School lunch just might be worth it

[disneydreamersx4]

So, my middle school DD has been getting chef prepared lunches like seasoned chicken & potatoes or roasted beef with peppers, onions, mushrooms & potatoes all for $2.25 a day and that includes chocolate milk. With the price of deli meat hovering around $6 - $9 per pound I think the school lunch is looking pretty affordable and nutritious. pound of deli meat makes about 4 sandwiches for us so that's $2 just for the meat. Of course, this DD doesn't like pb&j, tuna or hummus.

 

[brymolmom]

I agree. Ours is $1.85 including a milk so I think it's a bargain. From the viewpoint of health - I have a rule that the kids must bring their lunch at least 2 times a week....but the other 3 they can either buy or bring - their choice. Yesterday ds got - pizza 'rounds' (like bagels), corn, apple sauce, an apple and a milk. Not too bad!

My other rule for buying is that they HAVE to have at least one of the fruits or vegetables offered - not just the main entree. DS always eats just about everything, but this rule is more for dd...she usually opts to bring 3 - 4 days per week for this reason (she'd rather choose her own fruit from home instead).

 

[NVDisMom]

I wish our middle school charged those prices! $5.50 for a slice of pizza, fries and milk. $2.75 a la cart pizza. $5.50 for a taco salad, nothing with it...Needless to say we pack lunches.

 

[mousebymarriage]

Wow, I wish DD's High School cafateria was like yours. DD13 started High School on Tuesday and when she came home I asked her about school and lunchtime. She told me that she had a burger with tatertots, fruit and a can of fruit juice and it was $6.25. I asked her how the food was and she said "oh mom, that burger was gross, it looked like meat and was supposed to be meat but, I don't think there was any actual meat in it. I have never tasted anything like that!"

 

[3boymthr]

I feel your pain and totally agree.

Oldest DS (14) won't eat sandwiches for lunch - no way, no how, unless that's the only option. Plus he's earned the nickname of "hoover" my father so lovingly grants to all teenage boys. So when he goes away for a daytrip if I want him to eat I have to pack a thermos with soup/stew/chili/etc, chips, fruit, drink and dessert. A can of soup of a kind he will eat - he'll only eat chunky or progresso - will cost me $2.50- a can of chilli will run around $2.00. Add in the other items and it costs me more than lunch at school. Lunch cost is $2.50 and includes all the above plus more with more options and I don't have the cost and effort of cooking and clean-up.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

Omg! Those prices are outrageous and you're getting tater tots and fake burgers! I guess this is one good thing about living in Jersey.

 

[crjack]

The lunch program in our public schools are very good in terms of price and nutritional value. For my children, the big issue is time, especially now that both are in high school.

So far they have chosen to bring lunch just because the time allowed is short and it takes too long to get through the lunch line when you buy.

I'm stunned at prices of over $5 and $6 for school lunch. We live in a high cost area in the northeast and our prices aren't anywhere close to that!

 

[scrapquitler]

I wish our middle school charged those prices! $5.50 for a slice of pizza, fries and milk. $2.75 a la cart pizza. $5.50 for a taco salad, nothing with it...Needless to say we pack lunches.

I am assuming this is not a public school?

 

[DawnM]

Or a charter school.

Our local charter schools have catered lunches as there is no actual cafeteria. Lunches are over $5 and are catered by local fast food restaurants.

Dawn

I am assuming this is not a public school?

 

[LaDonna]

I've always been able to save more money by packing lunches, but I a coupon junkie so I tend to slash 75% off my grocery bill. I actually told my kiddos they could start buying their lunch in middle school, but after a semester my daughter started gaining weight I said it's back to bagged lunches.

 

[kacaju]

I work at a HS cafeteria. I am amazed at how many kids come in a blow $4-5 on crap. Many will take a sandwich and milk, which is considered a *lunch* for pricing. I try to offer the fresh fruit, salad bar which all comes with their lunch and most of them will not touch it.
Our lunch is $2.25

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Or a charter school.

Our local charter schools have catered lunches as there is no actual cafeteria. Lunches are over $5 and are catered by local fast food restaurants.

Dawn

My kids go to a charter school and have a great school lunch program ~ full kitchen/cafeteria.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

So, my middle school DD has been getting chef prepared lunches like seasoned chicken & potatoes or roasted beef with peppers, onions, mushrooms & potatoes all for $2.25 a day and that includes chocolate milk. With the price of deli meat hovering around $6 - $9 per pound I think the school lunch is looking pretty affordable and nutritious. pound of deli meat makes about 4 sandwiches for us so that's $2 just for the meat. Of course, this DD doesn't like pb&j, tuna or hummus.

How much meat do you put on the sandwich??? I can get sandwiches for 4 people all week out of a pound of cold cuts. 1 slice of meat & 1 slice of cheese is plenty IMO. If it's thin or small meat like salami dh will use 2.

 

[VAfamily1998]

How much meat do you put on the sandwich??? I can get sandwiches for 4 people all week out of a pound of cold cuts. 1 slice of meat & 1 slice of cheese is plenty IMO. If it's thin or small meat like salami dh will use 2.

I used to work in the service deli of a grocery store, and when we made sandwiches for customers, we put in 1/4 lb of meat per sandwhich.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

We use about 3 slices of meat maybe 4 for DH. One would not seem like a decent amount for us.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I used to work in the service deli of a grocery store, and when we made sandwiches for customers, we put in 1/4 lb of meat per sandwhich.

That's why I don't buy deli sandwiches.

We use about 3 slices of meat maybe 4 for DH. One would not seem like a decent amount for us.

That's just too much meat IMO. I actually gag at that amount if I try to eat it.

 

[mom of princessx2]

I used to work in the service deli of a grocery store, and when we made sandwiches for customers, we put in 1/4 lb of meat per sandwhich.

But not necessary on a childs lunch sandwich. I can get 5 sandwiches from 1/2 lb of turkey for dd. I buy which ever is on sale that week so my 1/2 lb usually costs $2 or $3 dollars, bag of chips or pretzels for $2, drinks $2 (10 pack) and fruit (whichever is in season and on sale). I probably spend $7-10 per week making lunches. She does eat school lunch 1 or 2 times per week but our school does not have the healthiest options.

 

[rigs32]

One piece of meat? Can you even taste it? All I'd taste is bread.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I just bought turkey lunchmeat from Sams-it's a 2-pk, 2lb for 6.87. We eat it fast enough but if not, you can freeze lunchmeat. I make 3-4 sandwiches a day and it will last for several days. I also buy the sliced cheese 'brick' there, 5 lbs for $9 something, and freeze it in blocks that fit in a deli container, so it doesn't spoil. Sams has this stuff so much cheaper than the grocery store, I've found.

My hs student's lunch is $2.75 but he likes it and it seems to have healthy choices. My ms student buys his too, but my elem girls bring lunch and dh and I do too.

 

[grumpeeduck]

count us in on "1 slice of deli meat ONLY per sandwich" plus a slice of cheese. All of those piles of meat can't be healthy, and kids don't need more than a slice. And it's lunch we're talking about, so that doesn't need to be as large as dinner anyway.