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I’ve received quite a few reader e-mails lately regarding how to pack a frugal school lunch. Here is what Amy sent:
Hey Jennie! My six year old is starting school this week and I’m hoping to be able to keep up with packing him lunches this year or school. I was wondering if you or the other readers have any tips on what I can pack that is healthy, yet does not cost a lot. Thanks!
Please share your tips or related questions in the comments section below!
Dewana says
The girlie’s favorite lunches are when I send nuts (cashews, pecans, walnuts), baby carrots, ranch dip, some fruit and slices of cheese (I buy a big block and slice it myself…she doesn’t like American cheese). I haven’t sent a sandwich in..well, I can’t remember the last time. One day this week it was yogurt, a pop tart. plum and some honey-roasted peanuts. I do send a drink, but tend to do 100% juices and we have a reusable container for them. Sometimes there’s something sweet in there…..sometimes not. I don’t want her to expect dessert at every meal. Once a week we do the pizza lunchable as a treat with applesauce or grapes and a drink….still lots cheaper than buying lunch at school.
Elizabeth says
We can’t do peanut butter or peanuts at all due to allergies in the classroom. My son still likes sandwiches – salami and cheese or sliced leftover meat, on bread or a bun or a tortilla depending on what’s on hand. He also likes chicken nuggets, fish sticks, or leftover pasta or casseroles in a thermos. To use the thermos, boil some water and pour it into the thermos and cover. Then, prepare your hot food. Quickly dump the water and wipe out the thermos, then add the very hot food and seal (don’t overtighten or it will be impossible to open). Remember it’s important to keep cold food cold, too. You can use an ice pack or freeze one of those little milk cartons to include.
Leah says
I’m a teacher, and the other day I noticed that one of my students was eating cubes of cold tofu for lunch. I thought that was a really creative and inexpensive way to get in some protein!
Christa says
My son went to a school where they didn’t have hot lunches for four years. I asked him what he wanted and it was always the same thing. PB&J, two servings of fruit, and a baggie of something salty (goldfish, pretzels, or pringles). I racked my brain trying to think of new lunches, but this was what he WANTED, so I went with it!
Maria says
In our household, I make the lunches for my kids. I do ask them what they want and I go from there. When fruit is on sale I stock up. I try to pack two fruits…a banana, some grapes, or an apple. Since we have little money to buy food this week. I stocked up on pinto beans. I cooked them…mash them and add cheese . I make bean burritos. I varied the burrito by adding potato squares. My kids love them!! Try to make everyday lunch slightly different. Sometimes I do add generic gold fish. I do ask my kids what other kids are eating. My daughter has a friend that eats PB sandwiches with marshmallow or honey .
Mary P says
Instead of buying baby carrots, I just buy regular carrots and cut them up into sticks for my son’s lunch. If we get grapes, I will wash them as soon as I get home from the grocery store and put them into individual sized portions in a baggie in the fridge, that way I can just grab a bag in the morning when I’m making his lunch. I also put yogurt (either in a cup or tube) in the freezer, that way by the time he has lunch it will have defrosted but is still cold. My son’s class is peanut free, so I can’t do the ever so easy pb&j, so some days I’ll do a homemade “lunchable” with crackers, ham and cheese, or just a ham and lettuce sandwich (his fave).
Nicole says
In the Mealr house, we eat whole foods – that means no processed foods and we do it on a budget! (My son has a soy allergy and soy is in EVERYTHING processed!) Here are two tips that help me:
#1 I find that noodles (whole wheat ones for the Ronzoni Smart Taste) work well for my two little ones. You can add just about ANYTHING you find on sale in them at the grocery store (whether it be pepperoni, ham, cheese or veggies) OR in your refrigerator each week.
#2 I also stay away from juice boxes when I am trying to save my pennies. Water is thirst what they need when they are thirsty, anyway.
Nicole says
I have to stop responding when my kids are distracting to me! ah!
Lois says
My daughter just started 1st grade this week and we have to pack lunches. We have been making her own “lunchable”. We bought Ritz crackers, ham, cheese and she puts it in her own container. We also pack fruit and 1 oreo cookie. I just bought a thermos so I plan to send warmed up left overs, chicken nuggets, etc. You can probably pack anything you made for lunch before. I hope to do PB&J and banana roll-ups (in a tortilla). We of course will do sandwiches. If you are looking to stay inexpensive stay away from convenience packaging, it costs way more than buying a big container and putting it in your own baggie or reusable packaging. I am going to buy applesauce in a big jar to put in her lunch, as I will be putting it in a container, much less expensive than buying 6 individual containers. Be creative!! I send water to drink, not juice boxes.