So why, we wondered, do so many meals end up back home, only partially eaten, at the end of the day?

To solve the puzzle, we took a field trip to a few local cafeterias and asked the kids directly what it takes to pack a lunch they'd finish up. Within minutes, we'd compiled a list of favorite foods and pet peeves--just what we needed to come up with a week's worth of school lunches that rate an A+ with your little students.