Moms & Dads: What to pack for school lunches

There are a lot of great resources out there on the web when it comes to packing school lunches. Here are a handful of can't-miss guidelines:

1. Especially for the young'ens, get them involved in packing a lunch. Via MSNBC: "Ask them, 'do you want a peach or pear, grapes or raisins?' When they are involved in making the choices, they have a vested interest in it and they'll be more likely to eat it."

2. Try and avoid pre-packaged lunches, which can be high in sodium and fat.

3. Raw veggies and dip are always a good choice. And it doesn't have to be Ranch dressing. Try a yogurt dressing instead and see what kind of reaction you get.

4. Simple is super – lunches don't need to be fancy, just healthy and tasty.

5. A nice snack is trail mix made with cereal, nuts, pretzels, dried fruit or raisins, and a few chocolate morsels.

6. Mix it up – don't send your child with the same thing every day. There are many healthy choices out there to choose from.

7. Don't forget the note. You may think is campy, but that little, folded note tucked away inside your child's lunchbox could be just the encouragement or confidence they need in their day. It's a small thing, but goes a long way!

For more ideas, search the web for "packing healthy school lunches."