Whether you are sending your freshman off to college for the first time ever or just saying goodbye after a long summer break, set your (grown-up!) child up for success with these eight college must-haves:
1. Pack a Healthier Lunch
On-campus food can be expensive and overly-processed, and one in four freshmen gain at least 10 pounds during their first semester of college. Send them off with this lunch bag so they can pack their own healthy, affordable lunch or snacks for a long day of classes. The Bamboo Lunch Bag is made from fast-growing, easily replenishable bamboo, and is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal. This roomy bag can hold two or three stainless steel food containers. It is also perfect for bringing home leftovers for a midnight snack.
2. Store Leftovers, Without the Toxins
These Kid Basix non-toxic stainless steel containers by New Wave Enviro come in three sizes, perfect for a hungry college kid! Pack a salad, sandwich, cheese and crackers, fruits and veggies, or a cooked meal. Bring it to class or use it to store leftovers in the dorm fridge. Stainless steel does not leach chemicals into food the way aluminum and plastic can. These containers are sturdy, toxin-free, eco-friendly, and 100% recyclable.
3. Maintain Focus & Stay Healthy
Omega 3’s are important for proper brain function from the moment we are conceived. Omegas make up a large part of our brain and many studies show that adequate amounts can help with both focus and memory.
One of the best places to get naturally occurring omegas is from a high quality fish oil, like Green Pasture Fermented Cod Liver Oil or Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil. Both of these are processed with no heat so they contain many more nutrients than heat processed fish oils. Aside from having lots of brain boosting omegas, they also have lots of health boosting antioxidants, which can help keep your college student healthy during the stress of back to school and a rigorous college schedule.
4. Stay Hydrated
It’s so important to stay hydrated while walking back and forth to classes and sitting in lecture halls. Choose from a small or large size. The 20-ounce Glass Water Bottle is has a flip top and a silicone sleeve to prevent breakage. This smaller size is great if there are opportunities to refill the bottle throughout the day. If not, try the 40-ounce Seriously Safe Stainless Steel Water Bottle. The heavy-duty nylon strap conveniently attaches to a bag, purse, backpack, or belt loop. Both choices are BPA-free and toxin-free.
5. Drink Cleaner, Alkalized Water
Drop an Alkaline Water Wand into your bottle to reduce chlorine while boosting pH. One New Wave Enviro Alkaline Water Wand lasts for about 3 months, so get two to last the semester. Fewer toxins is great, but drinking alkalized water is great for our health. It can help with immune support, digestive well-being, and bone health.
6. Better Sleep, Mental Health and Balance
Magnesium is responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions in our bodies, and one doctor I spoke with said it is more like to 3000! Having proper magnesium levels has been shown to help people sleep better as well as alleviate anxiety – two things many college students struggle with. This little wonder mineral can also help with muscle tightness and cramping if your student works out while there! Magnesium helps to balance so many different aspects of health.
7. Shop Wisely
They’ll be grocery shopping on their own now, perhaps for the first time ever! Make sure to send them off with a set of reusable grocery bags. Envirosax Reusable Shopping Bags come in fun designs, and are available in either waterproof polyester or organic cotton. Each roomy bag saves 2 plastic shopping bags — definitely an eco-friendly choice! And the polyester bags fold up small to fit easily in a purse – they won’t take up much room to store when not in use. These bags are also great for carrying books, pens, notebooks, and other essentials to class, or bringing a change of clothes to the campus fitness center.
8. Prevent Illness
With a new year and a new school, tight living quarters, shared drinks, and poor sleep, college students may be much more susceptible to germs. No one wants to succumb to cold and flu season, and college professors are not always tolerant of missed classes and exams. this is a supplement to have on hand for when they do get ill. When taken at the first signs of illness, this has greatly reduced the duration and severity of colds and viruses in our family. Bolster the immune system with Sovereign Silver, which utilizes silver ions to bolster the body’s natural defenses.
2015 Back to School Sale! Get 10% OFF college essentials seen here with coupon code: BackToSchool
By Ali Wetherbee and Kerrie Bross
