This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts are my own.

It’s back-to-school season.  This means it’s back-to-school SICKNESS season!  My daughter has her first cold of the school year this week.  Luckily my pantry is stocked the yuckies with BodyArmor, chicken broth and tissues!

Why are these items pantry essentials?  Well….

Tissues

That one’s obvious.  There’s a good chance your kid will become a snotty, germ-filled mess towards the start of the school year.  Keep extra tissues on hand so you aren’t constantly telling them to stop blowing their nose on their shirt or they aren’t dragging around a roll of toilet paper.  I give my daughter a plastic grocery bag to put the used tissues in to keep all that nastiness contained.

Chicken broth

You need chicken broth to make some homemade chicken soup, of course!  You’ll feel like a rockstar whipping up chicken soup for your sick child.  But don’t worry.  It’s super easy!!!

“Sick Soup” Recipe

• Carton of chicken broth
• 1 pound chicken breast (I use the thin tenders) cut into bit size pieces.
• 2 carrots, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
• 2 stalks celery, cut into bite size pieces
• 2 cups of cooked egg noodles or rice (optional)
• Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder  – all to taste

Pour chicken broth in a pot.  Add the chicken, carrots, celery and spices.  Boil on medium until chicken is cooked and vegetables are soft.  (About 20 minutes.)  Add cooked rice or noodles if you’d like and let simmer an additional two minutes to heat.  I like to cook the noodles or rice first so I can just toss them in at the end and not worry about them getting too mushy while the soup cooks.

Sometimes I skip the veggies and rice/noodles subbing a can of Rotel tomatoes and a can of hominy for mock “posole.”  I top it with cilantro and lime wedges.  This is my daughter’s favorite version.

Super easy homemade soup!  This is not a scientific recipe, but a starting point.  It’s a blank canvas.  Mix it up however you’d like – or in the way that will get your child to eat it!

BodyArmor

Water just doesn’t do it when you’re sick.  It’s important to stay hydrated, but fighting kids to down water when their throats hurt and their noses are stuffed is a hassle.  We like having sports drinks on hand for sick days at our house and recently switched to BodyArmor.

BodyArmor has less sodium, sugar and junk than the other leading sports drinks.  It has natural flavors and sweeteners instead of all the artificial stuff.  It has electrolytes, vitamins and coconut water to help the body repair and replenish.

It will keep your sickies hydrated without a fight because it TASTES GOOD.  It comes in eight flavors.  I like the lemon lime, while my daughter’s favorite is orange mango.

Better for them and tasty?  YES!

We get it at Publix, but it’s available at a wide range of retailers. You can even order BodyArmor on Amazon and have it delivered right to your door.

So stock up now!!!  It’s back to school sickness season and you’ll want to be prepared!