With childhood obesity rates on the rise, parents need to be conscientious about steering their kids toward healthy eating habits, says Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian and assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

Sandon recommends lunches that include such items as small containers of cottage cheese, fruit cups, puddings made with skim milk, single-serving packages of pre-cut carrots or celery with dip, and yogurt in a tube.

A classic sandwich -- made from whole-grain, whole-wheat bread with lean meat and low-fat cheese or peanut butter -- provides protein and other nutritional benefits. Yogurt smoothies can be substituted for soft drinks, wheat crackers for potato chips. And, of course, fresh fruits and veggies are still among the best options.

"A healthy lunch not only keeps the body going but also the brain," Sandon said in a news release. "Kids who eat regular healthy meals often do better in school."

She added that if kids insist on chips or candy, go with the baked chips rather than the regular and fun-size candy bars instead of king-size.