Buying school lunch is cheaper than making it!

[PatsMom]

You make your kid use her allowance to buy food at the grocery store for lunch?

Yes I do. I have since she was 16 years old. Her allowance amount is based on the cost of school lunches, an amount for entertainment, and an amount for saving for luxury items like the expensive jeans Mom won't pay for or iTunes cards. She can choose to buy lunch items at the grocery store and have extra money for entertainment/savings or she can save herself a little time and buy pre-made food. She is learning how to budget. She is very happy with the arrangement since several of her friends have to pay for their school lunches from their part time job paychecks. Her paycheck is hers to save or spend as she sees fit. Because we have always emphasized "saving up" from allowance even back when she just got $5 a week to blow, she's a pretty good budgeter and is saving most of her paycheck for college expenses. Except she did buy new snowboard equipment this year since she's working at a ski area and gets free skiing.

 

[MushyMushy]

At my kids' schools, lunches are $1.50 for the middle school and $1.60 for the high school. Breakfast is $1. The food isn't horrible, but they actually like it. Usually whatever they have for the daily special is good, but they also have other options, like hamburgers, chicken patty, pb&j, salad, etc.

You make your kid use her allowance to buy food at the grocery store for lunch?

Not a bad idea depending on how it's done. My best friend in high school had to buy her own lunches with allowance money. She also had to buy her own clothes, gas, etc. But she got over $200 a month to learn how to budget. That was kind of a lot in the 80s.

 

[JoiseyMom]

DS7 pays 1.75 for lunch. He picks the day he wants it. Our school lunches are pretty good...nothing is fried..it is baked. He has his favorites. DD12 in middle school loves school lunches. They have a salad bar, cheese steaks, deli and the specials of the day. The lunches, unless it's deli is usually 2.00 a day. They have a system with a declining balance..so I send a check periodically. I trust DD to make good choices. When they have beligian waffles..she gets it wthout the ice cream..she knows I wouldn't approve!! Now if she would only listen to me about other things .

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

You make your kid use her allowance to buy food at the grocery store for lunch?

She didnt' say her allowance, she said AN allowance....as I took it, for her school lunches and then let's her decide which way she wants to spend it. I think that is a great idea myself!

 

[cepmom]

my kids' school lunches are reasonable also, but I prefer that they bring from home whenever possible. The lunches that they serve are not healthy in the least. Last year was DD's first year in the middle school where they have several things to choose from each day. She wanted bagels with cream cheese most days, and if not bagels she would choose pizza. This year I told them they may buy one day per week and they must bring lunch from home the other days. They will bring PB& Fluff, yogurt, turkey sandwiches, cut up veggies etc. And since we have these things in the house most days anyway, I feel like it's not costing me anything to provide them with a healthy lunch.

 

[PaulaSue]

OP, I wonder what you pack. For my 3 it costs each $2 a day for school lunches and it cost about $1 to pack.

I used to let them buy ever day but then I saw what they get here at the new school and my kids would end up eating pizza of some kind EVERY day so I started a new rule that they could only buy 2-3 time s aweek and we would pack the rest.

P.S. It is terrible how much food is wasted in the cafe. In every DDs class I would see tons being thrown out because the kids don't like something but it has to be served to them (even mashed pot with gravey with the pizza if it was turkey day, CRAZY!).

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

Not the OP, but it costs me close to $2 to pack my childs lunch. I only pack healthy stuff though. Cheese and crackers, PB on whole grain, yogurts, baby carrots, sugar less applesauce, fresh fruit, organic milk, 100% juice boxes. I don't pack any junk in her lunches at all so they aren't cheap...and I buy everything on sale.

Like I pay $2.50 for a loaf of bread, so each slice costs about a dime. Times 2, that is twenty cents. Add some turkey, that brings the sandwhich up to .75 by itself. PB is cheaper of course. But her drink can be another .30, her baby carrots about .20, an apple or banana is another .20 0r .30. Yogurts are at least .40 each if I got them on sale and with a coupon. That adds up fast.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

But the school food is nasty!

I remember way back when I started 1st grade. I ate the school lunch for only 1 day then when home and told my mom I would never eat their food again. I took my own lunch every day from the 2nd day of 1st grade all the way through to the first day of 7th grade. It was then no longer "cool" to take your own lunch.

From then on, I hardly ate any actual real food until I got home from school.

I still remember the plastic pizza that they served. blech!

 

[HeatherC]

In our town, even if they paid me....I'd still be sending in my kids lunches. I hate making them, but when you look at what they get it is total crap.

I just don't consider their side of "fruit" like a cup of diced peaches drowning in heavy syrup as the best option. Or applesauce made with HFCS.

