School Lunch Ideas: Healthy Recipes and Money-Saving Tips!

Back to school is an expensive time of year. There are new clothes to purchase, school supplies to buy, and for many families, tuition costs to pay. With all these expenses, is there anywhere you can save money? Absolutely! One of the best places to save is with school lunches. This becomes a weekly savings that can really add up over the course of the school year.

While most schools offer a hot, nutritious lunch, these can get costly on a daily basis. Plus, some kids are picky eaters, and they prefer something from home. But if you’re not careful, brown-bagging it can be just as pricey. Pre-packaged, convenience lunch items are easy to toss into a lunch box on a hectic morning, but the price can equal what you would pay for the lunch at school. The way to save is to only purchase those convenience items when they are on sale and you can combine the sale price with a coupon. This brings the price way down.

Here are more money-saving tips for you:

Lunch Box Ideas for Kids

Lunch box ideas for kids don’t have to be expensive when you go with DIY snack sizes. You can actually make your own convenience snack items by using plastic sandwich bags or reusable plastic containers. You can also frequently find individual drink boxes on sale during this time of year, so stock up! I purchase in bulk and use coupons if I have them to get them for less. Pack a kid-friendly lunch box when you include:

• Trail mix. Combine your child’s favorite whole grain cereals with pretzels, raisins, or other dried fruit. I have several different kinds for you to try here. (Check with your school to see if there are any restrictions on nuts before packing them in your child’s lunch.)
• Baked chips or whole grain crackers, packaged into child-sized portions.
• Homemade popcorn.
• Homemade cookies.
• Sandwich rolls (tortillas with sandwich fillings, sliced) (Check out more cute ideas at Family Fresh Meals)
• Horizon Organic Cheese Singles. I love these!
• Horizon Organic Milk Singles (I typically find these for $1/box and with coupons they are a great deal!)

Healthy School Lunch Ideas

Healthy school lunch ideas are one way to know your child is feeling full all afternoon. When it comes to fruits and veggies, an important part of any lunch, incorporate whatever is on sale at your grocery store with your lunch plan for the week. Pick fresh fruits or vegetables that are in season. They are always most affordable. The most portable nutrition is in:

• Bananas. So portable!
• Muffins. This versatile food isn’t only for breakfast.  This recipe for Mac & Cheese muffins gives a twist to the traditional muffin.  Otherwise, there are several other varieties of muffins that can be healthified. Check out some recipes here.
• Veggies you have pre-cut. Package these with ranch dressing or peanut butter.
• Canned fruits. Repack larger, less expensive cans into reusable smaller containers that are kid-sized. (Check out more ideas here)
• Help your child learn to pack a healthy lunch. (This chart gives some excellent direction for healthy eating when they are packing their own food!)

Lunch Box Organization Ideas

• Set up a School Lunch Station. Designate a location for lunch bag/boxes, containers and food. Check out a great lunch station here.
• Designate a location for lunch bag/boxes, containers and food. This can be any location in your kitchen that is easy for kids to access.
• Repack larger snacks into smaller kid-sized containers. Store them in clear plastic bins without lids so kids can easily see what’s stored inside, similar to this.
• Keep healthy snacks on a lower shelf in your pantry for easy access.
• Find more ways to get organized for Back to School HERE

It’s never too early to teach your child good stewardship, especially when they see you making the lessons applicable to their daily lives. Help your child understand why you make the choices you do, and set the example as you thank God for all His faithful provisions.

:: Find all the Back to School Sales and tips for Back to School Shopping on Faithful Provisions.