I can understand wanting to be able to give your children great food so for one thing, they will eat it and for the other thing, so they won’t be hungry and so they will be healthy. I’ve researched some food that you might think about putting in your child’s lunch.

Trail mix is a great food that you can let your child make with you. Use raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts (unless they aren’t allowed nuts at school), roasted soy nuts and some dried fruit. Let the kids scoop up about ¼ to 1/3 cup of their favorite combo into little plastic bags. Pop the bags in the freezer or fridge and grab them as you need them when you’re on the go.

My son liked roll-ups in his lunch. You take turkey or chicken sliced pieces and roll up a thin piece making it like a cigar. Or you can even spread some low-fat cream cheese on the meat and then roll up. Fruit kabobs; dice up your favorite fruits and line them up on a wooden skewer. Baby carrots are always a favorite. String cheese and whole wheat crackers or maybe low fat graham crackers with peanut butter would be a good snack or to put in a lunchbox.

These should give you a few tricks and treats to add to your child’s lunch to make it more exciting and healthy. Have fun!

I used to send my son with a thermos filled with soup, raviolis or spaghetti. He too had gotten sick of the typical sandwich. For a while I was sending Lunchables which can be another good alternative to a sandwich. Lunchables come in an array of choices.

As for drinks, we usually send a juice box.

For extra healthy snacks you can try Dannon Danimals or Koshi snacks. I would occasionally send canned fruit. I would open the can at home and put it in a small Tupperware.

You can try pudding or jello packs which are already individually packed, which makes life easier.

When I was a kid my Mom would occasionally send pizza in my lunch, although it was not hot, it was still an exciting change of pace.

My kids are homeschooled, but Saturdays have ballet all day (pre-pro school). So I have to pack them a lunch and snacks that are both healthy and something they'll eat.

My kids have always loved starfruit, particularly when they were very young. What could be more fun than a fruit that is star-shaped in cross section?

Spiced nuts. My kids never had any problems with nuts, especially after I showed them how peanut butter is made by putting some roasted peanuts in my blender. Nuts have enough protein and fat to be a satisfying snack.

To make spiced nuts, I first soak almond, pecans or walnuts in salted water (this helps release nutrients and will make them crispier but less crunchy). Then I put them on paper towels-- they don't have to be completely dry-- and put them in the slow cooker. Next, I mix melted butter with some stevia for naturally sugar-free sweetness, and various spice blends: cinnamon, cloves and allspice; or the spices that make up barbecue rub; or curry powder; or pumpkin pie spices. I pour the melted butter and spices over the nuts in the pot and stir until they're all coated. Then I cover the pot and turn it on low for 2-4 hours, depending on how many nuts there were and how long it takes until they smell "done" and are crispy and browned.

My kids also love huge olives to have their fingers wear as hats before eating. Again, enough fat to be satisfying; no sugar; and some fiber. Now that my older two are in double digits, they usually don't do this, but my little one still does. Other little veggies are fun, too: crisp-steamed broccoli or cauliflower; mini carrots; tiny tomatoes and dip made from yogurt or sour cream with added herbs.

Another thing my kids have liked are pinwheels: take a piece of deli meat and spread softened cream cheese over it. If your child likes pickles (mine do) spread a couple of sandwich slices over the cream cheese, or put a pickle spear right in the center. Roll up the mixture and secure the ends with toothpicks. Then slice into rings about 1/2" thick. You can play with different mixtures, like turkey with garlic/herb cream cheese, or pastrami with roasted garlic cream cheese, or ham with plain cream cheese. Do one of each and give your child 2-3 slices of each.

A variation on this is a lettuce roll-up: use a large Romain lettuce leaf, and top with 1-3 pieces of meat (you can mix types) and 1-3 slices of cheese (again, you can be creative). Put condiments on the cheese layer, like Dijon mustard, or barbecue sauce, or mayo, or ketchup. Finally, add vegetables, like tomato, avocado or onion slices, pickles, or sprouts. Roll up and secure with toothpicks, but don't slice it! They can eat these "torpedoes" from one end to the other.

Drinks? Ice-cold water in an insulated container; or perhaps an herb tea. My kids like Soothin' Infusion best, but they also like Trader Joe's discontinued Green Tea with Blueberry (which I hope they'll bring back). I also often send milk from our own cows. No soda, no juice, no "mixes".

What's conspicuously absent from my list are sugar and grains. I'm feeding athletic artists, but they don't need the empty calories any more than if they were sedentary. There are also no artificial ingredients here: making a dip by throwing a mixed handful of herbs into some sour cream takes less time than deciding which dressing to use as a dip from the grocery shelf.

Result: healthy, happy, satisfied kids.