"Fast Food"

With school starting up soon, many of us are pressed for time (and ideas) of what to pack for lunch. A little advanced planning can help. Here are a few items to stock, store and stash to start the school year off right.1. String cheese. The beauty of string cheese is it's portable and highly nutritious. One serving provides 7 grams of protein and 20% of the daily value for calcium. Light varieties are lower in saturated fat and add only 60 calories to your childs' daily total.2. Veggie bags. Most kids are shy on veggie servings. Spending one hour, one day out of your week to cut and bag vegetables won't kill you! Slice up pepper strips, cucumbers, celery and carrots and toss in multiple bags or clear plastic containers. Grape tomatoes or sugar snap peas are another good option.3. Hard-cooked eggs. Another quick item to pack in your kids' lunch. Boil up a 1/2 dozen and add some whole grain crackers and fresh fruit to the bag. Don't forget a cooly pack to keep the eggs cold and fresh.4. Water bottle. Kick the (juice) box habit and pack a BPA-free water bottle in your child's lunch. They can fill it up as needed and stay hydrated after gym or sports practice. Be sure to clean it daily!5. Nuts. As long as your child is not in a room with children with allergies, buy multiple small containers and pack almonds, mixed nuts, peanuts, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds in place of sugary treats. The protein and healthy fat will keep them feeling fuller, longer- which may keep them more focused during the day.