Giant's new Build a Better Lunch program includes ideas and tips for parents and kids to come together to create balanced meals.

"Giant/Martin's wants to help families save money, save time and eat well throughout the new school year with plenty of ideas for lunches that taste great and provide needed nutrition and energy to help kids make it through the school day," said Sarah Glunz, Giant/Martin's lead nutritionist."Keep healthy choices top of mind, but think outside of the lunch box too with different offerings to keep kids interested."Often times, picky eaters will have trouble creating a balanced lunch or eating healthy. Glunz says its infographic works well with them."Sit down together, have kids help make a list of foods they like in each category, as many fruits as they will eat," said Glunz. "And then in a lunch, a child has no reason to not eat that."She says parents can rotate through only two or three options if that's all their child will eat."There's still fruit in the lunch that they will eat."Glunz says sometimes kids don't want to try something new at school, so parents need to work on that at home. However, sometimes children will try more around their peers.To combat this, or to figure it out, Glunz said at home hone in on what it is that your child doesn't like about a certain food. If it's the texture, Glunz suggests parents prepare that food in a way to change the texture.If the child still doesn't like it, then it might be the taste.For example, if your child says she doesn't like strawberries, Glunz suggests pureeing them with milk in a blender. If the child drinks it and still doesn't like it, then you know your child just doesn't like strawberries, no matter how they're prepared."Develop a wider list of things, go though all categories, list what the child likes. This works for picky and not picky," Glunz said.Understanding food labels, ingredients and nutrition facts are an important skill for both parents and kids to learn."Initially it takes people longer to do that, but it's a skill they can develop and involve kids. Look at the amount of sugar. I've seen many families with kids that are involved. They say 'Mom, this one's OK, or this one's better,'" Glunz said.Glunz sees this happen a lot with common "kid-type" foods, such as cereals. Often times a child will look at the character on the front of the box, and not read the label.Glunz also speaks to many common misconceptions about healthy looking food."In grocery stores companies use certain words to draw people in, such as 'high in fiber' or 'a source of whole grain.' It becomes confusing for families to choose the right things for lunch."She says she learned many of her healthy eating habits growing up, which is why it's important to get your kids involved now. She attributes her eating and profession to what she learned growing up."Instill the information now and teach them certain behaviors now."Glunz said children will use that information when they grow up. Her mother often stressed "color" in her lunch box, making sure she had something from each food group. She said children should have at least three out of the five food groups in their lunches.Glunz said research shows children perform well in classes and do better extracurricular activities when they eat a more balanced diet of breakfasts, lunches and dinners."Only pastry and cereals (for breakfast) make it hard when you don't include protein and vegetables, which make kids attentive in class, and bring energy levels up," said Glunz.For more ideas, check out Savory Fast, Fresh and Easy magazine in-store or at

https://giantfoodstores.com; and follow Giant on Pinterest.