Brain-Boosting School Lunch #PureLifeRippleEffect

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As a mom and a certified health coach, I know the importance of hydration—especially for school-aged kids. Our brains' neurons (which drive thinking and learning) need good fats, protein, complex carbohydrates, micronutrients, and water. If we expect our kids to do their best in school, we must provide them with the proper fuel for their growing bodies and brains!

But what’s the best way to do that? Well, according to a survey conducted by Nestlé® Pure Life®*, a majority (57%) of kids say they prefer a homemade lunch over a school-bought lunch. This preference for packed lunches offers moms a fantastic opportunity: packing a bottle of water and a healthy, hydrating lunch can help increase our kids’ water intake each day.

So, how do I fuel my seven-year-old son’s school day? With a Brain-Boosting School Lunch full of kid-friendly foods and water to feed those neurons!

My son is a grazer and loves to munch different finger foods. It’s actually a great way to get a variety of nutrients into one meal. In this lunchbox, I’ve got some tuna salad with cucumber slices for scooping; red ants on a log: celery sticks with nut butter and dried cranberries (it’s my take on the classic with raisins); a hard-boiled egg; grape tomatoes; and some dried blueberries. And, of course, lunch always includes a bottle of water.

This Brain-Boosting School Lunch provides a variety of colors and textures, lots of protein and omega-3 fats, and plenty of hydration. It nourishes my son’s body and his brain.

Is your child more of a sandwich lover? That’s great, too. My son loves when I pack him an AB&J (almond butter and jam). But instead of potato chips or a sugary granola bar to go with it, just pack some hydrating fruits or veggies on the side. Carrots, cucumbers, grapes, and apples are all simple to prep and pack and most kids love them. Toss in a Nestlé® Pure Life® Water—they’ve got fun labels that my son thinks are super cool—and you’re good to go.

My son also brings a morning snack to eat in his classroom, a couple hours before lunchtime.  I always include hydrating fruits or veggies, some protein, and definitely water! Here’s one of my son’s favorite packed snacks: red grapes and snap pea crisps.

I also pack extra water in his backpack, so he has a drink ready after recess or when we stay after school to play in the playground.

This means I’ve got three opportunities to pack water for my son each day. And all those bottles—in his morning snack, in his lunchbox, and in his backpack—act as reminders. Even when I’m not with my son, he’s getting my message: “Don’t forget to drink your water!” Reminders are a crucial part of building healthy hydration habits. But it turns out that only about half of moms (52%) surveyed by Nestlé® Pure Life® said they regularly remind their child to drink water.

Of course, one of the best ways to remind your kids to drink water is to lead by example. Every time you grab a drink of water, offer one to your kids, too. As registered dietician and hydration expert Robin Plotkin notes: soon, it will be the kids asking the parents to join them for a water break!

I got my 12-pack of Nestlé® Pure Life® Water Juniors at Walmart; you can find it in the bottled water aisle (of course!).

In fact, Nestlé® Pure Life® is committed to helping all families make healthier choices, starting with hydration—that’s why they proudly support the Partnership for a Healthier America's Drink Up initiative.

We know that establishing healthy habits in early childhood has lifelong benefits. We call this The Ripple Effect. At PureLifeRippleEffect.com, moms can share tips and tricks that they use to teach their kids about the importance of staying healthy and hydrated. With this movement, moms will be empowered to send their kids off to school each day fueled and hydrated.

To ignite The Ripple Effect movement and encourage kids to get the water they need throughout their day, Nestlé® Pure Life® is providing water to kids this school year through After-School All-Stars, an organization that strives to keep children safe and healthy through after-school programming. Nestlé® Pure Life® has committed to provide nearly one million 8 ounce servings of water to kids this school year at over 20 participating schools in select markets across the country through After-School All-Stars.

Do you want to become a part of the Ripple Effect? Visit PureLifeRippleEffect.com and share your tips for healthy hydration using the hashtag #pureliferippleeffect.

For more great tips, follow Nestlé® Pure Life® on Facebook!

I've shared some of my ideas on how we use Nestlé® Pure Life® Water to create a delicious—and hydrating—back-to-school lunch. What is your favorite way make it part of your family’s routine?

* © 2015 Nestlé® Waters North America Inc. Online survey was conducted in June 2015 of 1,077 moms of kids ages 6-12 overall, including 254 Hispanic moms of kids ages 6-12. 1,077 kids ages 6-12 from the same household were also surveyed, including 254 Hispanic kids ages 6-12.


NOTE: A lot of people have been emailing me about the lunchbox in this post. It's an awesome PlanetBox and you can buy one here!