The kids are back in school in the bay area and it’s exciting to see their new clothes, bookbags and lunch boxes. I love watching them because it takes me back to a time (now many moons ago) where I indulged in picking out my new backpack and lunch box for the brand new school year. I can’t remember any of my choices, but I remember how those choices made me feel. Everything was brand new and fabulous! It seemed like even my lunches got better from one year to the next. Nobody likes whack snacks, so with a new lunch box comes new responsibilities.

Way too many studies have proven that what children eat at lunch and at snack time greatly contribute to their productivity in the classroom. If you have children, you are raising our future thought leaders, athletes, educators, entrepreneurs, entertainers, authors, doctors, public defenders, artists and financial planners. Let’s give them food made with love and not with chemicals.

Here are several ideas. . .

Baby Plums:
Grab these babies while they are still in season. I bought a bag of 15 from Trader Joe’s for next to nothing. Throw three of ‘em in a sandwich bag and help your kids fight icky germs and improve their concentration at the same time.

Strawberries:
Keep their vision sharp with a snack bag of strawberries. The kids only need about 3 or 4 strawberries to reap the delicious benefits.

Popcorn:
Yes, some popcorn is loaded with an insane amount of salt and preservatives, but the Organic Olive Oil popcorn from Trader Joe’s (I shop there for everything if you can’t already tell) is only about $1.99 and contains natural ingredients (no, seriously).

Cherry Tomatoes & Guacamole:
Okay, YUM! Besides being delicious, this snack is nutritious. It contains good fats and skin softening vitamins that will keep your child cute by the time picture day rolls around. HA! You can buy the individually packaged guac from T_a___ J_e's. :-) 

Dates:
These promote digestive health! You know I'm a stickler for regularity. It's VERY important for kids and adults to release. A constipated kid is a miserable kid. #NoTummyAchesThisSchoolYear

Peanuts:
Nuts are a snack that you can take anywhere and enjoy . . .unless your child has a peanut allergy. . .yikes! They are totally portable and convenient for a quick energy boost.

Larabars:
Fave. They are high in fiber and add a sweet note to your child’s afternoon. My favorite peanut butter and chocolate Larabar tastes like a decadent dessert, but it’s really a nutrient dense snack. 

​Happy Snackin'! Don't forget to take some of these with you to work. . .

Jasmine Leyva is goals - period! She is a DC native (woop-woop) living in Los Angeles and she is on a mission. She believes that the vegan diet is optimal for health, performance and compassion. Jasmine is putting her money where her mouth is by directing The Invisible Vegan. This documentary is about me! HA! End of blog. . .

Seriously, it's about our black community and how strong it already is but how we have become paralyzed by our food choices. "We are no longer on the plantation" and this documentary proves that. Take a look at the trailer and donate any amount that you can to support this beautiful, intelligent black woman with her goal of educating our black communities on health and culinary advancement. 

I'll never ask you to do something that I don't do myself. My black community needs to see more black vegan lifestyle advocates. We are out here and I believe that this documentary will eliminate our invisibility while also identifying, addressing and eliminating the need for animal cruelty and systemic racism in our communities. The availability and affordability of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and starches is necessary in ALL communities.

We've seen amazing vegan docs by them, now it's time to support our very own! 

Donate here and do it now. 

Our community needs US!