Lunchbox Meals for Kids

Going to school is tough work for kids, requiring energy and concentration. A healthy lunch supplies the sustenance they'll need to get through the afternoon. With a little help, you can face the daily challenge of packing a lunch that is nutritious, tasty, and a break from the usual grind. In general, aim to combine proteins such as fish, meat, nuts or cheese with complex carbohydrates such as fruits and vegetables. This combination takes a long time to digest and stabilizes blood sugar. It also provides what your child's body needs to produce important brain chemicals that keep her mood, energy and concentration up.

Brunch Lunch

Prepare this cinnamon stick French toast lunch from a recipe at Parenting. Make it the night before to reduce your morning food-preparation time. Use whole-wheat bread to boost the complex carbohydrates. Make extra French toast and freeze it for future lunches. Mix some pureed sweet potato or squash into the egg and milk batter to spike the beta-carotene levels. Sprinkle a bit of cinnamon and sugar mixture on the French toast immediately after cooking. Slice into sticks for easy eating. Include a hard-boiled egg and fruit salad to provide a well-rounded meal.

Mini Pizzas

Here's a healthy take on a timeless favorite from Parenting. Put some chopped and cooked broccoli or spinach, marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese atop English muffin halves. Bake in a 350-degree oven for five minutes. Let cool, then wrap. Make several ahead of time and have them around for snacks or future lunches. Add fruit and yogurt to complete the meal.

Nutty, Fruity Chicken Salad

Punch up chicken salad with sliced grapes, raisins and cashews. Place the chicken salad in a small container and pack some cheese slices and whole-wheat crackers for dipping.

Turkey Wrap

Lay a sliced of roasted turkey breast on a whole-wheat wrap. Top it with cheese and a bit of cranberry sauce. Roll the wrap up. For variety, drop the cranberry sauce and add other toppings such as lettuce, tomato, thinly sliced cucumber, and sliced pepper. Serve with choice of fruit, and "ants on a log"---celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter and dotted with raisins.

Mexican Tortilla Wrap

Spread refried beans on a medium-sized tortilla. Top with diced left-over chicken, lettuce and cheddar cheese. If your child likes them, add a bit of corn off the cob, mild salsa or avocado. Serve with baby carrots and corn chips.

Something Fishy

Deep-sea fish such as tuna provide protein and contain essential fatty acids. Add some flash to your tuna sandwich by mixing Parmesan cheese and chopped hard-boiled egg into the tuna salad. Also, try mixing in a touch of curry. Top the sandwich with lettuce, cheese and bean sprouts. Add some fruit and crackers.