Planning and packing a daily lunch may be the most important job of the day! Don't settle for a ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly. The following tips are tasty and healthy ways to jazz up your lunches.

Plan for the day. A great way to plan lunch is to have something from each food group. Make a list of foods you enjoy, and then balance your lunchbox from each food group. Plan a few snacks, but make them healthy.

Vary your diet. Instead of using the same white bread everyday, try using various kinds of bread like whole wheat, multi-grain, omega-3 or flax bread. Another good way to change things up a bit is to use bagels, dinner rolls or tortillas to make a great sandwich. If possible choose whole grains. This will assure that you are getting a rich source of vitamins, fiber and antioxidants in your sandwich.

Dinner becomes lunch! Try creating a healthy lunch using leftover meats from the night before, instead of using processed luncheon meats. For example, try chopping up leftover chicken to make a chicken salad sandwich. You can make practically any kind of sandwich with leftover meat dishes. A steak sandwich, spicy chicken sandwich or a grilled fish sandwich can be tasty.

It is important to remember that a healthy lunch can provide many nutrients that your body needs. Lunch is just as important as eating breakfast and dinner. A little preplanning can make a big difference and help assure you will get all the nutrients in your lunch for a healthy diet. Also don’t forget to change things up a bit. Don’t eat the same thing every day. Who says you can’t have oatmeal or cold cereal for lunch? A healthy lunch can provide many nutrients that you might miss out on if you were to eat the same thing over and over.

Tips for the day!

#1 - Soups are healthy! If you are tired of making a sandwich, pack a thermos of hot tomato soup with parmesan-flavored goldfish crackers or broccoli cheddar soup with a slice of focaccia bread.

#2 - Make fruits and vegetables your lunch. Lunch is a good time to get a healthy serving of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Try making a dipping sauce for them like hummus for your veggies or a low-fat yogurt dip for your fruit to add interest.

Next Steps.

Consider healthy lunch box Ideas for the busy lifestyle!

- Turkey avocado sandwich, 1 cup carrots and celery with 1/3 cup hummus, apple. 1 cup chocolate milk
1 cup tomato basil soup with 4 slices of cheese and crackers, 1 orange, 1 fat-free pudding cup

- Tuna or Chicken salad in a whole wheat pita pocket, 1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese, 1 pear, 1 8oz can low-sodium V-8 juice