5 Healthy Options for Your Kid's Lunch Box

With a new school year about to begin, packing lunch boxes is going to become a daily chore for Riverhead parents. Here is a list of easy-to-prepare foods to pack, which are not only healthy, but your kids will actually eat them.

1. Yogurt

This helps the digestive track because of the presence of probiotics, living organisms thought to help the human body within. Yogurt also contains protein and calcium to help kids grow up strong and healthy. For the healthiest option, The Center for Science in the Public Interest says you should opt for low-fat or fat-free choices. For a local option visit Catapano Dairy Farm in Peconic for their vanilla or goat cheese yogurt.

2. Fruit and Nut Wrap

This is a kid-friendly way to a healthy lunch. Kraftrecipes.com suggests that you combine strawberry cream cheese spread, raisins, unsalted cocktail peanuts and sliced strawberries in a flour tortilla. This combo contains Vitamins A and C, as well as protein and calcium. Try using local strawberries from in Mattituck or in Calverton.

3. Trail Mix

Make your own trail mix with ingredients you know your kid will enjoy. Sheknows.com lists this snack as part of the top five healthy brown bag lunches for kids. Fill the bag with popcorn and add unsalted nuts and dried fruit such as apples or blueberries. This snack also contains fiber your children need. Grab some dried fruit from in Riverhead.

4. Chicken and Fruit Salad

This dish will attract your child with its bright colors, and is also nutritious. Goodhousekeeping.com suggests you mix chicken, spinach, grapefruit, apples, grapes and poppy seed dressing together to create a salad that will taste good and provide energy. Try visiting in Riverhead for the chicken.

5. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

This lunch staple has withstood the test of time. It is a comforting and filling food and contains protein in the peanut butter. Make it even healthier by using whole wheat bread and a 100 percent fruit spread such as the ones you can get at Davis Peach Farm. Everdayhealth.com suggests adding sliced bananas, apples or raisins to make lunch even more nutritious.