5 Fun Ways to Get Your Child Excited About Brown-Bag Lunches

Make eating grapes fun by transforming them into mini wands using pretzel rods. You can place one at each end, thread on several, or just add one grape on each stick. Stack at the side of your child's lunch for a fresh pop of flavor. You can make a ton, layer between sections of paper towel, and store in the fridge to easily add to whatever your child loves for lunch.

Mix JELL-O strawberry-flavored gelatin and yogurt together into creamy cups that don't turn into a big mess in your child's lunch box.

Cut off a three-inch section of cucumber and transform it into an edible dip cup with your child. Use a child-safe melon baller to hollow out the center, leaving the base intact. Then fill with dip and add carrot sticks, pretzel rods, or celery sections. Pair with a cheese quesadilla, and you have a delicious lunch.

Instead of making a traditional PB&J, use a bun base, peanut butter, jelly that resembles ketchup, and chopped green grapes for relish — and a banana in place of the hot dog! It's a fun spin on the sandwich and can easily be made with sunflower-seed butter for a nut-free lunch.

If your child isn't a big sandwich eater, get out cookie cutters and use them to create shapes from slices of cheese or lunch meats. Invite her to arrange the ingredients on a cracker, then stack them in a sealable container. Pack alongside a cucumber dipping cup, and it's a midday party in a lunch bag.