Oh, Amanda – I hear you! And who doesn’t blame them for rebelling against the same-old same-old?  Well, guess what—there are a lot of fun ways to spice up your little ones’ day with easy lunchbox recipes. How about a salad? OK, I’m not talking about baby greens dressed with Dijon vinaigrette—we all know that most kids aren’t going to go for that.  But maybe a healthy pasta salad made with a favorite pasta shape along with cheese, bits of deli ham or turkey, carrot slivers and other tolerable vegetables. Or try a couscous or rice salad, studded with raisins, nuts and chunks of chicken.  And I don’t know any kid who would turn down Creamy Macaroni Salad. And maybe “Breakfast for Lunch”! Who says you can only eat breakfast in the morning? Some traditional breakfast foods make great lunchbox fare: The simplest would be a bowl of granola with a container of milk and a banana, or maybe a bagel and cream cheese. Go a little bit fancier and pack thawed frozen waffles spread with peanut butter. For a truly comforting lunch, pack hot oatmeal in a Thermos and include some maple syrup and fresh fruit for mixing in. Or perhaps a hot lunch? Some kids really enjoy hot food at lunch. My grandson, who passes by most vegetables, will happily slurp up most any kind of soup, even veggie-filled minestrone. So think about investing in a Thermos that you can fill with Chicken Curly Noodle Soup (or any other favorite soup), and add some bread and fruit.  A wide-mouthed Thermos is also good for last night’s stew, fried rice and other rice dishes, and even leftover scoops of casserole or baked pasta! And finally, go beyond the typical sandwich. Forgo regular sliced bread and build a sandwich from raisin bread, whole grain pita rounds, rice cakes, corn muffins, or bagels. Or take it a step further and deconstruct the typical lunchbox sandwich by separating the protein from the bread or crackers—kids love putting together their own food! It makes it more like a snack, and we all know how much kids love snacks. Try some of these combos for easy lunches:

• Peanut butter or hummus with crackers • Tuna salad with pita bread triangles to use as scoops • Cheddar cheese and apple slices with crackers on the side • String cheese and ham bites with crackers on the side

I hope these suggestions are helpful, Amanda. Here's to a wonderful new school year for you and your kids!