Energize Your Back-to-School Season with Nutrition

Posted: August 11, 2025 | By: Shanon Peckham

School is back in session, or will be soon, for most kids – crazy that it’s almost autumn, right? Get ahead of the long, busy days ahead with the right nutrition! Here are some quick tips (plus delicious recipes) for staying energized this back-to-school season.

Protein Snacks

This one is a must-have for both tired adults and hangry teenagers! Protein keeps you feeling energized and full longer, thanks to its slow digestion time and plentiful amino acids (your body needs these to do pretty much everything).^1,2 Prioritizing high-protein snacks will help keep mom and dad fueled through busy afternoons while keeping the kiddos away from junky afterschool snacks. And for those who are training, participating in after-school sports, or on their feet all day, protein shakes can be a great way to boost energy and support muscles on the go.

This protein snack is delicious, super quick to make, and easy to throw into backpacks, lunch boxes, or purses!

Energizing Protein Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup almond butter (or other nut butter of choice)
¼ cup honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup favorite Youngevity protein shake
1/3 flaxseed meal
½ cup gluten-free oats
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp crushed, chopped Triple Treat Chocolate

Directions: Mix all ingredients together by hand or in a food processor until well combined. Use a medium cookie scoop, spoon, or your hands to roll dough into balls. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Enjoy!

Energizing Beverages

Parents and teachers, when it comes to getting the most out of that morning boost or afternoon pick-me-up, coffee and energy drinks aren’t your only options. Have you heard of adaptogens and nootropics? Both of these natural compounds (sourced from mushrooms, roots, and herbs) can help you stay alert, focused, and even brighten your mood.^3,4 Since we’re coffee-lovers ourselves, we combined the best of both in our Tazza Di Vita™ instant coffee; now you can enjoy a brain boost with less caffeine (and no jitters!). Not a coffee fan? Check out our new time-of-day optimized nutrition system with adaptogens, nootropics, and so much more: 3.0 Rise & Restore™. You can also try natural caffeine-based energy drinks – look for guarana, green tea, or cocoa in the ingredients.

Sweet tooths, here’s a tasty recipe you can enjoy all year long:

Protein Latte Recipe

Ingredients:

¼ packet or YGY protein powder of choice (Chocolate Mint, Vanilla TMR, Plant-Based, etc)
6-8 oz milk of choice
3 oz espresso or ½ cup coffee (try our Tazza Di Vita™ blend!)
Ice and garnish of choice (optional)

Directions: Brew espresso or coffee. Blend milk of choice with shake mix (more or less to your taste/texture preference) and pour into coffee. Enjoy it decaf, hot, iced, or blended!

Electrolytes, Vitamins, & Hydration

Having a deficiency/imbalance in any of these three areas will make any work or school day feel like the longest day ever. Dehydration can cause headaches, exhaustion, and scary stuff like dizziness;⁵ electrolyte imbalance can aggravate the same symptoms and add other unpleasant ones like muscle cramps, nausea, and even heart palpitations.⁶ Both also influence each other, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting plenty of electrolytes, vitamins, and water throughout the day – especially if you’re dealing with heat waves or participating in after-work/after-school exercise programs. Set reminders for the whole family if you have to!

Check out all of our amazing hydration and sports drinks, or try the recipe below at home to quench your thirst with added nutrients.

Strawberry Açai Smoothie

Ingredients:

2 scoops TMR Vanilla Shake mix
1 cup cold water
1 serving Strawberry Açai Pollen Burst™ powder
3-5 ice cubes

Directions: Blend and enjoy!

Immune Support

Back-to-school season is basically synonymous with flu season at this point – come prepared to battle germs at school, home, and work with immune-supporting nutrition! Nutrients like zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D can help you ward off colds or reduce their severity,^7,8,9 while antioxidants are great for giving your body a boost at the cellular level against inflammation and other damage.^10,11 Our gut microbiome also plays a big part in keeping us healthy, so make sure you and your family have plenty of prebiotics (fiber), probiotics, and postbiotics stocked up for the fall semester.^12,13

Did you know bell peppers are high in vitamin C, and beef is high in zinc? Pair this recipe with a side salad to boost your fiber and vitamin intake even more!

Salsa Stuffed Peppers Recipe

Ingredients:

4 large bell peppers (any color), cut in half, ribs and seeds removed
1/2 lb ground beef or turkey
1 large onion, chopped
1-3 tbsp YGY Easy Eats™ Salsa Mix
2 cups cooked rice (leftover rice works well in this recipe)
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
Cheddar cheese, grated to top peppers

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place peppers in casserole dish and drizzle lightly with melted butter or ghee. Bake for 20 minutes or until tender. Cook ground meat in large pan over medium high heat until browned and cooked through. Add in onion and cook until tender. Stir in YGY Easy Eats™ Salsa Mix, rice, and beans. Remove peppers from oven and allow to cool enough to handle. Scoop meat mixture into peppers. Return to oven and bake 20 minutes. Top with grated cheese and place in oven to melt cheese.

Want more delicious recipes and healthy eating tips? Check out our YFast Intermittent Fasting Program!