August is National Sandwich Month and a great time to start thinking about back-to-school routines. One of those routines is packing lunch boxes, and at the cornerstone of every lunch box is a sandwich. In fact, a survey done by the consumer research group NPD Group found that 74 percent of all bagged lunches for school include a sandwich.

Sandwiches are popular in lunchboxes for good reasons. A sandwich is convenient, versatile and can provide good, quality nutrition. The bases of a healthy sandwich should be whole grain and lean protein. Adding healthy toppings is another way to sneak in more nutrition. Start with these basics, add a little creativity and willingness to try new combinations and your kids will be packing (and eating) a nutrient-filled and tasty lunch.