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By Dara Yates2017.08.28
We may still be in the dog days of summer, but school has started! Which means that making school lunches is part of the weekday morning routine again. Believe it or not, lunchtime is a huge opportunity to help your kid grow and learn. A high protein, nutritionally balanced lunch is crucial for concentration, energy, and retaining information.
Many of us are trying to cut down on our meat consumption these days (especially if you’re an avid Netflix documentary watcher!), and finding protein sources can be a challenge. Try adding some of the following ingredients and ideas if you’re looking for mighty meals without the meat:
Almond, peanut, and sunbutter
Slather any sort of nutbutter onto bread, toast, apples, crackers, rice cakes, and tortillas for some long-lasting energy on the playground! Sunbutter is perfect for peanut and treenut allergies!
Hummus
Hummus isn’t just for carrots people! Use hummus on sandwiches, in burritos, with pita chips, and as a dip for any and all vegetables!
Cheese
Cheese is actually your secret weapon when it comes to getting kids to eat their vegetables. Did you know that melty cheese basically makes everything ten times more delicious? Try melting cheese on broccoli or cauliflower and see what happens.
Tofurkey
It looks like lunchmeat, but it’s not! Along with a slice of cheese, you’ve got a high protein sandwich!
Hard-boiled eggs
Deviled eggs are back in style, with a twist. The filling in a hard boiled egg doesn’t have to be egg yolks and mayo! Try mashing up egg yolks, Greek yogurt or hummus! Or forget the egg yolks all together and spoon in some peanut butter. It sounds weird, but trust me, it works.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is extremely high in protein and boy is it versatile! Greek yogurt can be both savory and sweet. Add some granola and raspberries (or really any sort of fruit) and you’ve got a breakfast parfait! You can also add cinnamon and honey for a creamy treat. As a savory option, simply add ranch seasoning for a healthier veggie dip.
Luke Yates
Integrations Engineer
Luke Yates brings both technical precision and creative problem-solving to his role as Integrations Engineer at Seaside Staffing Company. His fascination with how things work started in childhood—taking apart computer towers just to see their inner workings—and has since evolved into expertise spanning backend development, systems integration, and IT infrastructure. A year living in the Czech Republic deepened Luke’s appreciation for different perspectives and approaches to problem-solving. At Seaside, he’s the engineer who ensures our technology works seamlessly so our team can focus on making exceptional placements. From building custom integrations to managing our digital infrastructure, Luke’s work keeps our operations running smoothly and our team connected. When he’s not solving technical challenges, Luke is likely hiking through the wilderness or diving into his latest read.
Samantha Johnson
Social Media Manager
After seven years as a professional nanny in high-net-worth and high-profile homes, Samantha authored a guide for both elite caregivers and athlete families to help bridge the gap between professional support and private household dynamics. Today, she brings that same heart and clarity to Seaside Staffing Company’s social presence by crafting content that helps others feel understood, seen, and connected. As a military child who’s lived across the country, Samantha naturally connects with people from all backgrounds and values the integrity, compassion, and authenticity that define the Seaside brand.
DARA G. YATES
Placement Coordinator
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JADE STEVENSON
Social Media Manager
As our social media manager, Jade Stevenson is one of the primary gatekeepers to our Seaside story.
With a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Psychology, Jade is a natural champion of authenticity, and she uses her whimsically pink hair to nudge all of us closer to her magical world of creative expression.
As a kid, Jade discovered she was allergic to more than 60 percent of the food pyramid, and it is in this journey where she began to learn just how important it is to show up as a force of kindness in the world. She holds an unwavering belief in the power of story, and she believes that small acts of compassion can truly spark a movement of positivity and change.
When she’s not showing up with her digital marketing genius at Seaside, Jade can be easily spotted (thanks to her pink hair) tutoring local teens and helping them write the types of college essays that earn acceptance letters from the schools of their dreams.
Equally at home whether she’s amplifying the voices of Black Femmes or losing herself in the quiet stillness of an ancient book of poetry, Jade is a living expression of what it means to fully embrace your truest self. When you meet her, you’ll immediately feel like you’re right at home, and she’ll always help you discover and celebrate the best parts of who you are.
JESSICA HE
Placement Coordinator
Jessica He has spent her entire life stepping feet first into the big, wide world, making every corner of it feel like home – no matter where she’s at.
Earning two Bachelor’s degrees in Chinese language and East Asian Studies, she’s traveled the world to study in monasteries, climb Mount Fuji, and drink tea and coffee with otters. (Yes, that last one is real. Ask her about it.) She’s also served as an ESL teacher, a recruiter, a trainer, and a nanny – always finding ways to work alongside families and children. Today, she brings all her stories and all her experiences to Seaside Staffing Company where she makes the art of perfect matchmaking look flawlessly simple.
When Jessica isn’t in the Seaside office, she’s a busy momma who knows firsthand what it’s like to be in the trenches and need support. Unashamed to claim her sense of humor as one of her greatest talents, Jessica is perpetually positive, fiercely organized, and always seems to find a way to bring levity to the hardest-to-solve problems. Knowing Jessica means you’ll never forget how to laugh, and she’ll give you the courage to live your life to the fullest.
(Want to see her humor in action? Ask her about the time she lived in China and got her Oreos confiscated by a very disappointed nun.)
KIMBERLY BANEY
Placement Coordinator
With an MBA in HR Management and Accounting, Kim might best be described as a people expert.
She spent six years teaching children online in China as an ESL instructor, and with a TESOL certification in her proverbial back pocket, it’s no wonder why she shows up at Seaside every single day with a big, bold view of the world.
Over the last decade, Kim has served as a recruiter and a placement coordinator in the household staffing industry, and she’s learned that while systems are incredibly important, relationships matter more. It’s not uncommon to hear Seaside clients talk to Kim like she’s their best friend. They know she’ll go to the ends of the earth for them (and we’ve seen her do it countless times).
When Kim isn’t at Seaside, she can most likely be found 4-wheeling through the dirt and taking long hikes with her dogs. She’s always up for a great adventure, and she says one of the craziest things she’s ever done is buying an Amish house with no electricity or hot water (besides that one time in high school when she thought it was a great idea to buy a car with a giant British flag painted on the hood).
“The basement of our house used to be a bakery,” she says. “When I’m dreaming about escaping to New Zealand or Scotland, I just head downstairs, take in a deep breath, and imagine myself eating a delicious cinnamon roll baked to sticky-finger perfection.”