Packing whole food lunches for our kids is not an easy task, I know. However, it's worth the extra effort and it's not quite as hard as you think! Like most things, it takes a little planning and a little prep work but it is very doable.

Let me let you in on my method of packing a lunch for my 4 year old that is in preschool:

I start with a protein source. That may be leftover sauteed chicken or baked chicken nuggets, turkey burger broken into "nuggets", peanut butter, nuts, a turkey (no nitrates, Applegate is a good brand) sandwich, tuna salad, a cheese stick or some yogurt.

Next I add in a fruit. She loves grapes, orange slices, strawberries, blueberries, melon chunks, apples, pears, pretty much anything!

I also try to get a vegetable in there. I can count on her eating grape tomatoes (but aren't those actually a fruit?!), so i pack those quite often. She also likes red, orange and yellow bell pepper strips, carrots sticks and avocado (also a fruit?!). She will eat frozen peas and frozen mixed vegetables (but turns her nose up at them if they are cooked/warm), so I can just throw some of those into a container as well. I have also sent her with leftover roasted butternut squash and sweet potatoes.

Then I think about any extras such as a homemade muffin, some clean crackers, hummus for dipping the veggies in, some granola to top off her yogurt with, a few raisins or, on occasion, some tortilla chips.

So, for example, yesterday she had half of a peanut butter and jelly (homemade jam) sandwich (homemade whole wheat bread), a whole apple and a cheese stick. On Wednesday she will have sweet italian sausage slices, some frozen mixed veggies, a few peanuts and a banana.

When it comes to finding clean bread, crackers, chips, etc. that are store bought; find a brand that has very few ingredients (preferably less than 6) all that you know what they are and can pronounce. Stay away from both artificial and natural flavors. More on that next time!

Example crackers: Back to Nature brand Harvest Whole Wheat Crackers and Late July Brand Organic Classic Rich Crackers.

Example bread: Ezekiel Bread

Example chips: Wellsley Farms Organic Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips (I get these at BJs).

Read labels as you shop. You can find snacks that are made from whole foods. It just takes a little extra effort (and money, which I wish wasn't the case!).

For more great school lunch ideas check out The Gracious Pantry

Even more great school lunch ideas can be found at 100 Days of Real Food

I hope this helps some of you tired mommas out!