So that’s it, summer is officially over. New school year has started  and those of you parents who prepare lunchbox for kids again have to come up with healthy and creative ways to make school lunch enjoyable. There is nothing worse that when you prepare some kind of food and it either ends up in a trash can or is completely untouched. Here I have few tips how to make school lunch tasty, creative and still keep it in the healthy zone.

Instead of making everyday ham and cheese sandwich try any of these tasty ideas. How about sandwich with:

• Cream cheese and any of the following:

cucumber;  tomato; chives; crushed pineapple; banana; honey and nuts.

• Tuna, chicken or egg salad with any of the following:

green onions; chives; corn; avocado; diced celery; grated carrots; raisins; curry seasoning; lemon juice; sprouts

• Almond butter with:

jelly, sliced banana, apple slices, raisins

• Hummus with grated carrots.

• Healthier version of BLT with turkey bacon, lettuce and tomato.

• Hard boiled egg  or leftover chicken or  turkey  with tomato, cucumber, sprouts, lettuce, cheese and/or avocado.

• Most of these combinations can be rolled into a tortilla and cut into bite size mini wraps.

• Once or twice a week instead of making sandwich prepare pasta salad with corn, tomatoes, chicken breast or cheese and herbs or your child’s favorite veggies.

Snack ideas:

• Cheese and grape kebobs
• Mozzarella and grape tomato kebobs
• Ham and pineapple kebobs
• Cheese rolls with cream cheese and cucumber.
• Cottage cheese with crushed pineapple.
• Multigrain crackers with hummus or cream cheese.

Tips to remember when preparing lunchbox:

• Invest in a thermal lunch box or bag that will keep lunch cool.
• If making hot lunch such as pasta or soup, pack it in a thermos so it will keep warm for a few hours.
• To save time in the morning pack cutlery and napkins as well as food that doesn’t get soggy or doesn’t need to stay warm the night before.
• Whenever you pack foods such as salads or pasta keep them in separate containers so they don’t get mixed with other food. Also keep dressings and sauces in separate small containers.
• When shopping take child with you and let him choose healthy foods for himself, for example show him few plain milk boxes and let him choose one he wants.
• Make food look colorful by using tri-color pasta in place of regular pasta.
• You can also get spinach or tomato tortillas to make interesting, green and red wraps.
• Buy cookie cutter and cut out different shapes of sandwiches or decorate a sandwich with pieces of vegetables.
• Children like small pieces of food so always cut large pieces into smaller ones.
• Don’t forget that children like desserts but substitute unhealthy desserts such as candy or chocolate bars for healthy granola ones, oatmeal cookies or mini muffins.
• Swap a side of chips for cut veggies and dips
• Change high sugar juice for plain milk and water

Some of the ideas come from very creative Annabel Karmel book Lunch Boxes and Snacks: Over 120 healthy recipes from delicious sandwiches and salads to hot soups and sweet treats. Atria Books 2007