2. Everyone Loves a Sandwich
Sandwiches may get the best press as lunchbox fare, but they’re not the only option. In fact, most everyone in the test kitchen agrees heartily that leftovers can actually make the best lunch. “I’m into the sandwich made with leftover roast chicken,” says senior food editor Dawn Perry. Test kitchen manager Brad Leone agrees: “I would eat that right now.” When it comes to leftovers, dinner casseroles take the cake. They’re brilliant because they knock out two or more meals in one go—and we’d be lying if we said we didn’t totally dig on a Tupperware of day-old mac and cheese. Other ways to think outside the (lunch) box: an antipasti platter with salami, cheese, and crackers, and an assemble-it-yourself trail mix with nuts, dried fruit, and granola. A word to the wise: Do a trial run of unfamiliar recipes on the weekend, lest your kid discover he hates finocchiona with four classes to go and no backup plan.