We asked Chef Ann Cooper, the self-styled “Renegade Lunch Lady” and consultant to schools nationwide on how to improve lunch programs, for her best ideas on reviving ho-hum sandwiches. Here’s what she suggested:

1. Instead of peanut butter, try almond or cashew butter with honey on whole grain bread.
2. Combine grilled vegetables with a mild goat cheese on toasted whole-grain bread.
3. Fill a pita with crunchy lettuce and other fresh vegetables and include a container of salad dressing on the side.
4. Try making a fruit sandwich with pieces of your kid's favorite fruit between slices of banana bread.
5. Make a wrap using a whole-wheat tortilla filled with leftover chicken, grated carrots, and a crisp, crunchy lettuce like romaine.
6. Forget the bread and wrap turkey or chicken in leaves of Bibb lettuce instead. Pin with toothpicks to keep these lettuce rolls from falling apart, and include a container of yogurt flavored with lemon and fresh herbs for dipping.

Find out what else Chef Ann Cooper has to say about improving school lunches for children.