It's the last day of National School Lunch Week, and to celebrate, we've collected a few of our favorite kid-friendly Mediterranean lunch and snack ideas. A healthy lunch helps kids power through their day, and with Mediterranean flavors, they'll eat it more for the delicious taste than anything else.  

National School Lunch Week was created in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy as an annual celebration of the National School Lunch Program, a federal program that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children every school day. Our knowledge of what makes for a healthy lunch has come a long way since 1962. For one, we have a better understanding of the Mediterranean diet and all of its benefits, for adults and children alike.

Enjoying healthy meals with your kids outside of school is one way to nudge them toward making healthy choices in the lunch line. And, even better, get your child involved with tasks in the kitchen like washing vegetables, measuring ingredients, or crumbling cheese.

If you pack your child's lunch, cook extra and save leftovers for future lunches. Luckily, many Mediterranean dinners pack well the next day. Try making a vegetable frittata with their favorite vegetables, and divide it into slices for lunch all week. Egg dishes like frittatas and quiches taste just as delicious cold or room temperature. Or, make a big batch of whole grain pasta: serve some hot for dinner and save some to toss with olive oil, tomatoes, and fresh basil for an easy pasta salad for lunch. 

For times when you don't have leftovers ready to go, keep these Mediterranean staples on hand for easy lunches:

For more easy Mediterranean lunch and snack ideas, check out the recipes below.