How to Save Money on School Lunch

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Introduction
- School lunches can cost between $2 and $3 a meal. This adds up over the course of a school year. By packing lunches for your child yourself, and making good choices, you can save money on school lunches.
Step 1: Supplies Needed to Save Money on School Lunches
- If you want to send lunch from home, you'll need to invest in a few supplies.
1. Lunch box
2. Thermos for hot and cold foods
3. Drink thermos
4. You can use commercial ice packs, or make your own by freezing juice boxes
Step 2: Saving Money on School Lunch Tips
1. Include food your child likes, to minimize waste.
2. Use leftover dinner foods for lunches.
3. A thermos can be found inexpensively at thrift shops.
4. Purchase yogurt, puddings and applesauce in larger sizes and repackage into small containers rather than buying the more expensive single serving sizes.
5. Buy extra loaves of bread on sale, and freeze. The bread won't tear as easily when spread with items such as peanut butter, and will help keep the lunch chilled.
Step 3: Cheap School Lunch Recipes and Ideas
- Kitchen Table Recipes: 55 Healthy & Cheap School Lunch Ideas
- SavingAdvice.com: Cheap School Lunch Dessert Or Snack - Personal Finance Forums (January 10, 2005)
- Dollar Stretcher Community: Cheap School Lunch Ideas (August 1, 2008)