For Parents: Cheaper to pack child's lunch or let them buy?

Question

IIf the lunch price is $2.10 per day do you think it is cheaper to pack their lunch or let them biuy? If you think pack, can you explain how it makes it cheaper - example's? I told my fiance to just let his teenager pack her lunch, but he says it would be more expensive, I disagree.

Answer 1

Depends on what your packing. A bottle of juice or milk for lunch is going to about .40-60. if you buy in a pack instead of single. Bread, lunch meat and cheese for a sandwich will run about .60 per sandwhich. Add another .30 for crackers or a baggie of chips. .10 for carrots if you peel and slica yourself (25-50 if you buy the peeled baby carrots) and add about .50 if you send a pudding or jello cup. If you went the cheap route you spent 1.90 and if you went expensive you spent 2.50. if you use leftovers like chicken its cheaper than buying lunch but usually your only saving a couple quarters with the lunch i mentioned.

Answer 2

It all depends on what your pack.  If you use lots of pre-made conveince foods it will not be cheaper.  My 6 yo dd takes her lunch. I figure I save about 5-7 dollars a month.  It's not much cheaper but it is MUCH more healthy!  Have you ever looked at a school lunch menu?  They are loaded with high fat/high carb foods.  My dd does buy lunch every other week when they do "breakfast for lunch" at her school but other than that I pack for her.  I know she is eating well cause I control what she gets and can see her leftovers.

Answer 3

Pack it! A loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jam doesn't cost as much as buying a PB&J at school every day for however long those supplies would last. Plus, it's likely to be way more nutritious, and it'll save his daughter the hassle of standing in lunch line or finding out there's nothing she likes to eat that day or that they're all out of what she wants or the little carton doesn't have enough juice or whatever. If you use something like a nalgene bottle and recyclable paper bags, it's even more environmentally friendly than eating in the school cafeteria, too!  

Answer 4

If you have one child and getting out the door in the morning is important buy the lunch.

If you can make up several lunches at a time then it may be cheaper it mostly depends on the cost of the food purchased.

If the teen wants certain things for lunch it may be cheaper to buy it.

The school buys food in bulk and keeps the price low.  If you can do the same then pack.

Of course that is completely ignoring the nutritional factors and the problem with processed foods no matter who buys them and that is what you have to decide.

Answer 5

probably at home.It all depends on how much food you give them.And also think about what could be healthier.Greasy pizza that they shove in the microwave, or a home packed lunch???

Answer 6

I'm thinking it would be cheaper, but how much?  If it's $10 cheaper is it worth it to pack their lunch?  If you have time on your hands to pack a healthy lunch everyday and make it a variety then go ahead.  I work full time, so time is money.  So if I'm paying say $20 a month extra for her to eat in the cafeteria so be it.  I don't have a time to make her lunch everyday.  It would be sandwiches everyday and I'm sure she would get sick of that.  At least in school they have hot lunches.  

Answer 7

Pringles Singles are .50 cents each.  A juice box is at least .33.  

I can't see it being much cheaper to pack.  Nutrition is a different story.  A home made lunch would be much healthier and better quality.

Answer 8

I pay $70 a month for breakfast, lunch and snack at school - I could not do it that cheap at home

Answer 9

Packing is much cheaper. :)

Answer 10

I think that it would be easier to pack your child lunches and more nutritious to pack your child's lunch but I don't know if it would be cheaper it all depends on what your packing in the lunch. But probably letting your kids buy there lunch is cheaper. That is probably why the lunch is so unhealthy because it is cheap.