It's that time of year again when your kids are headed back to school. Whether they're starting preschool, starting at a new middle school, or going into high school, it can be daunting for both the child and parents alike. We know what you're thinking: "I don't have any time to cook!" And we get it! The last thing on your mind is cooking dinner after a long day of work - but there are some easy ways to make better choices with the foods you and your family eat.

Make Better Food Choices This School Year

Many people think that eating healthy means depriving ourselves of all the yummy things in life we love, like pizza and ice cream. But this couldn't be further from the truth! There are many ways to enjoy our favorite foods by making simple modifications to how we enjoy them to make better food choices every day. 

For example, instead of choosing ketchup with seven ingredients and artificial flavors, you choose ketchup with simple ingredients such as tomatoes and distilled vinegar. Here are some other ways you can make better food choices for your kids this year:

• Pack School Lunches: It can be challenging for your kids to find healthy options at school, so take the time to make a quick meal for them before they head off! This will not only give you more control over what they're consuming, but it will also save money on expensive cafeteria food.
• Pack Snacks: Packing fruit, yogurt, or granola bars can help your kid make better eating choices by eliminating some unhealthy choices from being part of their daily diets - such as sugary cereals and potato chips that are high in fat yet low in nutrients.
• Control Portion Sizes: Control portion sizes by using smaller dishes when cooking dinner for the family instead of platters or bowls that serve everyone. This will also help reduce overeating and the calories consumed as well.
• Shop Together: Help your kids be a part of the food shopping! Work alongside your kids to create a shopping list full of healthy foods and snacks they want to consume. When you work together to create delicious foods, they're likely to eat those foods.

Check Your Ingredients Labels

When you start shopping healthier, you'll find yourself constantly checking the ingredients labels of food, and you might never stop! However, it can be hard to tell what's healthy or not healthy when checking labels. As a result, you might find yourself questioning things like "Aren't organic flavors or natural flavors healthy?" or "What are these chemicals doing in my kid's snacks?".

Don't be fooled by thinking that organic or all-natural foods are always healthier. In fact, some of these products may have more sugar and chemicals than their counterparts! So always check the label to make sure you're making a better choice with your food choices every day.

At Backyard Rubs, We Believe in The Power Of Real Food

At Backyard rubs, we care about what we put into our bodies and want you to feel the same way. That's why we only use 100% organic ingredients in all of our barbecue rub recipes. Not only does this make your smoked meat taste better, but it also makes sure that you are getting real ingredients and real food with each bite. If you haven't tried any of these flavors yet, check out our entire rub collection today.