Sometimes, the healthiest family habits start with Dad simply saying, "I've got breakfast."

For many dads, back-to-school comes with early mornings, packed lunches, after-school pickup, homework, and practices. The daily race to get everyone out the door on time, mixed with juggling life demands, makes healthy eating challenging. Despite this, the busy back-to-school season also brings an opportunity to play an active role in building healthy habits at home.

As a registered dietitian and a dad, I know that feeding a family doesn't always look perfect. Some mornings, I celebrate because we fed our children breakfast and got them to school on time. On my way to work, it hits me: I forgot to eat breakfast myself!

One of my favorite strategies is to build meals and snacks around nutritious staples. Dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and yogurt make this especially convenient. They are often budget-friendly and versatile for different uses. Plus, they provide high-quality protein along with important nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, vitamin D, zinc, and more. These key nutrients help support healthy bones and muscles for growing families. Build your mornings around practicality. Consider a designated grab-and-go zone in the refrigerator. Stock it with simple options like yogurt cups, cheese sticks, washed fruit, and other family favorites. When schedules get hectic, having nutritious choices ready can make the healthy choice the easy choice.

And don't forget about snacks. Pairing foods from different food groups can make snacks more satisfying. Try Greek yogurt and berries, cheese with whole-grain crackers and fruit, or a smoothie made with milk, yogurt and frozen fruit.

For something a little more filling, try one of my new back-to-school favorites: Dad's Power Pocket.

Gregory Lafortune MS, RDN, LD

Greg is a health educator and nutrition professional with 10+ years of nutrition and health education experience. He is a Certified Men's Health Educator which gave birth to his mission to bridge the gap between men and the healthcare system. In his private practice, Optimal Plan Nutrition, LLC. He provides dynamic nutrition counseling, public speaking, consulting, menu development, and more that impact individuals and groups. He is also a freelance writer and musician who plays 4 different instruments. His family and Christian faith drive everything he does.

For many dads, back-to-school comes with early mornings, packed lunches, after-school pickup, homework, and practices. The daily race to get everyone out the door on time, mixed with juggling life demands, makes healthy eating challenging. Despite this, the busy back-to-school season also brings an opportunity to play an active role in building healthy habits at home.