While some kids are perfectly content and maybe even comforted by eating the same lunch day after day, other children prefer more variety. Below is a list of some of our favorite healthy homemade school lunch ideas:

1. Turkey, ham or salami, Swiss cheese and lettuce on whole wheat bread.

2. Turkey or ham, red bell pepper strips, and Cheddar cheese wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla, with mayonnaise, spicy mustard or salsa.

3. Tuna, chicken or egg salad with whole grain crackers or on a bagel with cucumbers or lettuce.

4. Cheddar or Muenster cheese and sliced tomato sandwich (put the tomato between the slices of cheese so the bread doesn’t get soggy) with a little mayonnaise or mustard.

5. Peanut or other nut butter with jelly, sliced bananas, honey, raisins or apples.

6. Leftovers like pasta, tortellini with tomato sauce, pizza, chicken, turkey sausage or steak (kids don’t seem to mind eating them cold). Save little condiment packages from takeout food to use as dips.

7. Black beans and rice or other rice salad.

8. Healthy soup or chili in a thermos.

9. Whole grain bagel or rice cakes with natural peanut butter or cream cheese.

10. Trail mix made with raisins, peanuts, and chocolate chips (or your kids’ favorite healthy items).

11. Healthy dried cereals (milk is optional).

12. Baby carrots, celery, sliced cucumbers, red bell peppers and pita chips with hummus or other dip.

13. All varieties of fresh fruit (cut apples, mango, oranges and other hard to eat fruit, if needed).

14. Popcorn (a kid-friendly whole grain), alone or mixed with raisins and nuts.

15. Whole grain tortilla chips and salsa (look for a brand without added sugar) or black bean dip.

16. Low fat yogurt or cottage cheese with fresh fruit and granola or other cereal (keep them separate and let your child combine them at lunch).

17. Drinkable, spoon-able, or squeezable yogurt or kefir.

18. Cheese and whole grain crackers, or cheese and apple slices.

19. Proteins like cheese sticks or cubes, hard-boiled eggs, nuts and chickpeas or other beans.

20. Diced tofu drizzled with teriyaki sauce.

P.S. To reduce environmental waste, pack everything in reusable containers and wash all the used plastic utensils by hand, so they don’t degrade and scratch in the dishwasher. We also love to use Lunch Skins, the reusable sandwich and snack wrappers from 3 Green Moms, bamboo flatware from Bambu, and the Japanese-style bento boxes for kids from Laptop Lunches.

Aviva Goldfarb is the author and founder of The Six O’Clock Scramble®, an online weekly menu planner and cookbook to help busy families put easy, healthy and delicious meals on the table each and every night.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of Healthy Child Healthy Child.

The fear of drive through and fast food restaurants has been drilled into most of us (and for those of you who aren’t sufficiently disgusted, this slide show of the top American fast food sins will convert you). Just one meal can pack in an entire day’s worth of sodium, calories and fat. While its well known that regular fast food consumption leads to weight gain, poor eating habits affect your entire system, zapping energy and strength levels, and straining brain function and emotional well being. Even more frequently overlooked is the effect of cumulative exposure to chemical additives used as flavor enhancers, dyes, and preservatives.

But sometimes there’s no avoiding a meal out at a less than healthy establishment. So here are some tips and guidelines for smart ordering and healthy practices when eating outside of home.

1. Fast Food Does Not Mean Fried Food.

In response to consumer demand, it’s increasingly easier to find healthy, convenient alternatives to fried foods on fast food menus. Opt for anything that is grilled, steamed, roasted, or baked, or try an entrée-sized salad (see Tip 2). And keep your eye out for leaner cuts of meats like skinless chicken breasts, turkey burgers, and beef sirloin. Other healthier menu options are bean burritos, a slice of veggie pizza, a salad or fruit bowl, or a deli sandwich on whole wheat bread.

2. Avoid High-Fat Add-Ons.

Request salad dressing, sauce, cheese, or toppings on the side so you can apply sparingly, instead of drenching your meal in empty calories and through the roof sodium levels.

