Packed Lunches for School

SailorSam

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37700491.tip.html

silvercar

If she is asking for packed lunch, she proably doesn't like the school dinners. If she is not eating at lunchtime she will want some food when she comes home from school before her main meal. The cost of this could be nearly as much as packed lunches and you would be paying for school dinners as well.

Cissi

I think you can make nutritious packed lunches at least as cheaply as the school dinners, and if DD is asking for them I'd go for it - as Silvercar pointed out, it's false economy to pay for school dinners if she isn't eating them.

DS (4 1/2) likes a change, so I vary the sandwich fillings (chicken, ham, cheese, tuna) as well as the bread (sliced, wraps, rolls etc) and the extras (fruit, different yoghurts, raisins etc). A couple of times a week he has something other than a sarnie: for example a couple of meatballs or sausages or a chicken drumstick, with some sweetcorn or beans in a small pot (he likes these things cold, which helps) and occasionally some crisps. Usually I add in a small treat as well (biccies, mainly). We've also discovered that he loves quiche - to be honest, I buy ready-made mini ones, but they're fairly easy to make yourself which would be cheaper. If DD will eat them, perhaps you could make a batch and keep in the freezer, then oven heat them the night before.

I buy everything in large batches and freeze things like meatballs, bread rolls etc, and then I prepare/cook his lunch the night before. It works great for us, and DS is always excited to see what he has in his bag today

mrcow

I think packed lunches are loads cheaper. My children take sandwiches, chopped up fruit and yoghurt for their lunches. If we've had a party or event, then they take leftovers etc. It costs pennies really.

As for summer holidays, there is loads of stuff to do if the weather is good. And mainly for free. But also your local libraries will probably be running events which are usually free. Our local church runs a kids workshop for a week or so.......you just have to ask around and keep an eye out in local publictions and for posters etc.

allIcouldwishfor

Packed lunches work out cheaper, definitely. My two have thermos food flasks and often have pasta in sauce for lunch, or sometimes a jacket potato with baked beans. Dippy stuff like carrot sticks with philadelphia and cucumber with humous always goes down well. For desserts they have a squeezy yogurt (less messy than a tub as they have to bring everything home), or fruit in jelly which I make in little lock and lock type tubs (from tesco!). They always have a portion of fruit, a portion of veg, and a little treat (biscuit, hm cake, etc.). As long as you make stuff yourself, instead of buying pre-packaged "lunchboxables" then it will work out much, much cheaper.

As for the holidays, local museums and libraries often have free or cheap activities going on. DS did a week-long drama course at a local museum over the 2007 summer hols which cost £20 for 5x3-hour sessions.

Gingernutmeg

If you do a search there are loads of threads on the OS board about cheap ideas for packed lunches - lots of good ideas and recipes

LJM

mine take packed lunch otherwise it would cost me £18 a week.they usually have a drink/sndwiches/fruit/yoghurt/sultanas/peppers chopped up,sometimes they may have crisps as a treat or homemade cake all depends on what i have in.my 4 year old is terrible for eating shes not fussy but just wont eat unless she wants to so paying for dinners for her is a waste.my eldest who is 8 likes packed lunches as she says its bigger than the school dinner she likes her food but just not the school menu or portin size.
in reply to activities going to the park/feed ducks set up activities at home in garden/have friends round etc also look out in local newsletters/papers for free events some places do them/picnics.the cheapest or free activities are usually the best and most fun.congratulations on pregnancy though wish i could have a suprise baby

LJM

just a thought the library was mentioned my girls did the team read last summer i think you read 6 books and at the end they get a medal on completion they loved it

Spendless

Depends on how big an apetite your child has;) My 'hollow legs' 8yo has school dinners which fill him far more than I ever could for £1.50 a day. DD is on packed lunches and they work out far cheaper for her!

Maybeanotherday

Thanks so much guys I've had a chat with her tonight...and what seems to be happening is that she gets away with telling the teacher she doesn't like the main meal then she can eat pud....not the best value for money or particulary good for her! Ive paid up untill the end of term I think I'll just try her after the feb holidays.
BTW can anyone reccomend a GOOD drinks bottle? shes had three so far all of which have promptly leaked
Thanks again