Are School Lunches Putting a Dent in Your Budget?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

September 2, 2009

It’s no wonder. Children are in school approximately 180 days a year. The average cost of a school lunch is about $2.66 per day. If you’re buying school lunches every day of the school year you’re spending almost $479 per child per year. And, if you’re buying a drink, you can add another 50 cents a day at least – that’s an extra $90. That’s a grand total of $569 for each child.

Instead of paying to feed your kids highly processed, over sugared lunches, send them with fresh, good-for-you, homemade snacks and lunches, and save yourself a bundle. A favorite casserole, leftover from last night’s dinner, homemade soup or even a fresh sandwich made from home cooked turkey or chicken is much better than anything most schools have to offer.

Have a selection of small nibbles like baby carrots and dip, celery and peanut butter, cubed cheeses, yoghurt or sliced fruit so kids can select their favorites. Encourage kids to be part of the process so they learn what makes a healthy well-rounded meal. Allow them to make suggestions about what they want to eat (as long as it fits into your healthy meal guidelines).

To keep sliced fruit from turning brown, place about a teaspoon of lemon juice in a cup or so of water. Soak slices for a few minutes then dry and place in lunch containers.

Creative Commons License photo credit: staticjana



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