Editor-in-Chief
Eugenia Miranda Richman
ack-to-School season is one of the most hectic times of the year for
parents, but it doesn’t have to be a complete stressor. As the school emails and calendar dates start to file into your inbox, SheKnows is here to help you get through the transition calmly — and even with a little humor — with our back-to-school issue, starring actress, comedian, and lunch-maker extraordinaire Jenny Mollen.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s return to the classroom was charged with an extra layer of anxiety and trepidation; this year, while we can’t truly claim post-pandemic status just yet, we’re set on bringing back the fun of it all — the excitement of a fresh start; the thrill of buying school supplies; the joy of learning new things. And, I, for one, have lots to learn from our cover star about making
lunch fun again. With her debut cookbook Dictator
Lunches (derived from her hit Instagram account
of the same name) launching Sept. 13, Jenny
Mollen is setting the bar high. “If I can do this,
you can do this,” the 43-year-old mom of two
tells Deputy Editor Erika Janes of the uber-
healthy, elaborate bento boxes she creates for
her little “dictators.”
Also in this issue, SheKnows Parenting Editor and mom of four Rita Templeton shares her favorite apps and tips for staying organized. We also bring you a feature on what you can do to support your child’s mental health during this time. Author and New York Times contributor Nefertiti Austin offers tips for parents of neurologically diverse children to ease into the school year. And finally, it wouldn’t be back to school without shopping, so SheKnows’ editors have curated the tools you’ll need to make those spectacular lunches.
After some admittedly tough years, we hope this issue helps you bring back the fun of it all for your little ones.
LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR
Cover Photography by George Chinsee
The actress, comedian, and lunch-making social phenom dishes on taking the momfluencing world by storm this year with not one but two books, City of Likes and Dictator Lunches.
By Erika Janes
THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUE
B
ON THE COVER
Jenny Mollen Is Taking
The Momfluencer World By Storm
FEATURE
3 Tips To Help Kids Cope With Stress & Anxiety
Prepping for Back to School
When Your Child Is Neurologically Diverse
SK Cooks
A Weeknight Dinner Recipe By
Best-Selling Author Danielle Walker
18 Snacks To Stock Up On
At Costco
10 Ina Garten Dinner Recipes
For Busy Nights
FEATURE
A New Children’s Book
For Kids To Cope With Nightmares
SK Voices
That Back-To-School Magic Is Lost In the Teen Years
SK Tips
7 Influencers To Follow
For School Lunch Ideas
How To Survive School Sports Season
WATCH
What SheKnows With Jenny Mollen
Ciara On Adapting To a New
School In a New City
CELEBSPEAK
Vanessa Lachey, Jenny Mollen, &
Ciara Weigh In
SK Shopping
9 Tips To Help
Parents Stay Organized
11 Tools To Make
Bento Lunches Fun
GO TO COVER STORY
By Sarene Leeds
3 Things Parents Can Do to Help Kids Cope With Back-to-School Stress & Anxiety
By Erika Janes and Reshma Gopaldas
By Nefertiti Austin
5 Things You Can Do for a
Successful Start to School If Your Child Is Neurologically Diverse
What’s your best hack for being on top of things in the mornings?
Vanessa Lachey, Jenny Mollen, and Ciara weigh in.
“We call it a back-to-school dress rehearsal. The day before, we make that a mock school day. You’re going to go to bed as if the next day is school, you’re going to pick out your clothes… we set the alarm, we wake up, we get them up, we do everything we would do, get them
in the car and drive to school.”
— Vanessa Lachey
Hanna/Adobe Stock
“Preparing the clothes overnight. That's been game-changing for me. [When] you set yourself up for success the night before I feel like the morning just rolls better. It's when you're starting everything from scratch, like even down to their lunches, like that's when it gets
crazy. Like, good luck!”
— Ciara
“Sometimes my tip is to leave and make my husband deal with it. My favorite thing to do is to be like, ‘Whoa, I have a meeting I forgot about — it's at 7:30 am. Bye, guys!’ That's kind of the best move if you can swing it. Otherwise, I have at different points resorted to bribing.”
— Jenny Mollen
Smolnik_draw /Adobe Stock
CREDITS
Creative Direction: Jennifer Ciminillo
Jenny Mollen Photos: George Chinsee
Styling: By Alana Peden and Olivia Marcus
Makeup: Laura Ann Mele
Hair: Olivia Halpin
Vanessa Lachey Photo Credit: Anthony Behar/Sipa USA(Sipa via AP Images)
Ciara Photo Credit: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Sipa USA(Sipa via AP Images)
Table of Contents
SK Cooks
g
Letter From Our Editor
Best-Selling Author Danielle Walker Shares a Kid-Friendly Weeknight Recipe From Her Latest Cookbook
Introduction By Danielle Walker
10 Easy Ina Garten
Dinner Recipes Perfect
for Busy School Nights
By Kenzie Mastroe
18 Snacks You Should
Stock Up On at Costco
By Justina Huddleston
This Bilingual Children’s Book Will Help
Your Kids Face Their Spookiest Nightmares
By Thea Glassman
The creators of the cute little birds Kiki, Ricky, and Nicki have
dreamt up a new whimsical little girl named Skeletina,
just in time for back-to-school and Halloween.
