Kids want to see something exciting when they open their lunch boxes at school. You want lunches that are easy to make and nutritious. Luckily, you can accomplish both goals with a little planning and a pinch of creativity. Try any of these healthy school lunches that are tasty and ready to keep kids or adults brimming with energy.

1. Pecan Chicken Salad

Jazz up your leftover cooked shredded chicken or chicken from a can with pecans and a bit of crunchy vegetables. You’ll get plenty of nutrients, like iron and calcium, plus a good dose of protein.

Mix sliced red grapes with cooled, shredded chicken along with toasted pecans and chopped celery and red onion. Stir in mayonnaise and season with salt, pepper and basil. Spread the filling on your favourite whole wheat bread to make sandwiches.

2. Avocado Egg Salad

Upgrade a regular old egg salad sandwich by swapping mayonnaise for avocado and non-fat Greek yogurt. The result is just as creamy but with that dreamy avocado flavour. Prepare the egg salad by chopping hard boiled eggs. Mash a ripe avocado with lemon juice, yogurt and brown mustard. Mix in eggs and season with salt, pepper and paprika. Scoop the mix onto toast or use it to fill a sandwich.

3. Cream Cheese Veggie Roll-Up

If you’re having trouble getting enough vegetables in your family’s diet, lean on the cream cheese. It makes everything taste better. Julienne crisp vegetables, like carrots, cucumbers, or bell pepper. Spread cream cheese on a whole wheat tortilla (for extra nutrition and protein) and arrange the veggie strips on the cream cheese along with baby spinach. Season with chives and dill.

4. Waffle Grilled Cheese Bento Box

Bento boxes beat a boring old sandwich any day. Breathe new life into grilled cheese by using waffles instead of bread slices. You can toast some frozen waffles for this purpose and then grill them in butter until the cheese melts. Fill other compartments with broccoli and dip, berries, crackers, and a banana.

Lynn Valley Centre in North Vancouver is a super convenient location for weekly grocery shopping. Stock up on the high-quality foods that you want for nutritious school lunches at Kin’s Farm Market, Westlynn Bakery, Westlynn Meats and Seafood Ltd., and Save-On Foods.