Summer is coming to an end for students. The back-to-school frenzy has already begun in the retail world, so I am going to get ahead of the season and get you thinking about school lunches before it’s time to start planning and packing them.

In the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative Food Pantry, we are creating a special back-to-school lunch snack package for students this month. We have chosen some easy-to-pack items to get started: raisins, a bag of chips, a protein bar, apple sauce cups and a single-serve puff cereal.

A good healthy lunch can be as simple as a traditional sandwich or salad, some fruit and a drink. Many may choose to use the cafeteria, where a team of food service managers create nutritious menus that change daily for variety and the added convenience of saving prep time at home.

I recently listened to a podcast talking about a trend to pack lunches in bento boxes.

According to Google, “Bento is a Japanese single-portion takeout or home-packed meal, neatly arranged in a compartmentalized box. Known for its balanced nutrition, vibrant colors and artistic presentation, it’s a staple for school and work lunches, though the concept can be adapted to any cuisine. Key components often include rice, a main protein and various side dishes, with an emphasis on portion control and visual appeal.”

If this concept is not familiar to you, think about the popular Lunchables snack that you can find in convenience or grocery stores that presents a sampler of crackers, cheese, meat and a little something sweet in a sectioned container.

Schools often have a very short lunch period and the bento allows more time to eat because they don’t have packaging to open. A little extra preparation is done at home to make sure it’s fast and easy to open a ready-to-eat meal.

You may get creative with ways to include surprises like cutting meat or cheese into star shapes or using themes of colorful foods. It can be fun for kids to be surprised to see what is in their box.

Many people eat a light breakfast, if anything at all in the morning. Lunch time is a very important opportunity to refuel, avoid afternoon sleepiness and keep energy going strong through the afternoon and into after school activities.

Tips for making a bento box:

• Balance: Aim for a mix of protein, carbs and vegetables.

• Portion control: Use compartments to keep foods separate and manage portions.

• Presentation: Use colorful ingredients and arrange them neatly to make the meal appealing.

• Packable foods: Choose items that are good at room temperature or can be reheated.

Each type of lunch plan has its pros and cons, but when school gets going, make sure to discuss lunch time and how to make sure kids are eating well, whether you pack it in traditional bags or trendy boxes.

Make it a great school year!

Editor’s note: This column was written by Jenn Dietz, Healthy Pantry Initiative coordinator.