SK Voices
s
That Back-to-School Magic Is Lost When
You Have Teens
By Katie Smith
7 Influencers to Follow
for School Lunch Ideas
By Kenzie Mastroe
7 Hacks to Survive
Sports Season &
Not Lose Your Cool
By Lauren Wellbank
SK Videos
s
Celebspeak
s
By Erika Janes and Reshma Gopaldas
By SheKnows Staff
SK Shopping
j
9 Tips, Apps, & Hacks
to Stay Organized
By Rita Templeton
11 Tools to Make
Bento Lunches Fun
By Kenzie Mastroe
GO BACK TO THE TOP
“Preparing the clothes overnight. That's been game-changing for me. [When] you set yourself up for success the night before I feel like the morning just rolls better. It's when you're starting everything from scratch, like even down to their lunches, like that's when it gets
crazy. Like, good luck!”
— Ciara
“We call it a back-to-school dress rehearsal. The day before, we make that a mock school day. You’re going to go to bed as if the next day is school, you’re going to pick out your clothes… we set the alarm, we wake up, we get them up, we do everything we would do, get them
in the car and drive to school.”
“Sometimes my tip is to leave and make my husband deal with it. My favorite thing to do is to be like, ‘Whoa, I have a meeting I forgot about — it's at 7:30 am. Bye, guys!’ That's kind of the best move if you can swing it. Otherwise, I have at different points resorted to bribing.”
— Jenny Mollen
Smolnik_draw /Adobe Stock
venimo/Adobe Stock
Smolnik_draw /Adobe Stock
Smolnik_draw /Adobe Stock
Smolnik_draw /Adobe Stock
Good Studio/Adobe Stock
artinspiring/Adobe Stock
Sensvector/Adobe Stock
Oksana/Adobe Stock
Vanessa Lachey, Jenny Mollen, and Ciara weigh in.
ON THE COVER
Jenny Mollen Is Taking
The Momfluencer World By Storm
FEATURE
3 Tips To Help Kids Cope With Stress & Anxiety
Prepping for Back to School
When Your Child Is Neurologically Diverse
SK Cooks
A Weeknight Dinner Recipe By
Best-Selling Author Danielle Walker
18 Snacks To Stock Up On
At Costco
10 Ina Garten Dinner Recipes
For Busy Nights
FEATURE
A New Children’s Book
For Kids To Cope With Nightmares
SK Voices
That Back-To-School Magic Is Lost In the Teen Years
SK Tips
7 Influencers To Follow
For School Lunch Ideas
How To Survive School Sports Season
WATCH
What SheKnows With Jenny Mollen
Ciara On Adapting To a New School
In a New City
CELEBSPEAK
Vanessa Lachey, Jenny Mollen, &
Ciara Weigh In
SK Shopping
9 Tips To Help
Parents Stay Organized
11 Tools To Make
Bento Lunches Fun
Editor-in-Chief
Eugenia Miranda Richman
ack-to-School season is one of the most hectic times of the year for parents, but it doesn’t have to be a complete stressor. As the school emails and calendar dates start to file into your inbox, SheKnows is here to help you get through the transition calmly — and even with a little humor — with our back-to-school issue, starring actress, comedian, and lunch-maker extraordinaire Jenny Mollen.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year’s return to the classroom was charged with an extra layer of anxiety and trepidation; this year, while we can’t truly claim post-pandemic status just yet, we’re set on bringing back the fun of it all — the excitement of a fresh start; the thrill of buying school supplies; the joy of learning new things. And, I, for one, have lots to learn from our cover star about making lunch fun again. With her debut cookbook Dictator
Lunches (derived from her hit Instagram account
of the same name) launching Sept. 13, Jenny
Mollen is setting the bar high. “If I can do this,
you can do this,” the 43-year-old mom of two
tells Deputy Editor Erika Janes of the uber-
healthy, elaborate bento boxes she creates for
her little “dictators.”
Also in this issue, SheKnows Parenting Editor and mom of four Rita Templeton shares her favorite apps and tips for staying organized. We also bring you a feature on what you can do to support your child’s mental health during this time. Author and New York Times contributor Nefertiti Austin offers tips for parents of neurologically diverse children to ease into the school year. And finally, it wouldn’t be back to school without shopping, so SheKnows’ editors have curated the tools you’ll need to make those spectacular lunches.
After some admittedly tough years, we hope this issue helps you bring back the fun of it all for your little ones.