PB & J, cold pizza, turkey sandwiches…These choices aren’t necessarily unhealthy, but after enjoying them day in and day out, even kids will want to say “bye-bye” to these old stand-bys. Think outside the lunchbox with a dash of variety blended with a spoonful of creativity stirred with a pinch of wholesomeness — the recipe for a full, happy tummy every day.

Switch out the bread. Try whole wheat tortillas, wraps and pitas. These items freeze well, so stash a bag of each in the freezer and pull out a portion in the morning before preparing the sandwich. Other options: hot dog buns, mini bagels, rice cakes and crackers. Buy Bakery slider rolls to make a few mini sandwiches instead of one large sandwich.

Protein can come from many different sources other than meat. Fill the lunchbox with a hard-boiled egg, string cheese or cooked cocktail shrimp. Hummus and black bean dip spread on a tortilla with roasted or grilled veggies may not seem appealing, that is, until they eat it and discover how flavorful it tastes.

Sneak in fruits and veggies wherever possible. Add sliced banana to peanut butter sandwiches, shredded apple into chicken salad or prepare a batch of mini muffins loaded with fresh or frozen blueberries or raspberries. Thinly slice cucumber and add to turkey or tuna sandwiches, add shredded carrots to sandwich wraps and substitute baby spinach leaves for iceberg lettuce.

Substitute chips with homemade snacks. For example, mix their favorite low-sugar breakfast cereal with raisins, dried cranberries and cherries, unsalted almonds, peanuts and walnuts. If necessary, add a few sweets like yogurt- or chocolate-covered dried fruit or small chocolate candies to make it more enticing. They may add some extra calories, but if it gets them to eat fiber-rich dried fruit and nuts, they’ll be better off.

Kids love popcorn, and if you choose a low- or unsalted version without added fat, popcorn is a nutrition whole-grain snack. For flavor and added calcium, sprinkle warm popcorn with grated Parmesan cheese.

Mix up some fruit or yogurt smoothies instead of milk. The options are endless, and it’s a great way to sneak fruit into their diet.

For a delicious dessert without the fat and calories, Greek yogurt is the answer. Packed with protein and calcium, choose 0% (fat-free) yogurt which is just as creamy as the full-fat versions that can have as many calories as ice cream. Stir in fresh fruit and lightly sweeten with agave nectar or honey. Stir in crunchy granola or swirl in a tablespoon of all-fruit jam.

Think ahead. When you know dinner’s a kid-favorite, prepare extra for lunchbox leftovers.