How much are your kids school lunches?

[mom2rose&john]

K-3 = $1.95
4-12 = $2.30
Students can purchase a maximum of three meals per day.

The 4-12 schools serves pizza, sub of the day and a salad bar every day in addition to three daily selections. All our schools in the district serve breakfast for $1.25. All students are able to purchase snacks a la carte for
$.55 unless parent has signed a note to abstain from snacks.

The High School has a Coffee Bar (Seriously ).

All students have an ID card that serves as a debit card for purchases. No cash is exchanged in the cafeteria.

I think our school district has better cafeterias than where I work.

 

[ellie05]

We are hosting an exchange student so this lunch situation is new for us. I have no idea what we spend on her lunch. Lunch at school is $2.80 but she wants nothing to do with it. We were surprise how unhealthy even the "healthy" options are. So she takes lunch to school. They also offer free breakfast but she is not interested in that either.

 

[Iowajes]

Our school district is $2.30 (elementary), $2.40 (middle), and $2.50 (high school). Meals for adults are $3.30. The high schoolers get the same food as the younger grades, but it is 700ish calories instead of 500ish calories, so the portion is a bit larger.

Breakfast is $1.60 for students and $1.75 for adults.

I don't have kids yet, but when I was a kid buying lunch at school was a very rare treat. With these prices, I can see why. Sending in dinner leftovers or a simple sandwich and a piece of fruit costs a lot less. Although apples are up to like 75 cents each, so maybe not for long.

 

[CdnCarrie]

No school lunches in elementary schools here. I don't know of any public schools that even have a kitchen except maybe in the staff room.

High schools have a cafeteria. It's like a canteen. You pay for what your order. There isn't one set price.

 

[islandtimect]

Elementary is $3. Middle and high school is $3.50.

 

[AndreaDM]

K-4, $1.90
5-8, $2.40
9-12, $2.50

My DD is in 6th grade and buys about half the time. I can transfer money into her online account and it's deducted that way, no sending in lunch money and I get an email when funds are low. I can also go into the account and see what she bought so I know she isn't spending it all on junk.

 

[kiramay]

Grades 1-4

Special PTO lunch (once a month, places like Culvers, Portillos)- $5

Regular lunch- $3, includes milk

Extra milk- 55¢.

I let the kids pick 4 PTO lunches for the year, and they buy twice a week on average.

 

[Mommee]

$2.30 for elementary, $2.65 for middle, and $2.65/$3.10 for high school (depending on if you get a regular lunch or a bigger lunch.) There's also a cafe where it runs closer to $4 (which I do believe is run by the culinary students). There are also a ton of a la carte options, especially at the high school.

My elementary daughter usually brings, as she will opt for the "yogurt, string cheese, and goldfish" lunch, which I can pack at home. All food served is also nut-free, so bringing is the only way she can have peanut butter. One of my middle-schoolers buys every day, and the other brings every day except pizza day. He likes the food served but wants more time sitting around with his friends. My oldest graduated last year, but he loved the cafeteria food. Also, as a pp mentioned, carrying around a lunch would be a pain. The high school is huge so going to the locker is a once a day thing.

 

[kymom99]

$3.00 for my son's private high school. However, he always buys and extra drink or an extra portion. Usually $4.00 total. I have told him that this year I need him to pack twice a week. he likes the food at school for the most part.

 

[Jedana]

DS's school:

Breakfast 1.25
Reduced bfast .30
adult bfast 2.00

elementary lunch (DS) 1.75
secondary lunch 2.10
reduced .40
adult lunch 3.00

A la carte:
condiment package .10 (kids were eating the ketchup packets )
String cheese .20
Whole grain toast/crackers (2 pkg) .20
condiment cup .30 (ranch or bbq sauce, honey mustard, etc)
whole grain cookie .40
wheat/grains roll .40
whole grain baked cheez its/goldfish or chips (variety) .50
munchie mix or whole grain pretzels or popcorn .50
sunflower seeds .50
fresh fruit/fruit bar/juice 4oz .50
vegetable/fruit .60
low fat ice cream/yogurt or Trix yogurt .65
whole grain Rice Krispy treat .75
breakfast entree only .80
parfaits with fruit/yogurt 1.50
lunch entree only 1.55

milk .50
bottle water 1.00
Senior high only: diet Brisk Tea, Fruit Wave H20, G-2 Gatorade 1.00
Senior high only: Sobe Lifewater, Propel WAter, Diet green tea 1.50
Senior/junior high: Dole 100% juice 1.00
senior/junior high: Planet Smoothie, 100% jice 2.75


There are rules about portion sizes, nutrition requirements, and what they can sell. Elementary school 8oz milk/juice, junior/senior high 12oz milk/juice. Senior high low cal beverages 12 oz or calorie free beverages 20 oz.


I pay online and can block DS from buying any or all ala carte items, or set a daily spending limit. I haven't had to do that yet--he buys one meal and one a la carte item (sometimes 2 if he wants some water).

