REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Back to School is right around the corner. For parents unsure how to pack their kids for success, Education.com features two new comprehensive roundup reviews to start the school year off right. For parents ready to turn over a new leaf, Education.com's editors have come up with 15 secret lunchbox weapons -- fun snacks that will stave off the munchies, drinks that won't shoot kids into a sugar stupor, and recipes that leave the old fashioned PB & J in the dust, but still pass the picky palate test. Looking for somewhere to stash that lunchbox? From the best backpacks, to the most unusual gear to stuff inside of them, Education.com's editors have it covered.

"By the middle of summer, parents begin to get showered by ads, news stories, and in store promotions and gimmicks for back to school products. The choices on what to buy are overwhelming," says Danielle Wood, Editor-in-Chief, Education.com. "We're happy to do the shopping for parents and give them ideas on products and lunch items that will put the fun back into back to school."

Whether you're shopping for your child's first day of kindergarten or first year of college, parents concerns on what to buy and how much to spend remain top of mind. These two new editorial roundups help parents hold on to those last few lazy days of summer, by removing the madness of back to school anxiety.

Healthy Lunchbox

Packing a homemade lunch is the best way for parents to help make sure their kids are provided with a balanced meal while away from home. But what happens when they're on the playground swapping trail mix for chips? We were all kids once and know the kind of temptation that lurks in our friends' lunches. Luckily, Education.com has come up with 15 lunchbox staples that taste great, seem sinful, and will fill up children's' tummies in a healthy way. If you don't tell your kids these snacks, drinks, and mains are healthy, they'll never guess!

    --  Snacks
        --  Guiltless Gourmet Mucho Nacho Tortilla Chips
        --  Doctor Kracker Sunflower Cheddar Flatbreads
        --  Snacktrition Salt and Pepper Cashews
        --  Kashi Tasty Little Cereal Bars
        --  Weil Bars
        --  Bear Naked Granola
        --  Nairn's Mixed Berry Oat Biscuits
        --  Newman's Own Chocolate Alphabet Cookies
    --  Drinks
        --  Honest Tea Black Forest Berry
        --  Bossa Nova Acai Juice
        --  Metromint
    --  Mains
        --  Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
        --  Sesame Noodles
        --  Blockbuster Blueberry Muffins
        --  Mighty Munch Kids Meals

Back to School Roundup

Notebooks, backpacks, and pencils are a staple on every back to school shopping list, and soap, shampoo and bedding in every college-bound child's suitcase. But what about the gear that takes your child from "thanks" to "awesome!"

From markers that change color with the click of a button, to USB Flash drives that channel Star Wars characters, Education.com has identified 11 essentials for kids grades K-12. These include:

    --  Quirky Lunchbox: Laptop Lunch System
    --  Friendly Frog: Keroppi Pencil Case
    --  Magical Marker: Pip-Squeak Mix 'Ems
    --  Green Notebook: New Leaf Notebooks
    --  Organization: 7 Days of Doodle Planner
    --  A Lock to Remember: Wordlocks
    --  Water on the Go: Klean Kanteens
    --  A Great Gadget: Mimobots
    --  3 Perfect Backpacks

For the child that's off to college, following are must-haves to help make the transition easier:

    --  Surrogate Parent: Pocket Mom and Pocket Dad
    --  Steady Stream of Mail: College Student Care Package of the Month Club
    --  Life in Stereo: The iMainGo 2 Portable Speaker System
    --  A Cool Carryall: Chrome Messenger Bag
    --  PC Protection: Stuffitbag Laptop Sleeve
    --  A Mini-Movie Theater: Epson MovieMate 50
    --  The Perfect Party Mix(er): Merkury Innovations DJ Mixer for iPod
    --  An End to Kinkos Runs: HP Photosmart C4480 Printer

To check out both the Healthy Lunchbox and Back to School roundup reviews, including three original recipes from Education.com Sneaky Chef, Missy Chase Lapine, visit: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/healthylunch/ and http://www.education.com/magazine/article/backtoschool08/.

About Education.com

Education.com is a one-stop online destination for educational information, tools, and services for parents of children in preschool through grade 12. The site gives parents free access to thousands of current reference articles on parenting and child development, from the Education.com editorial staff and some of the most respected non-profits, government agencies, and universities in the country. Education.com has educational activities for all grade levels and subjects, discussion boards to share and answer questions, and various tools and resources. Education.com is headquartered in Redwood City, CA and was founded in 2006. The company is backed by leading venture capital firms, Azure Capital Partners, TeleSoft Partners and California Technology Ventures. For more information, please visit http://www.education.com.

SOURCE Education.com