The other problem we have here is that the kids have very limited time to eat. My son has the last lunch (4th grade) and he says the kids that go through the lunch line wind up throwing out most of their lunch because time is up by the time they sit down. That is just horrible.

I do think parents should go visit their school cafeterias a few times. Once you really see what is going on, it gives a whole new perspective.

By the way....I'm not saying all schools are like this, but ours certainly is and I'd guess 95% of the rest are too. Such a shame.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Yes I do. I have since she was 16 years old. Her allowance amount is based on the cost of school lunches, an amount for entertainment, and an amount for saving for luxury items like the expensive jeans Mom won't pay for or iTunes cards. She can choose to buy lunch items at the grocery store and have extra money for entertainment/savings or she can save herself a little time and buy pre-made food. She is learning how to budget. She is very happy with the arrangement since several of her friends have to pay for their school lunches from their part time job paychecks. Her paycheck is hers to save or spend as she sees fit. Because we have always emphasized "saving up" from allowance even back when she just got $5 a week to blow, she's a pretty good budgeter and is saving most of her paycheck for college expenses. Except she did buy new snowboard equipment this year since she's working at a ski area and gets free skiing.

That's what my parents did too. In high school, my lunches were $1 per day. I was given only $10 per week, which left me $5 if I bought my lunch every day.

 

[onelilspark]

What's surprising to me is how many people who have posted have commented on two things:
a) Many of you think school lunches are "nasty."
AND
b) Many of you think school lunches are "cheap."

Where can you get a good, healthy, lunch for less than many of the costs I've seen here? In most cases it was under $2? Heck, under $3.50 if you're being generous? You think of what all is required by the state to give them, for lunch it's 5 food items from these 4 groups: meat/meat alt, veatable/fruit, grain/bread, and milk. And on top of that, now there's the movement to make everything whole grain/whole wheat, extra fiber, extra protien, etc etc which only costs more. The focus is high on putting all that extra stuff into it and if you want it to taste good at the same time, the price on it is high, there's not much you can do about it. If people were willing to pay a normal price for a lunch that their kids were guaranteed to have a true healthy lunch, there wouldn't be an issue. The issue is that if the price were to raise to a normal, say $5 per lunch, parents would pack lunches all the time. And I can almost guarantee you that the majority of kids wouldn't be bringing in healthy items, because that's not what they're doing right now.

 

[Kath2003]

My lunch costs about $4.50 - I get a main dish (something like lasange, or an omelette, or a slice of quiche, or a pork chop etc.), a carb (so a bread roll, some potatoes, rice etc.) and as many veggies as I want. Can't make that for $4.50

 

[luvmy3]

What's surprising to me is how many people who have posted have commented on two things:
a) Many of you think school lunches are "nasty."
AND
b) Many of you think school lunches are "cheap."

Where can you get a good, healthy, lunch for less than many of the costs I've seen here? In most cases it was under $2? Heck, under $3.50 if you're being generous? You think of what all is required by the state to give them, for lunch it's 5 food items from these 4 groups: meat/meat alt, veatable/fruit, grain/bread, and milk. And on top of that, now there's the movement to make everything whole grain/whole wheat, extra fiber, extra protien, etc etc which only costs more. The focus is high on putting all that extra stuff into it and if you want it to taste good at the same time, the price on it is high, there's not much you can do about it. If people were willing to pay a normal price for a lunch that their kids were guaranteed to have a true healthy lunch, there wouldn't be an issue. The issue is that if the price were to raise to a normal, say $5 per lunch, parents would pack lunches all the time. And I can almost guarantee you that the majority of kids wouldn't be bringing in healthy items, because that's not what they're doing right now.

People are willing to pay it we just have to get it at the grocery store. My kids lunch cost $2.10 and you are right I don't expect the best lunch for that price that is why I choose to purchase my own healthier food at a higher price. My problem is when the school puts all this focus on giving the kids healthy options, but in reality they are not healthy at all. A fruit cup filled with sugary syrup as the fruit/veggie option is not as healthy as an apple or fresh carrots. The schools give parents this false sense of thinking they are giving you healthy choices, it just takes SEEING what those choices are to know its not true.

Also I think kids would bring in what was available to them. If there are healthier options at home and the parent packs, then that is what the kids bring in. If its just junk then that is what they will bring in.

 

[castleview]

People are willing to pay it we just have to get it at the grocery store. My kids lunch cost $2.10 and you are right I don't expect the best lunch for that price that is why I choose to purchase my own healthier food at a higher price. My problem is when the school puts all this focus on giving the kids healthy options, but in reality they are not healthy at all. A fruit cup filled with sugary syrup as the fruit/veggie option is not as healthy as an apple or fresh carrots. The schools give parents this false sense of thinking they are giving you healthy choices, it just takes SEEING what those choices are to know its not true.

