Back to School: Smart Lunch Ideas

Tired of packing up the same old brown bag lunches for your kids to head to school with?

Check out the Naperville Patch Back-to-School Guide 

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Here are HealthCastle.com’s picks for each course of a healthy, easy-to-prepare lunch:     

Main: Sandwiches. Skip the cake-like white bread and salty luncheon meat. Choose whole wheat or multi-grain bread and fill with chicken breast or the old favorite PB&J.          

Side: Fruit and veggies and dip. Low-fat sour cream, hummus and tzatziki are all healthy dip choices for veggies, or try low-fat yogurt for fruit. Cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, grapes and berries require no prep work at all.          

Dessert: Trail mix. Mix nuts, whole grain cereals, and dried fruits to add some sweet crunch to finish off your meal.          

Drinks: Water, juice or milk. Water keeps you hydrated without a lot of calories and sugar. For the kids, try milk or non-GMO soy milk. Avoid "fruit drink," which is loaded with added sugar and artificial ingredients (get 100 percent juice instead).

According to MealsMatter.org, lunch should contain food from all five main food groups: breads, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy products. For those who do not like sandwiches or to just switch things up from time to time, here are some sandwich alternatives:

• Chicken tenders
• Pasta salads
• Bean salads
• Hard boiled eggs
• Yogurt
• Crackers with cheese or peanut butter
• Hummus and pita flatbread

Have another alternative idea? Share it in the comments section below!