Lunchbox Goodies: Healthy choices for back to school

We have the shiny new Spiderman lunch box all ready to go for the new year at school. The question is what to put in it. Finding healthy kid-friendly options is hard enough but add in a food restriction such as gluten free or dairy free (both of which we aspire to at home) and then things become challenging. Here are a few ideas to get you started.The Basic:I grew up taking a peanut butter and jam sandwich with some crackers and an apple. With a few substitutions this can still be a staple. Keep the apple (or another piece of fruit) and use rice crackers instead. It's really only the sandwich that needs to be tweaked- try using gluten-free bread or brown rice wraps with almond butter (if your school allows nuts).The Easy Vegetarian:Rice crackers and hummus are a staple at our house. Add some fresh veggies to dip, too, and you have a complete meal. Just make sure to pack lots of hummus - at least 1/2 cup.The Picnic:We pack a little bit of everything to keep things interesting and use up the leftovers. Any source of protein will do (chicken, fish, tofu, etc.) with some cut veggies, crackers, nuts, and seeds. Just make sure to include an ice pack if using animal products or anything else you would refrigerate.