Your brown bag lunch doesn't have to be boring! Try adding more brightly colored vegetables and fruits to your lunches for flavor and nutrition.

1. Pack a salad
Start with dark, leafy greens, which contain vitamins, including iron and folate, as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. Combine greens like baby spinach leaves with dark lettuces, such as Romaine, for a delicious green salad. Top your salad with a healthy, low-fat dressing. Use a small amount of a heart-healthy fat, such as an olive or canola oil, mixed with a flavored vinegar or lemon juice. Throw in some chopped herbs such as mint, cilantro, basil or chives to boost flavor and health benefits.

2. Eat fresh
Summer is the perfect time of year to enjoy a fresh and colorful mix of foods. Try a different color each day — each has a variety of vitamins and minerals that work together to protect your health.

• Red: Tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, red grapes, raspberries, red peppers
• Orange: Mango, apricots, carrots, papaya, peaches, oranges
• Green: Broccoli, avocado, lettuce and other greens, chives, peas, kiwi fruit, green peppers
• White: Cabbage, cauliflower, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, tofu
• Purple/Blue: Blueberries, red cabbage, raisins, eggplant, taro
• Yellow: Corn, yellow peppers, pineapple, bananas, squash

3. Add a protein punch
Foods high in protein, like beans, tofu, and lentils, give you important folate and minerals, plus an energy boost!

4. Don't forget the whole grains
Try whole grain options like cooked rice or whole wheat pasta to add extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals to your lunchtime meals.

5. Throw in a hot potato
Throw a baked potato with broccoli in your lunch bag for quick energy on the go. 

Now you're ready to dig in and enjoy your nutritious and tasty brown bag lunch!