Affordable and Healthy Kids Lunches

It is no myth that packing a lunch for a child or adult will usually cost much less than purchasing one at the school cafeteria or restaurant. The switch from eating out to packing your own lunches will result in savings of hundreds if not thousands of dollars depending upon your family size as well as your taste in lunchtime restaurants. When given money or an account to purchase cafeteria food, children are usually going to also pick lunch time items that are not always the healthiest choice. There are times where it is good to allow kids to have the treat pizza or hot dog and chips at the school cafeteria; but the other days should involve a healthy home prepared lunch courtesy of mom or dad.

Essential Brown Bag Supplies

To effectively prepare affordable and healthy kids lunches, you must have the right supplies. Most of these items are a onetime expense that will be re-used over and over again as long as they do not get lost or thrown away. You will want to make sure you have plenty of square plastic containers (about the size of a sandwich). Also purchase small round plastic containers capable of packing dips, sauces, etc. Also invest in a few ice packs and a good insulated thermos or two. This shopping excursion may set you back anywhere between ten and thirty dollars depending on your family size, but your will get a quick return on your money and on your children's health.

Main Meal

Most main courses of the brown bag or lunch box involve some sort of sandwich. A cheap tasty sandwich for most kids is the peanut butter sandwich. This sandwich will be taboo in some schools or households be ridden with severe peanut allergies. For the rest of us, it is an inexpensive treat that goes a long way. Peanut butter is even cheaper when purchased in the bulk size and most warehouse clubs. To make a healthier peanut butter sandwich, try and substitute enriched bleached flour breads with whole grain wheat. Prepare the sandwich using cooking cutters or different shapes to liven up the lunch for the children.

If peanut butter or cold cuts are not always a hit with children, opt for dinner leftovers that can be packed in a hot/cold thermos bottle. This is the ultimate money saver that keeps your refrigerator free of congestion and puts a smile on your child's face. A good leftover to pack might be leftover homemade macaroni and cheese or tortellini that can be heated in the microwave the morning of school and transferred to the thermos. The food will be surprising still warm when the child eats at lunchtime.

Side Kicks

A great inexpensive side item to the sandwich or leftover will be some veggies and dip. Consider packing carrots, celery sticks, or sliced cucumber along with a side of ranch dressing or peanut butter. Money can be saved by purchasing the vegetables whole and performing the peeling and cutting steps on your own.

Fresh fruit is always a winner in children's lunches. Pack whole fruit such as oranges, apples, or bananas that do not require peeling, chopping, or extensive prep work. Make sure to refrigerate the fruit the night before the school day as these items will assist in keeping the rest of the lunch cold.

Consider switching from greasy unhealthy snack chips to whole grain wheat chips and perhaps some sliced cheese. These always taste great at lunch or they can be saved for a mid day or afternoon snack.

Dessert

Consider packing a cheaper healthier lunch finale such as a small container of your child's favorite yogurt with toppings such as granola or frozen berries. If the girl or boy is not a big fan of yogurt consider preparing a bowl of pudding or fruit flavored gelatin for the week and pack in a small container for the weekday lunches. The key is to get away from expensive and preservative laden cookies, cupcakes, and candy.

Finally pack a healthy beverage in a cold thermos bottle such as water, flavored water, or juice low in sugar. Avoid juice boxes or juice packs as they are way too high in sugar and much more expensive. If your child does not like water, consider a purchasing a large bottle of and portioning it out in a thermos bottle.