Also I think kids would bring in what was available to them. If there are healthier options at home and the parent packs, then that is what the kids bring in. If its just junk then that is what they will bring in.

I have mixed feelings on this. Yes, I would love for my kids to only indulge in healthy foods - I try and limit the amount of HFCS and hydrogenated fats in the house. On the other hand, I grew up with a mother that was very restrictive regarding food. Snacks and sugary cereals were few and far between. The problem was outside the house, if we tried sugar we acted like animals out of the cage. Not because of the sugar rush, but because we felt so free to eat these things and we went wild. I'm not sure about the forbidden fruit theory. I remember being jealous of kids who had "good" snacks.

 

[rparmfamily]

I eat w/my kids at school quite a bit, so I'm very aware of what they get served (and what's "good" LOL) and also what other kids get packed in their lunches!!!! They had to BAN soda in lunches at our school. (k-6) There are kids that get Lunchables everyday. I don't deny my kids...on fieldtrips they get the Lunchable of their choice but they know it's because it's something fun/special.

What I packed for my kids yesterday:
pepperoni slices
cheese slices (mont jack and cheddar)
crackers--those 3 items can make little sandwiches but my kids eat them alone
cut fresh strawberries or grapes
yogurt
pack of cheddar bunnies (like goldfish)
2 cookies or hershey kisses (some sort of small treat)
ice water (with permission to buy milk)

Served at lunch: (for $1.35)
(turkey) chili
steamed brown rice
garden salad (no dressing unless they grab a tiny one)
orange wedges
cornbread

I packed because they don't like chili but I think it sounds like a good lunch!

Today is:
pizza (on whole wheat french bread, they make it themselves)
vegetable sticks (? carrots?)
peaches (probably canned, ewwwww)
jello

And of course my kids bought!!!!


My kids also get served (just to show you fun Hawaii foods LOL)
Kalua pork and cabbage/spinach
steamed brown rice
lomi lomi tomatoes (like cured tomotoes)
pineapple chunks
sweetbread

Sounds good LOL!

 

[cepmom]

I eat w/my kids at school quite a bit, so I'm very aware of what they get served (and what's "good" LOL) and also what other kids get packed in their lunches!!!! They had to BAN soda in lunches at our school. (k-6) There are kids that get Lunchables everyday. I don't deny my kids...on fieldtrips they get the Lunchable of their choice but they know it's because it's something fun/special.

What I packed for my kids yesterday:
pepperoni slices
cheese slices (mont jack and cheddar)
crackers--those 3 items can make little sandwiches but my kids eat them alone
cut fresh strawberries or grapes
yogurt
pack of cheddar bunnies (like goldfish)
2 cookies or hershey kisses (some sort of small treat)
ice water (with permission to buy milk)

Served at lunch: (for $1.35)
(turkey) chili
steamed brown rice
garden salad (no dressing unless they grab a tiny one)
orange wedges
cornbread

I packed because they don't like chili but I think it sounds like a good lunch!

Today is:
pizza (on whole wheat french bread, they make it themselves)
vegetable sticks (? carrots?)
peaches (probably canned, ewwwww)
jello

And of course my kids bought!!!!


My kids also get served (just to show you fun Hawaii foods LOL)
Kalua pork and cabbage/spinach
steamed brown rice
lomi lomi tomatoes (like cured tomotoes)
pineapple chunks
sweetbread

Sounds good LOL!

wow...those do sound good! And much healthier than my kids lunch choices. Just looking at DD8's menu, because it's right on my desk, she has these for choices for one week:

french bread pizza (not on whole wheat bread)
fresh fruit
apple juice

"The Sampler"
mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, meatballs & marinara sauce
dinner roll/fruit
juice

Hamburger or cheeseburger
glazed carrots
chips
juice

pasta & meatsauce
green beans
dinner roll
fruit
juice

turkey & cheese sub
pasta salad
lettuce tomato
fruit
juice

they also have throughout the month,
hot dogs
pancakes & sausage
bagels
tacos
nachos
mac & cheese

with the exception of a few items listed, none of these are healthy choices. I know the price is cheap (primary school is $1.75, middle school $2.25) so I have no complaints about that, but I'd rather maybe spend a little more for healthier choices and make it myself.

 

[java]

Our school went to healthy lunch 2 years ago.
(don't get me wrong they still get fries- they are just baked.) But the pizza is not on whole wheat crust, they get carrot sticks and apples slices as choices. There is a salad bar and wraps available.

