How much are your kid's lunches? $4.25 here!

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I about fell off the chair when I read this. My daughters' lunches went up this year to $2.25, not terrible I guess, but because we have 3 kids it can be costly so they are allowed to buy once a week. First grader wants PB&J everyday, but being her first year having lunch at school (we still have 1/2 day kindergarten here), really wants to buy for the experience of it, so she will buy pizza tomorrow at her sister's urging (she loves the school pizza.) 4th grader would like to buy more often, but has the thrifty gene from mommy and understands why she can't. She is also a healthy nut, wants the salad most of the time, so I can pack her that no problem.
Oldest started HS this year, and would really like to buy everyday. I packed her's yesterday (first day) and she came home saying she was buying tomorrow (today), I said fine if that was her one day for the week. I don't think she liked that, however the cost of feeding a teenager (even a girl) is pricey so I might let her do an every other day buy, alternating the other days with PB&J. We'll see, she is a foodie, she loves everything so no matter what I pack I know she likes it, I think it's more of a lunch from home is "not cool" thing and while I think that is silly, I remember as a teenager not thinking that way. So, I will probably cave on her pretty early.

I still can't get over $4.25. I couldn't do it, if not financially--- just in protest.

I know prices are going up in every part of our lives, but that seems outrageous!!

 

[amandaraye]

Holy smokes, $4.25?!? That's crazy!

And to think I was mad that on day 3 of school without warning they raised the price of DS school lunch to $2.00 without notifying us! sheesh!

 

[jnzimm]

$ 2.00 here and includes salsd bar. My daughter loves the salad bar and eats it almost every day.

 

[kim929]

Our school lunch is 2.25 in elementary and middle school. HS can pick and choose what they want to eat so it starts at the 2.25 and goes up. Breakfast is free for all kids then there is the reduced lunch for .40 milk is the same price.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I just thought about it and for $0.20 more she could get a meal at Pecos Bill!!!!

 

[My2Angels]

OP is your child in a private school? My DD's are in public school and their lunches are $1.75 per day. My neighbor however, is in a private school and hers are around $4.00 per day.

 

[MaryKLady]

Okay good, I'm glad I'm not alone thinking this is a bit much. French chef, not quite but close. The name of the company has "Gourmet" in the title. Each lunch has a main and side dish with a piece of fresh fruit every day. Milk is an extra $.50....so now my DD's lunch is $4.75. Oh, and an optional dessert is
$.75 and an extra portion of lunch is $ 1.50....YIKES! I could see if it were organic but it seems to be just a hair above institutional food. As a matter of fact, the school probably could hire a company who does organic lunches for around the same price. AAARRRGGGHHH!

We live in a pretty affluent area, so for most price may not be a problem. We do alright but my goodness, there have got to be some kids that don't qualify for free lunch but who's parents just can't afford to let their kids indulge in a $5/day lunch. ...and what if you have a few kids? I just don't see where a school can have the nerve to charge so much for nuggets and buttered noodles!

I think I'll let her have it once a week. She's not a big eater to begin with so I like to see what she doesn't eat when she comes home with her lunch bag.

 

[MaryKLady]

OP is your child in a private school? My DD's are in public school and their lunches are $1.75 per day. My neighbor however, is in a private school and hers are around $4.00 per day.

Nope, public. It's crazy, right?!?

 

[Beehn]

$1.25 here in Southern Illinois....If a parent eats with the kid its $2...(DH says he might be in the cafeteria every day with DD...can't get lunch anywhere else for $2!!)

 

[LadySincere]

1.70 for lunch 1.40 for bfast if they choose to eat

 

[nessz79]

I think ours is $2 for elementary...could be $1.75. We pack for now but I'm looking forward to the day he wants to buy lunch!

$4.25 is absolutely nuts!!

 

[imthatgirl]

$1.80 for lunch here and .80 for breakfast, although my children have never bought the breakfast.
i send in enough for 100 days on the first day which is $180. usually i get money back at the end of the year.
at that cost i dont think i would allow my child to buy lunch.

 

[Flashbaak]

My son is in private school. Their lunches are $3.50/ea prepaid, $4.50 if bought the same day, or $5.50 for an emergency lunch. I have no idea what they get for the price since we've never bought one.

 

[EthansMom]

Okay good, I'm glad I'm not alone thinking this is a bit much. French chef, not quite but close. The name of the company has "Gourmet" in the title. Each lunch has a main and side dish with a piece of fresh fruit every day. Milk is an extra $.50....so now my DD's lunch is $4.75. Oh, and an optional dessert is
$.75 and an extra portion of lunch is $ 1.50....YIKES! I could see if it were organic but it seems to be just a hair above institutional food. As a matter of fact, the school probably could hire a company who does organic lunches for around the same price. AAARRRGGGHHH!

I live in an affluent community in CT and that's right about on par with the prices for our lunch program. We have a small public grade school with no cafeteria, so the "hot lunch" is purchased from local restaurants. Last year, the cost of lunch was $3.50 to $3.75, not including a drink.

Our program still hasn't started up, but I fully expect it to run $4 per meal. I allow DS to buy lunch once day each week.

Personally, I'm shocked at how many families are happy to shell out $4 per child most every day so they don't have to pack a lunch.

 

[marcyinPA]

WOW! It's $2 here and I thought that was bad

Same here (for my elementary DS). 2.25 for my middle schooler. The food is crap here too....totally not worth what it costs!

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

My DS lunch (3rd) is $1.80 (went up from $1.75 last year) and milk is $0.40. I like to pack his lunch four days a week and one hot lunch during the week.

 

[daleswife]

OUCH!!! Id say thats way too much. You better be getting a whole lot with that. Our DD's Lunch is $.75 a day and breakfast is $.50. They have healthy breakfast with the option of cereal, (occasionally they give them a donut!!!) The lunch sucks though, spaghetti, chicken nuggets, its healthy food, but my DD wont eat it so I still have to pack her lunch.....

 

[acadia1960]

2.00 for elementary & middle school. Milk is .50

 

[mary0305]

Our prices here in Middle Tennessee just went up this year to $ 2.50 for lunch.

 

[3AUTigerFans]

My child is in the 3rd grade and his lunch at school is $3.75. He only buys lunch from school one or two days a week. Thank goodness!