Saving Money On Your Kid’s School Lunches
It is back to school time once again and if you are already broke from buying your kids new clothes and the numerous school supplies they will need this year, the last thing you want to be doing is paying a small fortune for your kid’s lunch. If you are trying to figure out how you are going to work school lunches into your budget worksheet this year, read on for some great money saving tips.
Brown Bag Lunches
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to keep lunch costs down is to pack your child’s lunch. School lunches are costly and not to mention not always the healthiest option. So not only will packing lunches save you money but will also help you get better nutrition into your kids.
Invest In A Water Bottle
Over the course of the school year you can save a small fortune by investing in a good water bottle that your child can transport to and from school each day. Bottled water and juice boxes and even milk cartons at school add up very quickly. Additionally, water is a great way for your kids to stay hydrated throughout the school day.
Invest In A Thermos
Another great way to save on school lunches is to invest in a thermos. This will allow you to easily pack leftovers like pasta, soup and other meals that need to be kept warm. Using a thermos will also give your kids a break from the typical sandwich lunch.
Purchase In Bulk
Are you going to be putting in your kid’s lunch box items that you can purchase in bulk? If so, you can save some money on those lunch box items. You should be able to find things like cheese sticks, yogurt, larger packages of snacks like pretzels, popcorn, fruit snacks and more. Just make sure before you make the purchase that you know for certain your kids really like and will eat the items you buy until they are gone.
Mix It Up So The Kids Don’t Get Bored
In order to keep your kids interested in your home packed lunch, you will want to make sure that you mix up what you give them. Vary their lunches and instead of the usual peanut butter and jelly or turkey sandwich get creative. How about trying a tortilla roll up, crackers with string cheese, celery sticks filled with peanut butter and more? Making homemade muffins or other healthier snacks is another great way to fill out your child’s lunch.
Plan Out Lunches On The Weekend
Finally, consider planning out your kid’s lunches on the weekends for the entire week. This is a great way for your kids to give input into what they want to eat. Have your kids help you pre package lunch items that do not spoil like crackers, pretzels, etc so they are ready to pop into their lunches. Think about what leftovers might make great lunches that week and decide what other items will go into the lunchbox each day. Write up a list and put it on the front of your fridge. This will keep you on track throughout the week.
