On Monday morning, I will be waking up bright and early to pack Evan’s school lunch. We pack for lots of reasons, but mainly so I can have control over his lunch and what he is eating. His school lunches are rather expensive, so I end up saving money along the way. I know many of you struggle with the affordability of school lunches vs. the quality of the lunch they receive. If your school is not serving quality lunches, this is one time where I say cheaper is not better.
As usual, you will want to combine coupons and sales to get the best prices on your lunches.
Ditch the Brown & Plastic Bags
Evan likes to use his Goodbyn Lunchbox, which saves money in the long run. By using reusable containers and his Goodbyn, we save money on Ziploc bags and packaging. We got the Goodbyn for school last year and will be using it again this year. It help really well.
You don’t have to use a box like a Goodbyn, you can use simple Ziploc divided containers. If you want more of a Bento Box feel, check out Easy Lunchbox for affordable, reusable containers. They are a “Bento Boxish”, without the Bento Box price.
Keep it Simple
You can do some amazing things with your kids lunches, but the reality is you don’t have to go crazy with school lunches. I like to keep it simple and it saves money. I stick to basics – and use what we already have. Simple lunches can be fantastic – check out these balanced, but simple lunch boxes.
Skip Prepackaged Items
Unless you can get a packaged item really cheap with coupons, try to skip the convenience food. Instead of buying individual yogurts, buy larger and divide it up yourself. Prepacked cheese cubes can cost three times as much per unit. Buy block cheese and cut it yourself. Pass on juice boxes – buy a container and refill it. Send water to school instead of juice. Take advantage of your school’s free mik program (no flavored milk please!).
Here is a list of other snack ideas for both at home and on the go.
Make it Yourself
Not only can you cut the costs, you can have control over the ingredients. Try baking muffins or snack balls on the weekend with your children. Make enough for an entire week worth of lunches.
Change up your Sandwich
There is no rule that your sandwich has to have bread! Meat and cheese can be the most expensive part of your child’s school lunch. Try an apple sandwich instead! You can also use tortillas as well- fill them with veggies and less meat. Your sandwich doesn’t have to be sliced bread, if bagels or muffins are on sale – use them.
Try skipping the bread all together and make lunchmeat roll ups. Make sandwiches with leftover meatloaf or chicken.
If you are sticking to peanut butter and jelly, use cookie cutters or sandwich cookies to create shapes and animals. The lunchtaker has some great ideas.
Check out places like the Funky Lunch to spice up your sandwiches by creating characters and more.
Want some lunch box inspirations – be sure to check out these fantastic blogs for ideas (these ladies have some fabulous recipes, be sure to check them out)
Amy from Amy’s Finer Things
Amy from Mom’s Toolbox
Linda from The Gluten Free Homemaker
Liz from Hoosier Homemade
Lynn from Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures
Toni from The Happy Housewife
Melissa McKenna says
Also check out http://WWW.weelicious.com. She has the best homemade snacks and lunch ideas along with several bento box ideas. A few you can get 10% off by using a code from her site. You should see if Goodbyn would hook your readers up ;) I have been eyeing them too and you are promoting them! I would do a video about how great it is, I know that!! I do them frequently for awesome products.
Kara says
Thanks for the great ideas. My son is only in half day K this year but will definately need ideas in the future. We have the divided Ziplocs and other containers that we use. It also helps you sandwiches and fruit not to get squashed.
Amy says
Love this, Shan! Great tips :)
heather says
My trick to affordable lunches? My Foodsaver! For example, this week I spent $9.10 on a 3lb bag of organic carrots, 2 bunches of celery and 3 huge cucumbers; $16.31 for 7 bags (80 pcs).$13.00 for 8 boxes of go-gurts (40 pcs). (total $ I cut the celery and carrots into sticks, and sliced the cucumbers. I packaged them 4 carrots, 4 celery sticks and 4 cucumbers to a sak and sealed them. Top it off with a string cheese, a Go-Gurt and an old Belly-Washers bottle filled with white milk ($7.56 for 4 jugs -1 jug ev 2 weeks)…Grand Total for 2 months worth of lunches- $45.97. There are roughly 40 days of school in 2 months. Daily cost of lunch for 2 kids- $1.15 ( $.57 /.58) each. Our school’s reduced lunch program is $.40 per student a day and their lunch is in NO WAY near as healthy.
D Hoppe says
We have been doing the reuseable lunch thing for 5 years and its paid off, there is a good site http://www.reuseit.com/ that has lots of good lunch things, I support the bento idea simply because I think it forces you to think outside the sandwich. My kids end up with healthier meals.
Melissa Hallock says
Shannon,
Thank you for the great ideas! I never saw the Goodbyn before. It looks really cool. Does it ever go on sale? I couldn’t believe the price of it. I know in the long run it will save money, but it’s having the money up front that is my problem. How many do you have? I’m thinking atleast two would be best.
Shannon says
Melissa,
We actually only have 1. I have to wash it everday :( I havent seem them on sale. :(
Lynn says
We have and love the Easy Lunch Boxes, but the Goodbyn Lunch Box looks really nice and like it would hold up a little better. I might have to check into those.Thanks for all the ideas!
Grace says
LOL. Sorry but just had to laugh when I looked at the last photo of the pretty sandwiches made into shapes out of bread. I think I would have to use SUPER GLUE to have them stay that way by the time by son gets to eat his lunch. Haha. I can only imagine what they would look like after carrying his lunch box on the bus, off the bus, to his classroom and then to the lunchroom.
On a side note, I do use the ziplock divided containers and they are great!
Shannon says
Grace LOL …. I was thinking for more of the home schoolers who do their special lunches. Gotta admit they are cool though.
Amy says
Thanks for the neat ideas!!!