Apples & Peanut Butter

One of the most important steps in working with young people is offering them a healthy snack before you get started. While the food is important because they are usually hungry and a little bit tired, the connection is the significant secret.

My snack of choice are Granny Smith Apples, cut into wedges and served with an ample spoonful of peanut butter. The apples both sweet and sour; the snack has protein, sugar, fiber and crunch. I heard recently from the mom of one student, that her son has taken to cutting up apples as a snack whenever he studies.

In addition to the brain and belly benefits — the snack boosts the heart and soul, too. As soon as my students arrive, I greet them at the door with a big smile. Each student gets a unique “hello” that I’ve developed just for them. There is one student that I call “my young scholar” because she doesn’t always see how smart and capable she is — since the title comes from my heart, I hope that she will start to see in herself what I see.

Next, I ask what they would like to drink and eat. I give a bit of variety. Here in Cyprus, we have the loveliest homemade lemonada, which is sold in the refrigeratior section of every grocery store. Students choose from lemonade, sparkling water, flat water, with and without ice. During the first few minutes of a coaching session, we chat in the kitchen while I prepare the drinks and snacks.

It’s my favorite part of the lesson — time to reconnect and give the student my full attention.

So, if you are looking for an easy way to connect with your child or student, try my go-to: apples & peanut butter.