It’s back-to-school time, and that means time to think about packing lunches for your son or daughter. Unfortunately, by October, we find ourselves falling into the rut of packing the same ham sandwich every day. But with a little preparation, you can avoid the lunchtime boredom with these healthy and enticing school lunch ideas for the kids.

Get the kids involved in the planning. Let your child get involved in the lunch planning by allowing them to be a part of the decision making. Ask them questions like, “What flavor of yogurt would you like” or “Would you prefer grapes or a banana today”?

Make the lunch appealing. Think color and convenience when you prepare your child’s lunch. Choosing food items with a variety of color keeps children interested in what they are eating. Small containers work great for finger foods such as carrot sticks, cheese squares or grapes. These items are reusable and help keep everything compartmentalized for those picky eaters.

Balance, balance, balance.  As you begin to plan your child’s lunch, be sure to include protein, fruit and vegetables. Limit fruit juices and sugary items such as cookies and candy. While these provide a quick burst of energy, their blood sugar will drop, causing them to doze off during their afternoon classes.

Personalize it. Who doesn’t like surprises? Use cookie cutters to cut your child’s sandwiches into fun shapes or add a note or a small treat to let them know you are thinking about them.