Tired of wasting money and extra calories on purchased lunch? Too tired to pack a lunch for yourself - and maybe for your kids as well - in the morning? If so, read on, to get some easy ideas for packed-from-home lunches that do double duty for you and your children! That's the topic of my Today Show segment with Ann Curry.

Here are a few ideas that work for me, and many people I know......what about you? What kinds of "desktop lunches" have you tried?

(1) Bento Box for Lunch.: This is a really great idea. Maybe you've enjoyed a bento box in a sushi restaurant - with multiple small compartments of different foods. This bento box is a plastic container, divided into four compartments. Available from www.laptoplunches.com, you can fill your bento box with a half sandwich, grapes, celery and carrot sticks, and a handful of mini-graham cracker pieces. Low fat milk drinkable yogurt, or a bottle of water complete your meal.

(2) Leftovers Make a Comeback: One of my favorite things to do with a leftover rotisserie chicken is to make tortilla roll-ups. Start with a small whole wheat tortilla, spread with some cooked chicken, shredded 2% cheddar cheese, chunky salsa, and shredded lettuce, and roll up. Want to save calories? Replace the tortilla with a giant romaine leaf. Add some home-made trail mix and a fruit of your choice.

(3) Double Your Recipe: Making a pot of chili, vegetable, or other heary soup? Double the recipe and save for some tasty lunches. Make it a "soup and salad" lunch with a half pita filled with mixed greens. Add a fruit to round out the meal.

(4) PB and ???:: Who doesn't love peanut butter and jelly? Doll it up for your children by cutting this plain Jane sandwich into fun shapes with a cookie cutter (you might like it too!). Use all-fruit preserves, or try a sliced banana, instead., You might experiment with different nut butters - like almond or cashew. Stick for 100% whole wheat bread or wraps for optimal fiber intake. Combine with a sugar-free, low or non-fat yogurt, plus a 100 calorie bag of chips or cookies is an oldie but goodie for adults and kids alike.

Your Drink Tank: When it comes to drinks, think milk - low or non-fat. Both adults and kids need the calcium and vitamin D. Drinkable yogurt is also a good choice. Water is a good option, with dry powder sachets (like Crystal Light and Propel) can be added directy to water for a change of taste. Forget about soda or juice - but if you (or your child) just can't give up juices, try low-sugar juices fortified with calcium (think Trop50 orange juice and Snapple light apple juice as well as many others).

Room for Dessert? That is a personal choice - while fruit IS nature's candy, you might like a "treat" - which is a good thing to prevent deprivation (which can lead to overeating later on in the day). Downsize your snacks - and stick with 100 calories or less. Whether it's cookies, pudding, candy, or chips - they all come in single-serving packages of 100 calories or less. Or, make your own single serving treats in mini-plastic bags.