I went into this past school year expecting my daughter to eat school lunches, so I could finally stop stressing over what to pack her for lunch. After a week, the novelty wore off. My daughter didn’t want the school options. She wanted me to pack her lunch every day, no questions asked. So my plans shifted. I bought Lunchables, fresh fruit, chips, vegetables, and other goodies.
Over the course of the year, my daughter stopped eating half of what I packed. We were wasting way too much, and she was coming home starving. We had to rethink our plan yet again. To add to the stress, some of her favorite foods weren’t foods she wanted at school around her friends (don’t get me started – this is probably a blog in itself). So we sat down together and discussed what she wanted lunches to look like and how that aligned with what I wanted her to have.
What we agreed upon – keep it simple!
I started shopping sales and buying in bulk. If I didn’t think I needed everything, I’d swap with my sister so the kids got to have more variety without blowing the budget or wasting food.
I prepped fruits and veggies for the week so they were ready to go. We wrote out a general menu so we knew what to expect. We used separate bins for lunches versus home foods, so we didn’t run out.
Here is what we eat for school lunches on a budget:
Sandwiches and Wraps
- Peanut Butter and Jelly: Substitute a peanut-free option like us, or switch up the jelly for fluff or Nutella
- Ham and Cheese: Switch up the meat or the condiments as you wish
- Mediterranean Veggie: Roasted red peppers, hummus, feta – yes please!
- Tuna Salad: Or maybe your kiddo prefers egg, ham, or chicken salad
- Grilled cheese: Maybe with a spin, with some bacon added in
Pastas
- Pasta with butter
- Spaghetti with sauce and meatballs
- Macaroni and cheese: Maybe it’s from a box, or maybe it’s that homemade favorite
Leftovers
Tried and true – you know the kids love it, so let them have it again for lunch
- Easy leftover ideas: Quesadillas or leftover tacos
- Proteins: Pack up that steak or chicken along with the rest of the rice
- Salads: I don’t know why, but my little asks for salads – so make it more fun with some fruit, egg, or meat and show them healthy can be fun!
Breakfast
- Pancakes or Waffles
- French Toast
- Mini Quiche or omelettes
- Egg sandwich
Charcuterie/DIY Lunchables
- Build your own cracker sandwich with meats and cheese
- Build a burger or hot dog, include a bun, meat, pickles, mustard, whatever toppings might travel well, and make the littles happy!
- Nuts with fruit and cheeses
Pizza
- By the slice
- Pizza Rolls
- Mini pizzas on naan bread, flatbread, or perhaps a bagel or English muffin
Snack Ideas
- Fruit: Apples, Bananas, Kiwi, or a fruit salad – just offer the healthy stuff
- Veggies: Carrots, cucumbers (my little one’s favorite), broccoli, or cherry tomatoes – add a little ranch dip if that helps!
- Chips: Buy a big bag and split it yourself
- Sweets: We limit the dessert-like treats, but sometimes we throw in a small chocolate, a leftover cookie, or a brownie
