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By Jorj Morgan of www.Jorj.com

When my oldest son was in kindergarten he would not eat anything but a tossed salad for lunch. What a lunch box challenge that was. I came to find out that his interest was not held by the crisp veggies that I painstakingly prepared each morning, but by the amusement of his classmates when he opened his Tupperware tube of salad dressing. The tube was COOL!! Here is a lesson to be learned. The eye appeal of the dish is as important as the nutrition. If it looks good - it tastes better!

Here are a few suggestions:

Circle Sandwiches
Make your child's favorite sandwich and cut it into interesting shapes. Create circles on Monday, triangles on Tuesday and maybe diamond shapes on Wednesday. What a fun learning experience especially when after awhile you "forget" and make a triangle sandwich on Friday?!

Wrap It Up Roll
Roll up your child's favorite combination of cheeses, turkey or veggies in a tortilla shell. A peanut butter and jelly wrap is a blast.

Unpack A Surprise
Place a fresh flower, a brightly colored bandana for a placemat, a special sticker, or just an "I Love You" post-it-note in his lunchbox. Your child will have a special reason to unpack his lunch everyday!

A Totally Cool Lunchbox
When scouring the shelves for the absolute perfect lunch box there are many things to consider. Crafty moms can create personalized lunchboxes with the help of a glue gun. Others will opt to buy those that come with the latest teen idol's picture splashed on all sides. Pre-teens may feel that bland is better - many choose not to stand out. Determine which idea works for your child and shop for or create a lunchbox together.

An insulated lunchbox is a great choice. In many classrooms, there are no coolers or places that maintain proper temperature to store packed lunches for several hours. Alas, in some cases, even the most treasured lunchboxes find themselves casually tossed on the bottom of an untidy locker. An insulated lunchbox helps to overcome these dilemmas. Likewise, an insulated thermos will help keep soups warm and drinks cool.

Get Kids Involved in the Menu
It is a great idea to make the next day's lunch the evening before. This cuts back on the hectic morning activities and gives your child a chance to help prepare the food. You can easily set the categories for your child and offer choices. I suggest three categories: Sandwich, wrap or salad, fruit or veggie and dessert. Let your child build his own sandwich or favorite salad. Wrap the sandwich in a plastic bag. In order to maintain freshness, purchase small packets of condiments like mustard or mayonnaise rather than slathering the stuff onto the bread. Salads are easily stored in sealed containers. Use packets or a small plastic container to pack the dressing separately from the veggies. Choose a wrap to incorporate both the sandwich and the salad into one great special lunchbox treat.

Jorj Morgan is the author of five cookbooks, including “Gorgeous! The Sum of All Your Glorious Parts,” “At Home in the Kitchen” and “Fresh Traditions.” She has twenty-five years of entertaining and cooking for her family of three sons, eight nieces and nephews, and hundreds of extended family friends. Visit her website at www.Jorj.com