The food is hit and miss. He likes the whole grain chicken nuggets, but not the pizza; so on the days he doesn't like the menu, he either packs a lunch or gets the salad option (they always have a salad option). They have to get an entree, milk, and a vegetable or fruit. They can get everything offered (one of the two options), if they want to.

today's breakfast is
Cheddar cheese omelet with whole grain toast OR
Whole grain French toast sticks w/sausage patty
Fruit/juice
milk
Grab and Go option:
Whole grain Muffin, string cheese, yogurt w/choice of fresh fruit or juice +milk

Tomorrow's breakfast:
Yogurt w/whole grain cereal and string cheese OR
whole grain pancakes w/sausage patty and potato tots
Fresh fruit/juice
Milk
Grab and Go:
Whole grain sausage biscuit w/fruit or juice +milk

Today's lunch:
Stuffed crust pizza (whole grain crust) OR
Grilled chicken salad w/fresh spinach mix and crackers
Whole grain side of spaghetti
Cucumbers and Carrot Cup w/dip OR seasoned Corn
Fresh or chilled fruit
Milk

Tomorrow's lunch
Whole grain grilled cheese sandwich w/homemade Vegetable soup OR
chef salad w/fresh spinach mix and crackers
Tossed salad w/spinach or California blend veggies
Fresh or chilled fruit or fruit juice

 

[Reyes0702]

$1.75 for breakfast
$2.75 for lunch
.30 reduced breakfast
.40 reduced lunch

A .30 cent increase on regular price (non reduced) from last year. My kids ate lunch at school last year, this year they take their own. My dd eats breakfast at school, but my ds says he doesn't have time so he will start eating breakfast at home from now on.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My daughter goes to private school and has a local "all organic" company doing lunch 4 times a week. this y ear there are only 5 or 6 choices for the entire school year. It costs $5.95. There is only one or two things my daughter will eat. I ordered it once so far and I told her to tell me how it is. If it's good and she likes it (and eats most of it), I'll order again. In the past the food hasn't been all that great.

 

[sherry7]

Our public school district lunches are $2.00 for elementary and $2.25 for secondary, which I think is reasonable. DS went there, had school lunch everyday, and said it was pretty good. They always had at least 2 main course choices, or a deli sandwich made to order, several side dish options, etc. They've been incorporating whole grains, more veggies and fruits, low fat milk, etc for several years...before the First Lady made it an issue.

DD is going to a private school, so she has to bring a lunch. Although I really don't mind packing, it would be nice if NOT packing was an occasional option.

 

[erij11]

Lunches in our county are $2.00 for all grade levels. My DD is in high school and packs her own lunch every night. She chooses to do this because her lunch break is only 23 minutes long. She says by the time she would stand in line to buy lunch and pay she would only have a few minutes to actually eat! This way she can just sit right down and have time to eat and visit with her friends who also pack.

 

[AZMermaid]

$2.50 for K-5

My son's preschool offers lunch for $4.00

 

[Jaime4004]

Our lunches are 2.25 for elementary and 2.50 for middle school. My new middle schooler has been buying lunches most days and I just checked her account yesterday. She's been buying the lunch, plus a bag of chips or popcorn and a water, at $1 each. So it's been 4.50/day, which is too much for me. Had to cut her off. Milk is included with the lunch, so I told her to drink that bring her water bottle to lunch. Not paying $1 for plastic bottles of water. Also can only get chips/snack once/week. We can bring those from home for much cheaper, plus I don't want her eating them everyday...

 

[trinchick]

$2.50 for elementary school lunch; DD buys 2-3 days a week depending on what they're serving. The price went up a quarter since last year.

Meals at her school are pretty healthy, and DD generally likes all of their veggies, salads, etc. If you don't care for main lunch, there are also lots of alternative options, including pizza (but not as good as the pizza they serve on Fridays), chef's salad, ham/cheese sandwich, bagel with cream cheese, or PB&J.

This year they started serving breakfast for $1.50

DS's private preschool includes breakfast and lunch with tuition. LOVE THAT.

 

[julieanddanny]

Our prices just went up a nickel.
Pubic Elementary School PK-6
breakfast w/milk $1.40
lunch w/milk $2.45
only milk $.50

65% of our school gets free or reduced lunch and free breakfast. I here that the meals are limited to 300 calories and they have a hard time making things the kids will eat and and also satisfy their hunger. My kids take hot lunch per the menu - average 3 times a week...

 

[WantToGoNow]

Elementary $2.55
Middle School $2.75

Breakfast $1.35

 

[NinaBella]

I have two students in middle school. I erased their name and school name but this is a snapshot of their meal history. They can choose the standard hot lunch or a-la-cart. You can also put meal controls on their account, but I don't do that. Son lunch is before daughter's. He likes the Buffalo Chicken, she likes the salad. LoL. It shows a 14-day history.