school to get natural light in their eyes, they’ll be happier, more alert, more energized, and healthier than if they just stay indoors in the morning only to go stay indoors at school. | 
