Gear up for a great start to the year

Whether it’s the first backpack they don to scamper off to kindergarten or a new laptop to help make the most of freshman lecture courses, grabbing all the right gear is essential for a smooth start to the new school year. Arm your students with the right educational tools, dorm room essentials and the necessary nourishment and you’ll be ready when the back-to-school bells start ringing.

A Go-Anywhere Taste Adventure

Perfect for adding to lunch boxes or as an after-school snack, Sabra Hummus To Go with Pretzels pack a quick burst of fresh flavor for an on-the-go taste adventure. The single-serve, portable cups are available in three flavors – Classic, Roasted Red Pepper and Roasted Garlic – and offer the authentic hummus flavor your family will love paired with pretzels for quick, easy dipping. For more lunch and after-school snack ideas, visit sabra.com.

Pens with Personality

From kindergarten to college, today’s students are kicking those boring black ballpoints to the curb and expressing themselves in full color with gel pens. Ideal for everything from notebooks to yearbooks, Gel Bee pens use only the highest quality inks and tips for a super smooth writing experience. Available in Glitter, Classic and Pastel collections, the pens can be found at CVS, Dollar General and Walgreens stores nationwide. Visit gel-bee.com for more inspiration.

An Essential Tool for Education

Just in time for back-to-school, Texas Instruments introduced two new colors to the colorful collection of TI-84 Plus Color Edition (CE) graphing calculators. The limited-edition, metallic gold, “Golden Ratio,” and sleek white, “Bright White,” will send students back to school in style. Now thinner and lighter with six times the memory, the dedicated math and science machine can crunch numbers for up to a month on a single battery charge. Available in retail stores this summer. For more information, visit education.ti.com.

Ready to make the honor roll this year? Kids perform better in school when they eat a hearty, protein-filled breakfast. Start your mornings with El Monterey breakfast burritos, packed with real scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese and sausage, wrapped in fresh-baked flour tortillas. At night, bring your family around the dinner table with signature burritos, which are perfect for checking in with your kids and asking about the school day. Find them in the frozen food aisle and learn more at elmonterey.com.

A College Dorm Room Storage Solution

Low on closet storage space in your dorm? Consider the Closet Maximizer. Featuring four shelves and an adjustable, double-hang rod, the system takes 30 minutes to install and requires no tools. Create additional storage outside of the closet with Decorative Storage units, which come with full-backers and robust outer frames. They are available in a variety of sizes and colors, and can be customized with fabric bins. Learn more and buy these products at closetmaid.com.

Food at Your Fingertips

Even the best college cafeterias don’t answer every craving, especially when you get a middle-of-the-night snack attack while studying. A mini refrigerator is a dorm room addition your stomach will thank you for. Look for a model that has can storage in the door, so you can leave the shelves open and stock up on your favorite treats. And ask mom to make extra helpings of your favorite meals when you visit, so you can nosh on the leftovers when you return to campus.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images (photos of middle school and college students)