My daughter loves it(she's in middle school- that's where it changed to her wanting to buy) and at $2.25 good deal for me if she eats it. I make probably on average once a week(she has a laptop lunchbox and likes the "japanese" style lunches- with rice molds ect) But with 4 kids - that takes a bit of work and pre warning not an am I want to bring today.

My other 3 do not buy. 2 are home at lunch and my high schooler doesn't get a lunch so he eats when he gets home. ( A LOT by the way)

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Yes I do. I have since she was 16 years old. Her allowance amount is based on the cost of school lunches, an amount for entertainment, and an amount for saving for luxury items like the expensive jeans Mom won't pay for or iTunes cards. She can choose to buy lunch items at the grocery store and have extra money for entertainment/savings or she can save herself a little time and buy pre-made food. She is learning how to budget. She is very happy with the arrangement since several of her friends have to pay for their school lunches from their part time job paychecks. Her paycheck is hers to save or spend as she sees fit. Because we have always emphasized "saving up" from allowance even back when she just got $5 a week to blow, she's a pretty good budgeter and is saving most of her paycheck for college expenses. Except she did buy new snowboard equipment this year since she's working at a ski area and gets free skiing.

I just wanted to say that I think this is awesome!

When DS8 entered kindergarten he used to beg for the school lunch. We were on a budget, so I told him he could pick one or two days a month to get a hot lunch, otherwise it was a sack lunch from home. When we got the monthly school menu he'd pick the two lunches he wanted to buy.

Last year he asked for a hot lunch only a couple of times, and this year he cried when I forgot to make his lunch one day and sent money. Apparently NO ONE in his 3rd grade class buys lunch.

The lunches a few years ago were very fatty, but they've since tried to offer healthier foods. Today they offer a fatty entree and a low fat (and less popular) item:

Whole grain turkey corn dog OR Asian chicken salad
Chicken fries OR Ham & cheese wrap
Mac & cheese OR Chef salad
Baked chicken nuggets OR Veggie & cheese wrap
Fried fish nuggets OR Ham & cheese wrap
Beef & cheese nachos OR Chicken wrap

 

[bigmerle1966]

Not the OP, but it costs me close to $2 to pack my childs lunch. I only pack healthy stuff though. Cheese and crackers, PB on whole grain, yogurts, baby carrots, sugar less applesauce, fresh fruit, organic milk, 100% juice boxes. I don't pack any junk in her lunches at all so they aren't cheap...and I buy everything on sale.

Like I pay $2.50 for a loaf of bread, so each slice costs about a dime. Times 2, that is twenty cents. Add some turkey, that brings the sandwhich up to .75 by itself. PB is cheaper of course. But her drink can be another .30, her baby carrots about .20, an apple or banana is another .20 0r .30. Yogurts are at least .40 each if I got them on sale and with a coupon. That adds up fast.

You could cut the cost a little by doing what a PP said and using a re-usable drink box and putting applesauce in a gladware container rather then using the individual ones.

 

[CLEVERGIRL]

What's surprising to me is how many people who have posted have commented on two things:
a) Many of you think school lunches are "nasty."
AND
b) Many of you think school lunches are "cheap."

Where can you get a good, healthy, lunch for less than many of the costs I've seen here? In most cases it was under $2? Heck, under $3.50 if you're being generous? You think of what all is required by the state to give them, for lunch it's 5 food items from these 4 groups: meat/meat alt, veatable/fruit, grain/bread, and milk. And on top of that, now there's the movement to make everything whole grain/whole wheat, extra fiber, extra protien, etc etc which only costs more. The focus is high on putting all that extra stuff into it and if you want it to taste good at the same time, the price on it is high, there's not much you can do about it. If people were willing to pay a normal price for a lunch that their kids were guaranteed to have a true healthy lunch, there wouldn't be an issue. The issue is that if the price were to raise to a normal, say $5 per lunch, parents would pack lunches all the time. And I can almost guarantee you that the majority of kids wouldn't be bringing in healthy items, because that's not what they're doing right now.

I understand what you are saying and you are right there is a national movement towards healthier choices in schools. The lunches are also cheap. What parents have to be careful of is making sure their school lunchrooms are in compliance with the national program. I can tell you that some schools in the county and district where I worked were not. Either for cost or convenience some times. Sometimes the healthy choices were prepared in unhealthy ways. And those baked fries are not always baked. Frying is quicker and time is usually of the essence. I don't think anybody is wrong here. I just think all parents should at least check on what their kids are getting in their school lunches. I know that some schools are great as far as that goes.