Real Food, Real Immunity — Especially in Back-to-School Season

As summer wraps up and school bags start zipping, I start thinking less about packing lunches and more about packing immunity into everything my family eats. August and September are prime time for immune overload—new routines, new germs, and not enough real food. Here's the truth: your immune system doesn’t just need defense, it needs fuel—and not from gummies or sugar-filled “immune boosting” snacks. It needs real, whole food with nutrients your body actually recognizes and absorbs. At New Leaf Table, we make it easy to serve your family meals and snacks that do just that.

Real Food = Real Immunity

Nutrients in food are delivered in context, like a symphony instead of a single note.

That’s why I love Ancestral Blends of meat and use them in recipes on New Leaf Table.

It’s grass-fed beef blended with liver and heart (don’t knock it till you sauté it). It’s nature’s multivitamin, packed with:

Vitamin A to keep skin, gut, and lung barriers strong
Zinc and iron for immune cell function
B12 for energy
CoQ10, glycine, and taurine to regulate inflammation

Ready in minutes, easy to mix into pasta, tacos, or bowls—and kid-approved.

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Our Back-to-School Snack Guide (Coming to Your NLT Plan!)

We also round up the best grab-and-go snacks and show you what to avoid in packaged options—because all those hidden oils, additives, dyes, and sugars? They’re doing more harm than good.

Need ideas? Think carrots and tahini, almond butter and fruit, hard-boiled eggs, homemade popsicles, grass-fed jerky, or a handful of sprouted nuts.

Simple. Real. Powerful.

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🥒 Best Grab-and-Go Snacks (Chef E–Approved)

These are our go-to options for back-to-school, workdays, or any busy moment when real food still matters. All are free from seed oils, artificial additives, and unpronounceable ingredients.

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🧀 Protein + Healthy Fat Snacks

Chomps Grass-Fed Beef Sticks – 100% grass-fed, no sugar added, Whole30-approved
Epic Bars – Choose flavors with no added sugar; great for travel
Hard-Boiled Eggs – Make ahead or buy pasture-raised pre-boiled packs
Organic String Cheese or Cheese Rounds – Look for Organic Valley or similar high-quality brands
Flackers Flax Crackers – High fiber, gut-friendly, and perfect with hummus or avocado
Siete Foods Chips – Grain-free, avocado oil, clean flavor options (we love Sea Salt)

🍓 Fruit & Nut Combos

GoRaw Sprouted Seeds and Bars – Minimal ingredients and sprouted for easier digestion
Natierra Freeze-Dried Fruit – Nothing but fruit, crunchy and fun
Skout Organic Kids Bars – Great soft texture for kids, sweetened with dates
Midday Squares – Refrigerated chocolate-protein squares with fiber and adaptogens

🌾 Grain-Based Goodies (Clean Ingredients Only)

Mary’s Gone Crackers – Seed-based, gluten-free, great with nut butter
Barnana Plantain Chips – Himalayan Pink Salt – This flavor only! Fried in coconut oil
One Degree Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps – Clean cereal option for kids
Alvarado Street Sprouted Bagels – Great with nut butter or avocado

🥬 Real Food Packs & Pouches

Once Upon a Farm Pouches – Refrigerated for extra freshness, great for toddlers
Daily Harvest Smoothie Cups – Toss in blender with milk of choice; pure frozen produce

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