Healthy Back-to-School Lunches Your Kids Will Love

Convenience may be the number 1 reason you choose to buy pre-packaged Lunchables and Uncrustables for your kids' lunch boxes. The second reason may be because your kids ask for them. However, if you want to give them a less-processed, healthier alternative for lunch, you can prep these homemade versions of the grocery story favorites ahead of time and store them in the freezer/fridge.

To make your own "Uncrustables" use 100 percent whole-grain bread, natural peanut butter and less-sugar jelly.

Flexibility is Key

These recipes are flexible. If your child has a nut allergy, use sunflower seed butter or soy nut butter. Ask your kids if they have any healthy ideas for “Lunchables.” Feature their favorite veggies, lean protein, dairy and fruit.

Here’s What You Need

• Supplies: Divided boxes or plastic containers; silicon cupcake forms
• Fruit: Grapes, oranges, apples, peaches
• Vegetables: Pepper slices, celery sticks, carrot sticks/baby carrots, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes
• Whole grains: Sandwich thins, pita bread slices, Triscuits or other whole-grain crackers
• Proteins: Turkey/ham slices, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, hard-boiled egg, hummus
• Calcium-rich foods: Cheese stick/slices/cubes, yogurt, milk
• Dips (optional): Salsa, guacamole, pizza/spaghetti sauce, honey mustard, Ranch dressing, jelly, peanut butter, ketchup, BBQ sauce