Healthy School Lunches & Snacks

The simplest and healthiest foods stay extra-yummy when they're tucked inside individual little compartments. That's the idea behind Bentology, the company that sells these cute plastic sets. We filled the containers with a protein, some fruit, a vegetable, and a small treat – all in perfect-size portions for kids 5 to 8. Healthy school lunches have never been easier!

All Dressed Up

* 1 cup bow-tie pasta salad with veggies

* 1 cup baby greens salad with 2 tablespoons low-fat dressing

* 3/4 cup watermelon

* 2 fig cookies

• Fish-shaped tuna sandwich with lettuce on whole wheat bread
• 10 baby carrots with 2 tablespoons low-fat ranch dip
• Small plum
• 1/4 cup whole-grain Goldfish crackers

• Ham, turkey, and cheese rolled up together, sliced, and skewered with pretzel sticks
• 1/2 cup mandarin oranges
• 1/2 cup shelled edamame
• 1 container (4 ounces) fat-free chocolate pudding

• Sliced hard-boiled egg and 2 mini whole-grain waffles
• Bell-pepper strips
• 1 sliced kiwi fruit mixed with a few blackberries
• Mini corn muffin

• String cheese and a handful of whole wheat crackers
• 1 cup broccoli and cauliflower florets with 2 tablespoons light raspberry dressing
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• Slice of banana bread

• 1 cup bean salad
• 1/2 cup melon wedges
• Handful of whole-grain tortilla chips with 2 tablespoons salsa
• 8 cubes of reduced-fat cheddar cheese

• Peanut butter and jelly on a whole wheat mini bagel
• 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes with 2 tablespoons low-fat Caesar dressing
• 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
• 4 mini oatmeal cookies

• 1 slice leftover cold veggie pizza cut into squares
• 3/4 cup cucumber moons with 2 tablespoons hummus
• 1/2 cup purple grapes
• 1/2 cup popcorn

• 2 mini whole wheat pita pockets with grilled-chicken strips and veggies
• 3/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt with sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup sugar snap peas
• 8 animal crackers

These creative combos add up to one-of-a-kind after-school treats. Also consider using them as snacks for healthy school lunches. 

Sesame sticks + chopped cereal-nut bars + dried pineapple

Mini pita chips + soy nuts + mini chocolate chips

Mini pretzels twists + cashews + dried cranberries

Low-fat granola + sunflower seeds + dried apricots

Dried papaya + whole-grain cereal + golden raisins

Almonds + M&M's + dried mango

Want more healthy school lunch ideas? Round out your kid's lunch with these ready-to-go products.

These nuggets of freshly roasted nuts are ideal for slow eaters. Six pieces contain 170 calories and 5 grams of protein ($3.50 for a 5-1/2-ounce bag).

Puzzle-shaped pretzels come in large and individual-size bags ($17 for six 12-ounce bags).

These crunchy twists in child-friendly flavors like white cheddar and ranch are made from brown rice and packed with whole grains ($3 for a 4-1/2-ounce bag).

Toss a mini bag of this granola – along with a container of yogurt and a piece of fruit – into your child's lunchbox. Kids will probably like the honey-almond variety the best ($4 for five 1-1/2-ounce bags).