Healthy Bites on the Run

Spring sports are in full swing here on the Shyba front. The three big kids are playing baseball and softball, respectively, plus basketball, soccer and gymnastics. This means that there isn’t a single day of the week that we aren’t headed out to practice, a game or school of some sort. For a small family, this would be a lot. For a family of seven, with two working parents and a newborn, life is borderline chaos lately and some of our favorite family moments have been compromised.

We love sports. All of us, even Evvie, loves to play or watch most sporting events-especially when one of ours gets a chance to shine. The rigorous schedule is challenging for sure though, and as much as I love to cook full meals, it seems that it’s becoming more and more challenging. I’ve recently been exploring the genius behind quick, healthy meals for breakfast like a handful of nuts and cheese for my non-allergic kids or yogurt and granola. With as often as we are at the pharmacy lately, it’s super convenient and easy to remember to grab a bunch of these items while at CVS.

CVS is adding more than 250 fresh, refrigerated and non-perishable healthy foods and beverages to their stores from brands including: Amy’s Kitchen, Annie’s Homegrown, and Chobani, as well as new products from the CVS Pharmacy exclusive line, Gold Emblem abound™ which is free from artificial preservatives, flavors and colors.

I’m not a list maker (I should be), so when I’m at the checkout I’m that person that flies to the back of the store to find the item I originally came in for but forgot about it. I’m also an impulse shopper and I tend to pick up a few things while in line to pay. At CVS, about 25 percent of front checkout space that usually is filled with candy, is now reserved for healthier snacks including: KIND bars, Larabars and Vega One bars. I’m more inclined to make better decisions for my own diet when these options are available.

It feels like we are always grabbing quick things on the way out the door for snacking on, and the family meals are fewer and farther between. It’s the spring sports season though, and we all love being together even if we aren’t eating at the family table. Mornings are especially hectic, and the breakfast bites options at CVS have come in handy more than a few times. Jack, Zoe and Beau especially don’t like being late to any of their activities, and they would so much rather eat quick, healthy options that fill their bellies without any fuss.

More than anything, I want my kids to be healthy and happy. Even though our lives are extraordinarily hectic and a whole lot of the little things have been compromised, at least I know that they’re having fun and are well fed. CVS’s breakfast bites options have given me a few good ideas and saved the day more than once.
Disclosure: I’m proud to partner with CVS Pharmacy on this post for the CVS healthy foods line. All opinions expressed are my own, and all product claims or program details shared should be verified at CVS.com or with the appropriate manufacturers.