Beth Ann Bentley, founder of iLunchBox spoke with Mom Generations about the launching of her site - iLunchBox.com.

iLunchBox.com is a resource center and portal of information for parents and caregivers dedicated to the pursuit of a healthier lunch for school aged children. With school already begun or just about to begin for your children, iLunchBox.com is the go-to site to help parents prepare healthy and nutritious lunches. Make sure you bookmark this site!

Q. iLunchBox.com is an exceptional resource for mamas (and dads); can you give us the inspiration for your website?

A. About 5 years ago a friend of a friend went to the pediatrician’s office with her three children for their annual physical. When the doctor was speaking with her, then 7 year old son, she (the pediatrician) asked him what his favorite green food was. Her son answered Jolly Ranchers. I vowed never to be that mom. Don’t get me wrong, I laughed for weeks after my friend re-told the story. On the more serious side of inspiration, I read an article that same year outlining a nutritionist’s point of view about setting her child up for a healthy adulthood. The basic principle was to set your child up to be healthy adults as early as you can. The example she used was this: if you have heart disease as a factor in your child’s genetics, put him on a heart healthy diet now. This way by the time he is a teenager or college student and you can’t control what he eats, you have done your part to set him up for success as a healthy adult. From then on in, I did tons of research on how to feed my family better, without driving them all crazy and myself included.

Q. For all our busy smart mamas, can you give us the super-quickest lunchbox menu prepared the night before?

A. Any of the grain salads: pasta, rice, tabbouleh. You can make them at any time during the day you have a bit of time and package them up in containers, put them in the frig and have a grab and go morning. They are also a great way to use up leftovers and the odds and ends in the fridge. My family’s favorite is Pesto Pasta Salad with Mozzarella and Black Olives. I often do it without the chicken and change up the veg depending on what’s in season or what I have on hand.

Q. If you had to list the one energy packed food item that each child’s lunchbox should contain, what is it?

A. Water! I know that wasn’t what you were thinking, but keeping your child well hydrated with good old fashion water, will, without a doubt, also keep them energized.

Q. You write about transporting the lunch. What are your top 3 lunchbox favorites?

A. I think an insulated lunch bag or box with compartments to make keeping things from getting crushed. I like the LLBean Flip Top or the Thermos Sling Back Lunch Cooler.

For inside the lunchbox I like these items:
1. I love the Fit & Fresh items. They have the ice pack snapped right into the lid, so there is little to no chance to lose it; and it keeps the food safer, longer. They also carry containers for hot foods as well and a water bottle that filters the water as your drink it.
2. Ecobags have a great approach to an eco-friendly lunch bag. I use the canvas ones to pack snacks separately in my children’s lunchboxes so they can grab their snack without sorting through lunch first. (iLunchBox readers are getting a 15% discount until October 15th using the code iLunchBox08 at check out.)

3. Re-sealable snack-size baggies, they are so handy.
If you go to HERE you can see my back to school shopping list.

Q. And of course, let’s talk “sweets.” How do you replace the standard chocolate chip cookie with something “sweet,” yet nutritious?

A. I am not a total meanie, my kids do indulge. It is just all about moderation and portion size. Here are 3 ideas:
1. A tropical salad of pineapple chucks, mandarin orange slices and seedless green grapes
2. The new all natural go-gurts, freeze them before you pack them.
3. A small fruit & grain type bar like cranberry oatmeal or fruit and cereal.

Here is a tip to make any of your baked goods a bit more nutritious. Sub ½ the white flour for whole white wheat flour to up the whole grain count and fiber, and sub ½ the oil or butter for apple sauce or another fruit puree to reduce the fat grams. But don’t do it if it will ruin your favorite recipe flavor. Really, let them have a cookie once in awhile, just do it at home with a big glass of milk and share it with them.