Back to School Essentials for Busy Moms

A lot of my Mom friends are ecstatic that back to school time is fast approaching – but with my already busy mornings just trying to look office-presentable, and out the door on time the thought of adding the stress of getting my kids ready and on the bus makes me feel more than a little anxious.

So this year I am going to do my best to make life a bit less stressful – I’m going to plan ahead, keep things simple, and have fun!

We went to Walmart earlier this week to pick up the remainder of the school supplies off the kids never-ending list. (with 3 kids, 3 entirely different list it took me a few days to just comprehend all that I needed to pick up!) While we were there I decided to go ahead and work on one of my least favorite parts of back to school –

lunch packing.

No one likes to eat the same thing everyday – especially kids. So getting creative with lunch ideas that don’t need to be heated up, or doesn’t take too long to eat or put together is a must. I am a Pinterest junkie,so I had some ideas on how to keep it interesting and healthy.

Fresh fruit and veggies – one of the first things that I pack for the kids lunches. To make sure I have the best and freshest I will usually visit the store about twice a week. I stock up on all my other necessities during the weekend, so the quick-trip mid-week isn’t so stressful.

Water bottles – Each of my kids have a reusable water bottle to use each day. When allowed, they will fill it up during the day to drink at school, and then use it at lunch too. Water is obviously the healthiest drink choice, and saves unneeded calories and sugar in their daily diet.

One snack all of my kids can actually agree on is Pepperidge Farm® Goldfish Crackers. With all the flavors to chose from, it’s a perfect snack that I know will be a win. I picked up a few different flavors, including my favorite cheddar!

Another must-have essential – and I can’t stress this enough – is Wet Ones® Singles for your child to carry in their lunchbox, or backpack. I was shocked to find out how many schools don’t give the kids time to wash up before lunch. We are very particular about making sure we are germ free before we sit down to eat – and with all the germs floating around at school – my kids know to always use their wet ones to wash up.

I love these individual packs (which can actually be found in the school supply area) that they can carry in their backpacks. I also carry a pack in my purse, and have one in my car for emergencies.

I have a ton of great lunch time ideas to share with you later this week, so keep an eye out!

Enter for a chance to win a years supply of Wet Ones® for your home & your child’s classroom, plus $1000 cash! http://www.wishihadwetones.com 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Wet Ones® + Pepperidge Farm® . The opinions and text are all mine.