GOOD BAD Back to School

GOOD • No plastic touching your child's food • Helps reduce everyday microplastic exposure • Doesn't absorb odors, stains, or residue as easily • Better long-term option for daily school lunches BAD X • More likely to contribute to microplastic exposure • Can hold onto smells, stains, and residue • For something kids use every single day, plastic is the less ideal choice GOOD • Cooked in beef tallow, not industrial seed oils • Simple ingredients parents can feel better about • Better option for back-to-school lunches & after-school snacks • Helps avoid loading kids up with highly processed oils BAD X • Made with canola and/or sunflower oil • Contains apple juice concentrate just to promote browning • More added ingredients than necessary for a simple french fry GOOD • Recognizable ingredients • Shorter, cleaner ingredient list • Fewer unnecessary oils, sugars, and additives • More like a fresh restaurant product than an ultra- processed frozen one • Gives kids the comfort food they love without as much extra processed stuff BAD X • Crust is made with canola oil • Contains added sugar in the ingredient list • Longer ingredient list with more processed components • Easy for kids to eat a large portion, which can mean a lot of sodium in one meal GOOD • Colored with real foods like turmeric, beet, spirulina & radish • No artificial food dyes • Made with organic cane sugar • Shorter, more recognizable ingredient list BAD X • Uses artificial dyes like Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 & Blue 1 • Contains corn syrup • Contains artificial flavor • Uses multiple added colorants just to create the candy shell GOOD • Just 4 simple ingredients • Made with real fruit • No added sugar • No artificial food dyes • Easy back-to-school lunchbox swap BAD X • Sugar is the first ingredient • Contains corn syrup • Made with maltodextrin • Colored with Red 40 + Blue 1 GOOD • No plastic touching the water • Helps reduce daily plastic exposure • No plastic bottle body constantly rubbing, scratching, or wearing down • Better choice for kids who use the same bottle every single day BAD X • Heat and wear can increase chemical migration from some plastics • Plastic bottles can shed tiny plastic particles as they wear • Scratches, heat, and repeated washing can increase breakdown • One simple way to reduce unnecessary microplastic exposure: choose stainless steel instead GOOD • Made with real butter • Simple, recognizable ingredients • No preservatives, freezing keeps it fresh instead • Easy way to give kids a treat with fewer unnecessary extras BAD X • More of a highly processed dessert • Higher in refined carbs + added sugar • Can cause a faster blood sugar spike, especially when eaten alone • Bigger cookie = larger glucose load in one sitting • Blood sugar spikes can be followed by an energy crash GOOD • 0g sugar • 4g protein per pouch • Made with whole milk Greek yogurt • Includes hidden fruits + vggies • Has probiotics for gut support • Better for steady energy during the school day BAD X • Lower-fat yogurt can be less filling • Sweeter kid-focused products can make it easier to overdo sugar across the day • Less protein-focused than the Greek yogurt option • More likely to act like a sweet snack than a balanced one • Not as ideal when you want to avoid a quick blood sugar rise followed by an energy dip GOOD • 8g protein per serving • Only 3g sugar • Grain free + gluten free • Better for more stable energy • More filling, so kids are less likely to be hungry again fast • Better back-to-school option when you want breakfast that won't act like dessert BAD X • More like a dessert cereal than a real breakfast • Higher in sugar and lower in protein • Can cause a quick blood sugar spike that may be followed by an energy crash • Tough start to a school day when you want focus, fullness, and steady energy GOOD • Made with avocado oil instead of inflammatory seed oils • Higher quality ingredient profile • No artificial flavors or preservatives • Less ultra-processed than traditional nuggets • Whole grain coating instead of heavily processed breading BAD X • More processed fillers & additives • Seed oil-heavy formulation • Highly processed breading & meat blend • "All natural" labeling can be misleading • Designed for marketing appeal over ingredient quality GOOD • Made without natural rubber latex, making them a better option for those with latex sensitivities. • Uses a more ingredient- conscious adhesive with fewer unnecessary additives. BAD X • May contain natural rubber latex in some formulations, which can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. • Adhesives may contain synthetic resins and chemical additives that can irritate sensitive skin. GOOD • No added sugar sweetened naturally with fruit instead of refined sugars. • Made with organic fruit juice and simple, recognizable ingredients. • Free from artificial colors, artificial flavors, and high- fructose corn syrup. • Lower in sugar than traditional popsicles, helping reduce blood sugar spikes BAD X • Contains high-fructose corn syrup and/or added sugars, contributing to excess daily sugar intake. • Made with artificial colors such as Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Red 40. • Artificial food dyes have been associated with increased hyperactivity and behavioral changes in some susceptible children, which is why some families choose to avoid them. GOOD • Made with whole-food ingredients like oats instead of highly refined grains. • Contains more protein and fiber, helping keep you fuller longer and support stable blood sugar. • No refined sugar, using more natural sweeteners instead. • Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. • Higher fiber helps support a healthy gut microbiome and digestion. BAD X • Made primarily with refined rice and wheat, which are lower in fiber and digest quickly. • Contains added sugar, which can contribute to blood sugar spikes and increased cravings. • Highly processed cereal with fewer naturally occurring nutrients. GOOD • Made with real bananas, dates + blueberries • Uses whole grains • Real fruit adds sweetness instead of relying only on added sugar • Made with a simpler ingredient list • Not 100% but definitely a better for you option BAD X • More of a dessert-style snack than a balanced school snack • Made primarily from refined carbohydrates • Contains added sugar • Low in protein and fiber, so it's less filling • Refined carbs + sugar can lead to a quicker blood-sugar rise GOOD • Made with real fruit • No added sugar • No artificial colors • Short, simple ingredient list • Better lunchbox option when kids want something sweet • Gives you fruit-based sweetness without turning the snack into candy BAD X • Added sugar is doing most of the work • Contains corn syrup • Uses artificial colors • Very little nutritional value for a school snack • Easy to spike blood sugar and leave kids hungry again soon • Basically candy marketed as a fruit snack GOOD • Organic and made with real fruit juice • No high-fructose corn syrup • Lower-sugar option for a school lunchbox • Better when kids want something sweet without making their drink a major source of sugar BAD X • A sweetened, flavored drink, not the best everyday hydration choice • Can make kids prefer sweet drinks over plain water • Adds extra sugar/carbs without much protein or fiber to slow absorption • More likely to cause a quicker blood sugar rise than water GOOD • Made with a blend of nuts and seeds, providing healthy fats, plant-based protein, and fiber. • Sweetened with honey instead of refined sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. • Contains simple, whole- food ingredients with fewer highly processed additives. BAD X • Sugar is the first ingredient, meaning there's more sugar than hazelnuts. • Made with palm oil, a highly refined oil used to improve texture and shelf life. • High in added sugar, which can contribute to blood sugar spikes, increased cravings, and inflammation when consumed regularly. GOOD • Made from one simple ingredient: 100% organic maple syrup. • Naturally contains minerals like manganese, zinc, calcium, and potassium. • USDA Organic, meaning it's produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. BAD X • Not real maple syrup; made primarily from corn syrup and refined sweeteners instead of maple sap. • Highly processed and lacks the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found in pure maple syrup. • Refined sweeteners digest quickly, leading to blood sugar spikes and crashes.