Whether they eat cafeteria food, visit the snack bar, or brown-bag it, kids are faced with the decision of what to eat — and not eat — for lunch every day. You can easily guide them to make healthy selections with these ideas:

• Educate early. Start talking about good nutrition at an early age, when eating habits are first forming.

• Involve them. Enlist your child to help you pack lunches. When kids choose what goes in their lunch bags, they’re more likely to eat it. Teach them about whole foods — without additives or unnatural trans-fats — versus prepackaged.

• Encourage variety. Explain the benefits of eating from each food group and not having the same things every day. A diverse diet provides varied nutrients to keep kids at peak performance.

• Set a goal and make it fun. Encourage your child to eat a fruit and vegetable rainbow at each meal.

• Go for better beverages. Let them know to avoid sodas and sugary juice drinks. Advise water or milk.

• Develop a game plan. Review your child’s lunch menu before and after school. If you’re paying attention to what they eat, they’ll see it as important too.