School lunches

[pennywise]

Last year my daughters school started lunches for $4 per day. We did it because both my spouse and I were working. However, I was always worried about the quality of the food. I am not working, am in school, and cannot pay the $4, so I am trying something new. Today my daughter has gymnastics and I have to pick her up from camp. So, she will need to eat. I am putting a lunch box with reusable ice paks for the cold, and have reusable hot/cold packs. I have made my food hot, heated the hot pak, and wrapped it with a towel, put this in a second lunch box. I will add one more hot pak for good measure. I will let you know later if it works. Oh, it helps to educate your child on household money so they will cooperate and not throw out the reusables.

[34saving]

Wow. $4 for school lunch is crazy!! As far as nutrition goes . . .one my my colleagues lost ten pounds when she stopped eating school lunch . . .

[pennywise]

I did use the resuable heat pak and it worked great! I made her burritos, the beans in a separate container and the flour tortilla was in baggies. She liked the warm flour tortilla. Now I have to figure out a way to pack cold and hot in one box because she told me she has to fit it under her desk. Any suggestions?

[mjrube94]

Will something as simple as a thin piece of cardboard work, dividing the lunch box into a hot section and a cold section? (Cardboard may not be best, the scientists among us can probably tell you better what will and won't conduct heat/cold). Alternatively, does she need to have both hot and cold food on the same day, or can you pack burritos and soup one day and yogurt and a sandwhich another?

[34saving]

A piece of styrofoam would be better than cardboard . . .

[pennywise]

What great ideas, any more? I like hot and cold separations, and the styrofoam is good, because you may want to mix. Thank you.

[sonj]

My daughter always takes cold lunch! I can buy what she need for 2 weeks for what it costs for 3 days of hot lunch....granted she don't get a gourmet lunch from me, but I know she is fed nd happy....Actually she makes her own lunches now!

We hae the tupperware sandwich container and stuff and some ice packs

[robex]

We always send a lunch with our three kids as well. Last year I bought them thermoses for $5.00 each, and now they often take soup or pasta. It's way cheaper and much healthier!