01/09/2026
I teamed up with The Dairy Alliance and OLIPOP for this Back-to-School segment and sending my oldest off to Kindergarten this year made “keeping my kids nourished for school” hit different than it ever has before.
Here’s what’s actually been on repeat in our kitchen this back to school season.
PB&J Smoothie
Mornings are chaos, so this one has to be fast. Real dairy milk gives kids steady energy for the school day plus nutrients like iodine and B12 that support the growing brain, and PB&J is a flavor combo most kids already love. Drinkable on the way out the door, which is half the battle some mornings.
Lunchbox Bakes (pancakes, muffins, zucchini bread)
Dietitian mom tip: dairy doesn’t have to sit next to the sandwich to count, it can be baked into the food itself. Kids need about 2 to 3 servings of dairy a day, so if yours won’t touch a cheese stick, try buttermilk or yogurt in the muffins, milk in the dip, or cheese folded into a pasta salad. Same calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus for growing bones, just mixed in.
Grape Soda Popsicles
Still hot here even with school back in session, and these are how we’re cooling off after a long day outside without it just being straight sugar.
Sunset Punch
My favorite swap as a dietitian and a mom. A regular soda or juice box can run 30 to 40 grams of sugar. OLIPOP has 2 to 5, plus it’s an actual source of fiber, which most kids aren’t getting enough of. Grab the Tropical Punch flavor, pour it over ice, garnish with a pineapple slice, and you’ve got a Friday night drink the kids feel special having. Easy to pair with a movie and popcorn.
My goal every day isn’t perfection, it’s just getting one serving of dairy into each meal. Small and doable beats all or nothing.
Full recipes for the dairy recipes, plus more on where your local dairy actually comes from in North Carolina, are at thedairyalliance.com.
OLIPOP is at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, and many other grocery stores if you want to grab a few flavors to try.