Healthy lunchbox: get an A in back-to-school nutrition. (wellness).(Brief Article)

Feeding picky, pint-sized diners isn't the easiest task. But no matter how finicky your kids may be, you can send them off to school with simple lunches that pack a healthier punch than typical cafeteria fare.

First, make sure your children get enough essential fatty, acids from foods like flax, salmon and walnuts. "Essential fatty acids--omega-3s in particular--are important for kids," says Tori Stuart, president of Zoe Foods. "Not only are they essential for healthy immune systems, they also aid brain development."

Buy organic food whenever possible. "There's evidence that pesticides are more concentrated in kids, simply because their bodies are smaller," says Simon Goode, president and founder of allGoode Organics. And going organic can help reduce your child's exposure to pesticides and other impurities significantly.

brown-baggin' it

It's easy to pack a nutritious lunch for your kids. The trick is to make sure they actually eat it. Want to make a brown-bag lunch that doesn't end up in the trash? Follow these simple tips:

1. box it up. Invest in a high-quality lunch box. On cold days, include a thermos with hot soup or reggie chili. On warm days, freeze individual containers of fruit juice to keep lunches cool 'til noon.

2. have some fun. Make sandwiches interesting and healthy. Stuff whole-wheat pitas with protein-rich humtaus, or make PB&J cookie-cutter sandwiches: Spread whole-grain bread with organic peanut butter and fruit preserves, and use cookie cutters to create fun shapes.