When preparing your kids' lunches, keep in mind the types and quantities of food you're including, and pack only what you know they're likely to eat. If your children buy lunch ... read full tip

When preparing your kids' lunches, keep in mind the types and quantities of food you're including, and pack only what you know they're likely to eat. If your children buy lunch at school, encourage them to eat what they're served and avoid sending a supplemental drink or snack from home.

The USDA reports that 12 percent of the calories served to students in the National School Lunch Program go to waste every day. Similar rates of food wasting apply for lunches brought from home.

Food waste costs U.S. public schools more than $600 million annually.

If lunch-food waste could be cut in half, the money saved could purchase 300,000 classroom computers for America's inner-city school.