Save money on lunch for the kids by sending a meal to school with them. Not only will you be spending less, but you can also make sure that your children are eating healthier. Want some ideas for how to fill a lunchbox? Try some of these:
Main dishes:
* Sandwiches (Try egg salad, tuna salad, or peanut butter and jelly.)
* Green Salads (Add grilled chicken for a more filling salad, and leave dressing in a small container on the side.)
* Wraps (Spread a thin layer of cream cheese onto a flour tortilla. Top with sliced meat, shredded carrots or other veggies.)
Sides and Snacks:
* Cheese sticks or cheese and crackers
* Bite-size raw vegetables
* Homemade muffins
* Tortilla chips and homemade salsa
* Homemade cookies
* Applesauce (Buy in a large container and separate into individual portions yourself.)
* Fresh popcorn
* Homemade pudding
* Pretzels
Make it Yourself: Find out what your kids want in their lunch and make it yourself. By making some of their favorite foods, you will save a lot and they will be happy to have what other kids have. See my article titled “Lunchbox Recipes” for granola bars and large soft pretzels.
Drinks: Send drinks in a thermos or a reused water bottle. To keep drinks cold, you can freeze half of the juice or milk in a bottle and fill completely the next morning.
Tips on making it interesting: To keep kids from begging for a hot lunch at the school cafeteria, make lunchtime fun. One fun idea is to cut shapes out of a sandwich with a large cookie cutter. If your kids are jealous of those that have packaged lunches (like Lunchables) buy a segmented container so you can make your own. Slice up meat and cheese and put them in different sections. Add crackers, a cookie, and some applesauce or fresh fruit slices.