With back to school right around the corner, The GIANT Company’s team of pharmacists and dietitians are prepared with easy tips to help families ease the transition from summer to school year.
“The start of a new school year doesn’t have to be stressful if you and your family are prepared with a plan to simplify and refresh,” said Nick Koch, director of pharmacy and wellbeing, The GIANT Company. “From working with our pharmacists on required immunizations and medications for your child, to quick meal inspiration from our dietitians, tackling a few things now can set everyone up for a healthy and successful school year.”
Before the first day of school, it’s important to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations and physicals. The GIANT Company pharmacists can help your family stay healthy and compliant, making it easy and convenient to get the immunizations your child needs, including TDaP, meningococcal, and more (ages vary in certain states).
The GIANT Company dietitians are also ready to help simplify this transition by providing new inspiration for balanced breakfasts, easy lunchboxes, and quick dinner ideas. Check out affordable meal and snack inspiration that are simpli-5-ed with five or fewer ingredients with the latest Dietitian Picks.
Or join one of the dietitian’s free virtual wellbeing classes and earn 50 CHOICE points to use towards those back-to-school items on your checklist. Each Monday at noon, the dietitians create an under-30-minute meal using products featured in the weekly flyer. This August, they also have a couple of virtual classes to help inspire you for the new school year:
- Learn all about the foods that may help to support and boost brain health during Brain Boosting Foods for Back to School on Aug. 13 at 12 p.m.
- Break up lunchbox boredom with product picks and simple recipes ideas from in the Back-to-School Virtual Nutrition Store Tour on Aug. 28 at 12 p.m.
Being prepared for going back to school isn’t just about school supplies. It’s also time to prepare your child’s health documents, especially if they take daily medications or have food allergies. Be sure to have an updated Medication Action Plan and/or Allergy Action Plan before the first day of school. Whether your child uses an inhaler, insulin, epinephrine pen, or other daily medication, schools require proper documentation and up-to-date prescriptions on file. The pharmacy team can help you organize your medication needs, coordinate refills with their provider, and ensure that you have the medications your child needs.
Preparing for this busy season also means taking the guesswork out of weeknight meals. Feel confident when asked “what’s for dinner?” by creating a simple meal plan at the beginning of the week. Think of theme nights like Taco Tuesdays and Breakfast for Dinner Thursdays to get you started.
Getting the kids involved in meal planning and prepping is a fun way to connect, educate, and get them excited about family meals too. Try asking them to list their favorite foods from each food group, letting them find items on their list at the grocery store, or allowing them to build their own lunch gets their buy-in and may even encourage them to try something new!
As we enter the back-to-routine season, review your home’s health essentials. Refresh your medicine cabinet and first aid kit to ensure they are fully stocked, organized, and up to date. Expired medications, missing bandages, or an outdated thermometer can become problems when you need them the most. Dispose of expired items, restock key supplies like pain relievers, antihistamines, antibiotic ointments, and fever reducers. Make sure that your first aid kit is ready for anything – from scraped knees to bee stings.
Another area that may get overlooked but should also be on your list to review is the pantry. Reduce after school stress by keeping your pantry stocked with plenty of on-the-go snack options. Refreshing with granola bars, applesauce pouches, trail mixes, crackers, nut butters, and fruit cups ensure you can quickly and conveniently create balanced snacks for more happy and less hangry kiddos.
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