It's the time of year when kids are back to the classroom -- and parents are back to the kitchen for another year of lunchbox anxiety. But there's no need for packable meals to inspire stress. Here are simple lunches worth a spot in any brown bag, plus some time-saving packaged add-ins that parents can actually feel good about.

Main Meals

Smoked Turkey Sandwich (above)

Punch up an everyday turkey sandwich with a layer of hummus spread and a mini whole-wheat bagel to hold it all together.

Rainbows and Butterflies Pasta Salad (from Food Network Magazine)

Whole-grain pasta, filled with colorful vegetables and edamame, earns full marks for being both well-balanced and enticing.

Cold Peanut Soba Noodles with Chicken

Toss together buckwheat noodles, peanut butter and chicken for an all-in-one approach.

Take-to-School Taco Bar

Your child's lunch box dreams just became a reality with tortillas, cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream.

Panko Crusted Chicken Nuggets

Add crunch without frying by calling in the panko breadcrumbs. Thread the nuggets on skewers or stuff them in a pita with lettuce and tomato.

Time-Saving Sides

True, whole and sliced fruit and veggies are always easy to pack, but there's nothing wrong with enlisting a few packaged goods to make your life easier.

Sargento Cheddar-Mozzarella Cheese Snacks

Sabra Hummus Singles

Annie's Whole Wheat Cheddar Bunnies

Annie Chun's Seaweed Snacks

Justin's Single-Serve Pack of Peanut Butter and Almond Butter

Organic Valley Low-Fat Chocolate Milk

Funky Monkey Freeze-Dried Snacks

Clif Kid Zbar

Related Links:

Kids Can Make: Healthy Snacks

10 Surprisingly Healthy Snacks for Kids

8 Surprising and Adorable Uses for Cookie Cutters

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. She is the author of The Greek Yogurt Kitchen: More Than 130 Delicious, Healthy Recipes for Every Meal of the Day.