Ok need advice nice lunchbox for £1?

Butterfly_Brain

rozmister wrote: »

No in this context they are Cornish pasties. Bedfordshire Clangers are an extremely similar baked product but not the same thing. I think the main difference is in the way the pastry is wrapped. There's speculation online that the Bedfordshire Clanger was inspired by Cornish miners going to Anglesey for work (see the variations section of this Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty#Two-course_pasty)

When I was growing up we were told Cornish pasties traditionally had the thick crust on them (which you still see today) so tin miners could hold them and eat the fillings without getting any mine dust on them. They then just threw the crust away because they couldn't ingest mine dust because it contained things that weren't good for them. They had jam in one end and beef, tattys, swede and onion in the other half although I'd imagine the filling would vary depending on the time of year and what was available to their wives who were making the pasties.

Sorry to interrupt with no helpful lunch comments I was reading the thread because I struggle with my own (albeit for grown up work) packed lunches and wanted some inspiration.

I'm from Cornwall and went to a small village school where I learnt Cornish history side by side with English history and when I saw your post I couldn't help but butt in!

Bedfordshire is no where near Anglesey

mossylawn

Hi Gailey,

I'm new to this so bear with me. A Stanley brand "food jar" or an Aladdin brand bento box could be suitable for the hot dinner option for your child.

I use a cheap food jar from Sainsbury's. It's plastic and can be warmed in the microwave. It's just one pint's of space, but great if you put a one pot meal in. With food jars, the lid becomes a bowl, so bring along cutlery.

If you child wants a more set out meal, an Aladdin bento sounds about right. It's around £10 (I've seen them in Dunelm's, but don't know where else). It has the option of giving one meal, or having dividers in there to keep rice and curry separate, and then combined together when desired. It's shorter and wider than a food jar - a touch easier, to get to grips with.

I mention the Stanley one because it keeps food HOT for hours. It also comes at a slightly higher price (£17 in Dec 2012). but is guaranteed for 25 years. The Aladdin bento box and a plastic food jar will only keep food warm. That might make the difference to your children taking to this option.

Molly41

I was always taught (food hygiene certificate) that food should not be kept warm for hours? I always thought there was a finite time? Surely it might be a breeding ground for bacteria?

Originally these food boxes, popular in India too, are delivered at lunchtime so are fresh and very hot

http://thediplomat.com/new-emissary/2010/11/24/indian-meals-and-mothers/

http://neverseconds.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=japan

The Never Seconds is such an excellent blog by a youngster called Marta Payne.

http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/parents

crumblepie

I don't know if you have a poundland nearby but I had 3 lock and lock type boxes from there. I wouldn't say they are leakproof but they are small (about 3 inches by 2 inches) I use them for chopped fruit, jelly and fruit, even a small salad.

Wilkos had small square plastic tubs - and they had plain lunch bags. Not the kids character but plain - http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/food-storage/wilko-lunch-bag-pink/invt/0318738/ which are big enough to hold lunch.

squeakysue

gailey wrote: »

well checked school website eating policy.

cant see anything about flasks-hot food.

Im thinking small thermos pot with hot pasta might be able to get away with or rice and curry.

Just been shopping half hour before close

got 3pots of fresh fruit salad for 55p so 18p a pot so have 1 left for her lunchbox tommorow.

Also lazy I know but had pre packed tuna and sweetcorn sandwich reduced to 49p.

got warbertons square wraps reduced to 40p .
They lovley and thick and make fab pizza paste with passatta , puree and cheese.

Got some cherries reduced to £1.20 shes ate half saving other half so
tommorow will have

sandwich
cherries
raisens
apple
mixed fruit pot
cherry tomatoes
drink.

might bake some fairy cakes tonight.

However if cost it up wont be any cheaper than £1.75 but will be healthy, tasty and lots.

Cutest kid-loads more ideas there do you have approx cost per lunchbox on that?

might see if b&m has cheapy cheese tuc biscuits to go with grated cheese.Got told food board they have 9cereal bars for 1 at tesco and b&m has some lunch bargains.

Offers change co-op tuesday so will await what next good lot deals are.

I would say, that is a very healthy lunchbox but a lot of sugar, maybe add some cheese to be eaten after the fruit to neutralise some of the sugars on the teeth. I only do one lunchbox for my daughter, my son has hot dinners for £2 per day. I reckon my daughters lunch costs much less eg today
Two slices bread 10p
Bit of tuna mayo approx 20p
Yoghurt 20p
Bit of cheese 5p
Bit of chopped carrot 5p
Apple 10p
Water free
So that's 70p, I try to change stuff most days eg cucumber/banana/grapes/wrap/milk and I don't allow junk eg crisps/choc/cakes apart from maybe once a month as a treat so would say I don't normally go over £1 per day. I agree with the previous poster who says that if they were at home they would only have a sandwich and fruit /yoghurt, there is no need to overload the lunchbox.

I get the lunchbox guilt off my daughter.....everyone has crisps everyday....:rotfl: apparently yesterday her friend had jam butty, 2 packs crisps, breadsticks, twix and vimto:eek: my daughter had extra lettuce yesterday

Willowpop

I use one of these to put my daughter's natural yoghurt in...
http://www.lakeland.co.uk/16235/Klip-It-Breakfast-to-Go

Not the cheapest perhaps, but pretty sturdy and does the job.

Wickedkitten

lushlifesaver wrote: »

I'm going to find this very interesting, I do lunches for me and bf. And once I get a job it will be even more vital to prepare them as I won't be buying from shops during the working day! These only cover Monday-Friday though.

For our lunches for years now I don’t bother buying prepackaged meat.

For example

3kg pork shoulder joint = £9

That pork shoulder joint will do enough pulled pork for about 112 rolls, 112 rolls would be £9 from Tesco bakery so thats £18 total or 16p per pulled pork roll and that’s enough for lunches for an entire month.

Boodle

rachbc wrote: »

But the formula is always similar - some carb (bread, rice, wraps, pasta, cous cous), protein (ham, roast beef, cream cheese, tuna, pnb, left over chicken, sometimes lo sausages), veg (peppers, carrots and cue are favs) and fruit (whatever on offer) and dairy. I may make a batch of flapjacks or muffins but they do't take them everyday - they really don't need them.

I do this as the basic plan too. Water to drink but in the colder waether if they are having this formula rather than leftover stew/soup in a flask then I pack a fruity tea in a flask to warm them up. With a flask of food, I pack a large banana or home baking if I happen to have done any.

Our carb is usually a bread sandwich with protein filling (bean/lentil pate, peanut butter, veggie cheese, hummus.) Occasionally they have jam on its own but a soya dessert pot offers protein instead and they get soya milk during the school day and their fruit component will be a large banana to fill them up.

Cheapest veg component is carrot sticks or value mushrooms, raw and sliced chunkily. Pepper or celery sticks go down well too. Sometimes I give twice the veg componenet rather than a piece of fruit. Otherwise, value dried fruit is cheapest, or an apple, citrus or kiwis from value ranges.

Occasionally a soya dessert pot (stuff sits unrefrigerated so yoghurts no good but UHT pots fine) goes in depending on contents otherwise to get a balance. They are 4 for £1.50 usually but sometimes on offer for 1.50.

sjprmc01

I have 3 x pack lunches to do and it is definitely cheaper than school dinners (ours are also 1.75)

Mine generally have a sandwich with ham or (yeah I know it's not a great choice) choc spread

They get a value from frais, a cheese portion (whichever is on offer) the cheese is the part that seems to cost the most, a piece of fruit and only sometimes an extra like a cereal bar or couple of biccys