People are always looking for ideas for sack lunches. Whether they work in an office and are trying to save money, time or calories, go to school, have children in school or are taking a road trip or going on a picnic, sometimes you just draw a blank.

So here’s a list to get you thinking:

whole grain crackers
pretzel sticks
mini-muffins
goldfish crackers, cheddar bunnies or other snack crackers
bagel chips
mini-rice cakes or rice crackers
leftover pasta — toss with some chopped veggies and vinaigrette or a little olive oil, garlic salt and Parmesan.
granola bars
banana bread, zucchini bread, or other quick breads
cereal bars
dry cereal
mini-bagels
hot dog buns, hamburger buns or dinner rolls
garlic toast
pita bread
leftover pancakes or toaster waffles — mini-waffles go over especially well.
apples slices or chunks (dip in pineapple juice to prevent browning)
berries — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
cherries
grapes
bananas
melon chunks — watermelon, honeydew or cantaloupe
dried fruit — raisins, dried cranberries, dried apples, banana chips, etc.
canned peaches or pears — drain and rinse with water to remove excess sugar.
applesauce
pineapple chunks
orange wedges
carrot sticks
sugar snap peas
red bell pepper strips
cucumber slices
grape tomatoes
steamed green beans
steamed broccoli spears
(The veggies can be served with a small container of Ranch dressing)
leftover meat from dinner cut into chunks — you can send almost anything: roast chicken, pork roast, chicken legs, etc.
chicken or turkey sausage with BBQ sauce or catsup for dipping
deli meats — turkey, ham, salami
beans
peanut butter “sandwiches” made with crackers or graham crackers
taquitos with salsa for dipping
baked tofu
quesadillas
mini-burritos
mini-pizzas — top mini-pitas with sauce, cheese and pepperoni
hard boiled eggs
yogurt
cheese cubes
cheese slices
cottage cheese
string cheese, Laughing Cow, Babybel or other small single-serving cheeses

And then there are sandwiches, of course! But that can be a future article.