Packing lunches for school

News

Packing lunches for school

Packing instead of buying lunch at school has its benefits. When it comes to deciding what items go into a lunchbox, there are more nutritional substitutes to typical lunch food items.

They’re crunchy, salty and go well with a sandwich, but potato chips and other fried snacks are high in sodium and fat.

Chips may have that crunch, but a nutritional upgrade for the deep-fried snack are nuts. Nuts are an excellent source of protein and fiber.

Instead of packing potato chips for lunch, carrots and celery sticks are a nutritional upgrade. They are a great source of fiber and vitamins.

Ranch dressing is a delicious dip to have with vegetables for lunch, but it can be packed with fat and many calories. (Photo: Kelly Cline/ Getty Images)

A healthy option to dip fresh vegetables into is hummus. The healthier dip is full of protein and can come in many flavors. Compared to ranch dressing, hummus has less fat. (Photo: Sara Lynn Paige/Getty Images)

A go-to spread for sandwiches is mayonnaise, but the dressing can be filled with a high amount of fat and packed with calories. (Photo: Getty Images)

Instead of adding mayonnaise to sandwiches, add light mayonnaise, mustard or hummus. Mustard has fewer calories and less fat compared to mayonnaise, and hummus is full of protein. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bologna is a great go-to option for lunch meats for a sandwich. However, it is high in fat compared to lower-fat choices such as lean turkey meat.

A bologna on white bread sandwich may be a tastier option, but lean turkey on whole wheat bread is more nutritious. Compared to beef bologna, lean turkey has less fat, and compared to white bread, whole wheat has more fiber.

Fruit cocktail cups are convenient to pack in a lunch, but the fruit marinating in the syrup is high in sugar and has more calories compared to fresh fruits. (Photo: Medioimages/Photodisc/Getty Images)

A fruit cocktail cup may be a sweet treat to have with a lunch, but fresh fruits are a nutritional upgrade. Bananas, orange slices, berries, grapes, cherries and sliced apples have less sugar and fewer calories compared to fruit cups. (Photo: Michelle McMahon/Getty Images)

Cookies are a great treat to have after a delicious lunch, but they can be packed with a lot of sugar. (Photo: Brian Yarvin/Getty Images)

Craving a sweet treat? Homemade trail mix can be made of dried fruits, nuts, oats and bits of chocolate. Compared to cookies, trail mix has less fat, more fiber and protein. (Photo: Tom Grill/ Getty Images)

For a thirst-quenching beverage, soda or fruit juices can be found in compact containers and small enough to pack in a lunch. However, some beverages can be high in calories and sugar. (Photo: Paul Poplis/ Getty Images)

Fat free or 2 percent milk is a nutritional upgrade to artificial fruit juices or soda. Milk is full of vitamins, low in fat and sugar, has fewer calories, more protein and calcium. (Andrew Unangst/ Getty Images)

Water has no calories, sodium and sugar, which makes it a great nutritional option for lunch. (Photo: Getty Images)

1/17

Today's Gallery Headlines

Spring training Day 5 (Saturday)

PHOTOS: Day 5 of spring training for the Braves

Valentines for Veterans

Metro Atlanta students write valentines to veterans

GHSA Championship, Dance, Akins Ford Arena, Athens

PHOTOS: Georgia teams dance way to state championships

Spring Training Day 3 (Thursday)

PHOTOS: Day 3 of Spring Training for Braves

More Galleries

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

PHOTOS: Georgia's first snowfall of the year

Macon High School Restaurant

PHOTOS: The Compass Rose Cafe serves up quality food with heaping side dishes of life skills

Juwad Maynard holds a banner during a protest in Atlanta on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, against the U.S. military action in Venezuela. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: People gather in downtown Atlanta to protest U.S. military action in Venezuela

People prepare to run the Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Atlanta. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

PHOTOS: Thousands run AJC Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race