3. Mind the Portions.

Restaurant portions have been growing in size for years (from large to enormous): in the 1950s, the average size of a hamburger was 1.5 ounces, while today’s burgers weigh in at around 8 ounces. Share entrees between your family or take the other half of it to go!

4. Drink Water.

Soda, sweetened iced tea and lemonades, energy drinks and most juices are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and empty calories. Make H2O the beverage of choice for everyone, and skip the plastic bottles and Styrofoam cups by refilling your own container, like a stainless steel Klean Kanteen, with filtered water.

5. Avoid the “Cream”, Opt for the “Color”.

Meal choices with the words Alfredo, a la crème, au gratin, or described as “creamy” will likely be smothered in a heavy, artificially enhanced sauce. On the other hand, foods that reflect the colors of the rainbow are usually a healthier choice. Many kids meals end up as a plate of “beige”, all starch, breads, and sauces. Picking a colorful fruit or veggie salad will automatically up the nutritional content of your meal.

6. Make Substitutions.

Don’t be afraid to speak up about the ingredients or preparation of your food if it will make it healthier. Ask for meat to be grilled “light”, with as little butter or oil as possible. Request salsa or mustard, instead of mayonnaise or sugar-filled ketchup for your sandwich. Ask for organic, non-fat milk for the kids. Request sour cream instead of butter for your baked potato. Ask to have a side salad or fruit instead of fries. The extent to which servers will go to make you happy might surprise you.

7. Find the Healthy Options!

Use this fantastic tool from Eat Well to map out restaurants in your area that serve organic, local and healthy fare. With a little research and a GPS, you’re instantly connected to restaurants that share your values.

8. As Always, Plan Ahead.

Keep your purse, bag, and car ready for moments when hunger strikes and a healthy snack is in need. Dried fruits, granola, mixed nuts, apples, oranges, and cereals stay fresh and transport easily – especially with the array of cool, non-toxic containers available. We always store kid-friendly (and tasty) nutrition bars, like Clif Kid’s Z Bar and Revolution Food’s Grammy Sammys, which always come in handy!

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The results can be found on the user-friendly website, HealthyStuff.org. Visitors can look up products by manufacturer, brand, or product type and easily generate lists of highly rated and poorly rated products.

HealthyStuff.org tested for chemicals based on their toxicity, persistence and tendency to build up in people and the environment. Such chemicals have been linked to reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, liver toxicity and cancer.

“The more we test, the more we find that the presence of toxic chemicals is widespread in everyday consumer products,” said Jeff Gearhart, Research Director at the Ecology Center, who created the site. “It should not be the responsibility of public health advocates to test these products. Product manufacturers and legislators must take the lead and replace dangerous substances with safe alternatives.”

For the past several years the Ecology Center has spearheaded groundbreaking research on toxic chemicals in toys, cars and children’s car seats at HealthyToys.org and HealthyCar.org. HealthyStuff.org is a compilation of all of these findings and more.

New Key Findings From HealthyStuff.org:

* Pet Products – HealthyStuff.org tested over 400 pet products, including beds, chew toys, collars and leashes. Since there are no government standards for hazardous chemicals in pet products, it is not surprising that alarming levels of toxic chemicals were found. One quarter of all pet products had detectable levels of lead, including seven percent with levels higher than 300 ppm – the current Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standard for lead in children’s products.

* Automobiles – HealthyStuff.org tested nearly 700 new and used vehicles, from 1980 to 2010 model year vehicles. The US-made Pontiac G5 and Chevy Cobalt rated best overall 2009 vehicles. Levels of some chemicals found in vehicles are 5-10 times higher than in homes or offices. Since the average American spends more than 1.5 hours in their car every day, this can be a major source of toxic chemical exposure.

* Children’s Car Seats – Infant and child car seats contain chemical additives that can have adverse health effects on babies and young children. Over half (58%) of car seats contain one or more hazardous chemicals, including PVC, BFRs and heavy metals. Three examples of car seats that had none of the chemicals tested for are: Baby Trend Flex-Loc; the Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat; and the Graco Turbo Booster. Despite the toxic chemicals, it is vital to use a car seat for your child because they do save lives.

