Back-to-school lunches and munches

Making sure kids get balanced and nutritious school lunches and after-school snacks doesn't have to be hard. A fun way for you and your kids to compare foods that provide nourishment with ones that offer little or no nutritional value is to start a family food album. Have your kids cut photos of food and nutrition labels making note of those foods that are considered healthy and those that are not. Your kids will learn about healthy eating and enjoy arts and crafts projects, too.

Here are some fun tips from Boar's Head, which makes deli meats and cheeses, for meals and snacks that kids will love:

If your child leaves most of his or her sandwich behind, use cookie cutters to create a favorite shape such as an airplane, car, star or heart. The fun shape might encourage your child to finish the entire sandwich.

A colorful selection of food and different texture adds appeal — carrot sticks and green grapes for color, whole wheat pretzels and crackers for crunch.

Put a surprise in your child's lunch: a sticker, a note of encouragement, or a small toy.

Children love the do-it-yourself aspect of building their own pizza or making their own cracker stack. You can make the experience fun and healthier by cubing meats and cheeses and putting them in a bag along with some low-salt crackers.

Roll meats and cheeses for dipping into condiments — it will make a hungry child happy and keep them satisfied until dinner time.

For a quick and tasty lunch, try these easy Turkey and Apple Roll-ups. And for a simple after-school snack, Turkey Kabobs are fun and easy to make.

—Family Features.com

Turkey and Apple Roll-ups

1–2 tablespoons cream cheese, low-fat
1 96% fat-free tortilla (8-inch)
2 slices glazed honey turkey breast
¼ cup fresh baby spinach
½ medium-sized apple, cut into thin strips

Spread cream cheese on one side of tortilla. Place turkey slices evenly over tortilla, then add spinach leaves and sliced apple. Roll tortilla tightly, tucking ingredients as you roll. Slice wrap in half diagonally and serve.

Servings: 1

Turkey Kabobs

2 slices turkey breast, sliced ¼-inch thick
2 slices yellow cheddar cheese, sliced ¼-inch thick
12 grapes, white seedless
Toothpicks, long

Cut turkey and cheese into cubes. Place a cube of turkey on a toothpick, followed by a cube of cheese and then a grape. Repeat with remaining items. Arrange on a plate and serve.

Servings: 12

Visit www.boarshead.com for more kid-friendly lunch and snack ideas.