Summer is winding down, and for parents, that means it's almost time to get back into the school routine. Along with early mornings, homework, and after-school activities comes another daily challenge: planning, shopping for, and packing school lunches.

A new report found that parents spend an average of 432 hours on meal planning and preparation during the school year.

Here's how that breaks down over a typical 36-week school year:

• 3 hours per week planning meals

• 3 hours per week grocery shopping

• 2 hours per week packing school lunches

• 4 hours per week cooking meals

That's a total of 12 hours every week spent making sure the family is fed.

When it comes to school lunches, parents say their biggest challenges are finding foods their kids will actually eat, keeping lunches interesting, and avoiding food waste, which also helps save money.

Whether it's the sandwich that comes home untouched or the snack that mysteriously disappears without being eaten, packing lunches can feel like a guessing game.

As another school year begins, parents everywhere are once again looking for quick, affordable, and kid-approved lunch ideas that won't end up in the trash.