Going back to school and getting back into the routine of school can be a stressful time. Here are some ideas for packing easy, healthy lunches for your students. Lunch should include a fruit, vegetable, protein and whole grain to help kids stay alert and focused at school. Their lunch beverage should be either milk or water.

Fruits and vegetables: At the beginning of each week, prepare for the week by washing a bunch of produce. Apples, pears and grapes all hold up well and can be washed on Sunday night and doled out over the week. Carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and zucchini can be washed, cut and stored in individual baggies or containers to easily put in lunches each day.

Protein and whole grains: Low fat lunch meats and cheese slices on whole wheat bread are always a good option, but if you have an adventurous eater, you might branch out with hummus, hard boiled eggs, Greek yogurt or nuts. Whole grain crackers can be used to dip into hummus or nut butter and healthy wraps can be made with whole grain tortillas, veggies, meat, cheese, hummus or cream cheese.

For easy, healthy school lunch recipes, the website www.parents.com has some great ideas!