Rowan Blanchard and Jake Short Tell Us How to Have the Healthiest, Happiest School Year Yet!

When they're not busy filming, Disney stars Rowan Blanchard and Jake Short are busy juggling school, sports and a crazy busy, but healthy lifestyle.

On top of that, the two actors have recently teamed up with Dannon Danimals yogurt and Fuel Up to Play 60, the nation's largest in-school wellness program, in an initiative that encourages kids to go out and get moving.

So how do the two stars stay active, do well in school and still have time for themselves? Scroll below to see what they told Sweety High!

(Photo Credit: Axel Muench and Samantha Zachrich)

Sweety High: What is your best piece of advice for surviving your first few weeks of school?

Rowan Blanchard: A main tip for going back to school is just to not feel like you have to conform to other people's standards. Try and find friend groups that you feel safe and comfortable with. Just try to be yourself as much as possible, which can be hard when you're a teenager. Attempting to not pretend to be someone else is always great.

Jake Short: The first week, I'm always worried about coming off of summer vacation and getting back into the swing of things. The beginning of the year is usually just review stuff, you wonder if you're going to be comfortable doing your work. New teachers, new classrooms, new classmates. Just try not to feel pressured to fit in.

SH: If you had to have one school lunch for the rest of your life, what would it consist of?

RB: It would consist of chocolate and a note from my mom, because in elementary school she used to write notes for my lunch. ????

JS: Definitely a Danimals in there! Probably also a sandwich or a Lunchable—those were like a treat! And also Cheez-Its, just for fun.

 

 

SH: How do you balance school, extracurricular activities and just living an active lifestyle? Is there an easy way to balance everything?

RB: I can't speak for Jake, but I definitely don't think we've totally mastered balancing everything yet. I don't think that it's something that you can totally master. But, I do think something that helps is making sure you have an hour to yourself everyday just to check in with yourself and make sure that you feel ok and on top of things.

 

SH: If you were only able to pack five must-have items in your bag for school, what would they be?

RB:

1. Some kind of notebook, so if I have to expel some sort of emotion I'd have a resource to do it.
2. My mom and dad's phone number written down somewhere in my backpack so that I could call them.
3. A chocolate bar.
4. A book.
5. And probably like a survival guide in case I get lost somewhere.

JS:
1. Definitely candy. I agree with the chocolate bar statement.
2. Deodorant. Because if you smell, you're just making other people around you unhappy.
3. An external charger for my phone.
4. Pencils and pens. I have a Sharpie and a pencil and a pen, because you never know what kind of notes you're gonna need to take, if you're gonna need to erase them or make them permanent.
5. And then you have, of course, chapstick.

 

SH: What is your fave healthy after-school snack you make yourself? 

RB: Something I really like to have after school is apples with peanut butter. It's quick and easy to make, and it's energizing and healthy.

JS: I'm a big mac & cheese fan. I would just throw some Kraft on the stove and call it a day.

(Photo Credit: Brent Hofacker via Shutterstock)

 

SH: If you had to recommend one fun, physical activity that doesn't feel like working out, what would it be and why?

RB: I like playing basketball with my friends, that's fun. And just dancing around with my friends, too, is my thing! ????

JS: Sports of any kind. I played a pickup game of basketball last week which is always good! Get a couple buddies together, go to the park and mess around. Soccer is always a good go-to. And even like a pickup flag football game. ????

 

Looking for an active way to get out and promote a healthier community? Danimals and Fuel Up to Play 60 are encouraging you to go on an adventure with your friends and parents and search for one of five "golden" Danimals Bongo bottles or squeezable yogurts. If you find one of the bottles, you'll get the opportunity to win a memorable school field day with NFL pros. So go out, and get active!

 

Excited for your happiest, healthiest school year yet? Us, too! Check out THESE 15 other reasons we can't wait to get back to the books.