Outside of the (lunch) box ideas

A Twist on PB&J :(two slices whole-grain bread, 1-2 tablespoons of allnatural almond or cashew butter and all natural fruit spread, or better yet real berries. Add to lunch an apple, serving carrot sticks and two tablespoons of hummus for dipping.

Lettuce Wraps. Fill lettuce with with nitrate-free deli chicken or turkey, tomatoes, spinach, one ounce of cheese and mustard (optional). Round out lunch with one cup of chopped melon, onefourth of a cup of nuts or homemade trail mix.

Yogurt parfait: Combine 6-8 ounces of Greek yogurt with a half of cup of all natural granola and onehalf cup of berries. Add five celery sticks with all natural peanut/almond or cashew butter and raisins (which is called ants on a log).

Pasta salad: Make the pasta with whole wheat pasta and add fresh veggies such as bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli. Add a hard boiled egg and a fruit cup packed in 100 percent juice or water. A healthier, cheaper version of the prepackaged lunch packs: Instead of buying the ones at the store on grocery store shelves — which can be chock full of additives, unhealthy fats, salts and sugars — make your own by packing low-sodium deli turkey slices, reduced fat cheese, whole-grain crackers, grapes and baby carrots in a sectioned plastic container.

Veg Out: Fresh veggies (like cucumber, carrots or bell peppers) with hummus, whole-grain crackers or rice cakes. Also pack grapes.

That’s a wrap: Turn your leftover baked chicken and veggies (like lettuce and tomato) into an easy lunch by wrapping them in a whole-wheat tortilla. Add a banana, low-fat yogurt.

Layered salad: Pack salads in tall plastic containers by layering a little dressing on the bottom, toppings in the middle, and lettuce or spinach on top. Just shake and eat. DIY combination: Have your child assemble the lunch by selecting from the following categories: protein (ie, nitrate-free lunch meat; boiled eggs; Greek yogurt), fruits and vegetables (i.e., apples, grapes, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes;) and healthy fat (guacamole, nuts, nut butter).

For all of the recipes above, nutritionists suggest packing either 1 percent milk or water to drink.

SOURCE: KEITH KANTOR, A NORCROSS BASED NUTRITIONIST AND EXPERTS WITH CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA’S STRONG4LIFE.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life experts say sometimes it’s not only about the food; suggesting a little surprise note by mom or dad can make a lunch extra special.