Healthy School Lunch Ideas

Kids are more likely to eat foods they help prepare. Get them involved in making their school lunches. Take them to the grocery store, and let them pick some new foods to try from the produce department and the canned food aisle.

A recent study published by kid marketing group Just Kid showed that most children between the ages 2 and 12 think that scooping, dipping and adding toppings make food and drinks more fun to eat. Pack snacks like a healthy salsa made with canned tomatoes, black beans and corn, or hummus, made with canned chickpeas. Serve them with cut raw vegetables, crackers or pita bread, and let kids dunk, dip and scoop away.

Creativity also helps catch kids' eyes and may encourage them to try new, nutritious foods. Try cutting sandwiches into fun shapes, make silly faces with ingredients in a wrap or fill their lunch bags with brightly colored foods.