* Back-to-School Products – HealthyStuff.org screened over 60 common back-to-school supplies, including backpacks, pencil cases, binders and lunchboxes. Far too many of these supplies are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and 22% contained detectable levels of lead. Overall nearly 90% of back-to-school supplies contained one or more chemicals of concern.

* Women’s Handbags – HealthyStuff.org tested over 100 women’s handbags and detected lead in over 75% of the bags analyzed. Sixty-four percent (64%) of the bags contained lead over 300 ppm – the CPSC limit for lead in children’s products. Over half of the handbags contain more than 1,000 ppm lead.

Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act

In response to increasing consumer demand for safer products, Senator Frank Lautenberg and Representative Bobby Rush are expected to introduce a new bill this Congressional session to reform the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – the current federal law for regulating chemicals. These reforms would phase out the most dangerous chemicals from the manufacturing process; require industry to take responsibility for the safety of their products; and use the best science to protect vulnerable groups. To date the EPA has required testing on only about 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals that have been on the market since the law was passed 33 years ago.

“A Made in the USA label should be a guarantee, not a warning,” said Charlotte Brody, National Field Director for Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, a coalition working toward toxic chemical policy reform. “This database of products is further proof that our system of testing and regulating toxic chemicals is broken. We have an opportunity to reform federal law this year and start putting common sense limits on harmful chemicals to protect the health of Americans.”

“HealthyStuff.org is an invaluable resource for busy parents who are concerned about toxic chemicals in children’s products,” said Mom’s Rising President Joan Blades. “But it shouldn’t be up to parents to look up every single item to find

Flea and Tick Collars Leave Toxic Pesticide Residue Dan Shapley, Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Print E-mail Share Comments (0) Georgia (default) Verdana Times New Roman Arial Font | Size: In a finding that shouldn’t come as a surprise, but nonetheless sounds alarming, a new study has found that flea and tick collars leave a toxic pesticide residue on pets’ fur that can be transferred to humans. More from the Daily Green Safe, Green Pet Products 10 People Working to Protect Children’s Health and Wellness The Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic Amazing Wildlife Photos! Nontoxic Flea and Tick Prevention for Your Dog The Natural Resources Defense Council study found “high levels” of both propoxur and tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), both of which it described as known carcinogens and neurotoxins. The group claims that the Environmental Protection Agency’s risk calculations are not accurate, leaving children particularly vulnerable to exposure. “These chemical-laden flea collars expose humans to highly hazardous chemicals that can damage the brain and nervous system and cause cancer,” according to NRDC. “Children are particularly at risk from these pesticides because their neurological and metabolic systems are still developing. They are also more likely than adults to put their hands in their mouths after petting an animal, leading to the ingestion of hazardous residues.” The test results showed levels of pesticides left on fur that were up to 1,000 times higher than acceptable risk levels the EPA has set for children. The NRDC sees the chemical residue as “a significant neurological risk,” and says that harmful levels of chemical can remain on an animal’s fur for up to two weeks. The group filed a lawsuit against 16 pet product retailers and manufacturers, claiming that they are illegally selling pet products without properly labeling the hazardous substances they contain. The lawsuit is filed in California, where Proposition 65 — the Toxic Enforcement Act — sets the nation’s toughest rules against selling products with hazardous chemicals. There was no immediate public reaction from the industry, but The Daily Green has requested comment and will update this post when it becomes available. In 2000, the NRDC claimed victory when six pesticides once commonly used on pet products were banned. Instead of using flea and tick collars and other pesticides, the NRDC recommends: frequent use of a flea comb regular bathing of pets regular vacuuming and washing of pet bedding administering of chemical flea and tick controls by pill, only when absolutely necessary (find the least toxic products at NRDC’s www.greenpaws.org) Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: Flea and Tick Collars Leave Toxic Pesticide Residue Print E-mail del.icio.us Digg Technorati Reddit Facebook Slashdot Fark Newsvine Google Bookmarks Share   Comments (0) View Comments » Be the first to share your thoughts on this story.

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