• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Home
About Us Contact Us Advertising
Articles
Budgeting Debt Frugal Insurance Investing Making Money Retirement Saving Money
Tips
Money Saving Tips Trash Audit
Make Money Forums Blogs
Create a Blog Control Panel All Entries All Blogs
Tools
Calculators Prescription Drug Coupons Online Savings Accounts Test Your Knowledge Financial Directory Credit Cards

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing

Subscribe

 

Welcome Back, !

  • Home
    • Advertising
  • Tips
    • Money Saving Tips
    • Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose
  • Make Money
  • Credit Score Guide
  • Forums
  • Blogs
    • Create a Blog
  • Tools
  • Financial Basics
    • Back to Basics: Saving Money
    • Back to Basics: Beginners Guide to Retirement
    • Back to Basics: What Every Child Under 10 Should Know About Personal Finance
    • Back to Financial Basics: Investing In Stocks

Back-to-School Lunch Ideas That Save Money and Time

August 17, 2018 by Amanda Blankenship

back-to-school-lunches

With the rising cost of school supplies, clothing, backpacks, and other items to get your children ready for school, finding a way to save money is a relief. One of the best ways to do that with your school-age children is packing their lunch. Below you’ll find 10 back-to-school lunch ideas that will save you money this year.

The Cost of School Lunch

According to the School Nutrition Association, the average prices for school-provided meals in the United States are as follows:

 LunchBreakfast
Elementary$2.34$1.39
Middle$2.54$1.47
High$2.60$1.51

Only 8 million of the student in U.S. public schools pay full price, however. Individuals who meet the requirements are offered a reduced price lunch ($0.40). Of the 4.9 billion lunches served in public schools each year, 20 million are absolutely free.

Where breakfast is concerned, fewer children eat breakfast at school. They still manage to serve 2.4 billion breakfasts, more than 11 million of which are free.

However, if you don’t qualify for free lunch for your kids; the price of school lunch can stack up quickly, especially if you have a large family. For just one elementary school-aged student, you’ll spend about $45 per month on lunch alone (and $90 if you have two children).

10 Cheap Back-to-School Lunch Ideas

1. Lunch Kabobs

back-to-school lunch ideas

Lunch kabobs are an easy and fun lunch to prepare for your child. All you’ll need is cubed cheese, your choice of ham or turkey, and your child’s favorite veggie. With a pack of lunch meat averaging around $5, a block of cheese available for $2 and a single cucumber or tomato costs around $0.25. You’ll wind up paying less than $1 per lunch.

2. Quesadillas

lunch ideas for school

Cheese quesadillas are another great cheap lunch idea you can easily make at home and it will cost less than $1 per serving. You can get a pack of 8 tortillas for around $2 and shredded cheese for $2 as well. Each tortilla will provide a serving and there will be more than enough cheese for your child’s quesadillas through the week.

3. Egg Salad

back to school sandwiches

Egg salad is an extremely cost-friendly lunch idea as well. You can get one dozen eggs for around $1.30 and a loaf of bread around $2. If you don’t already have mayo in your fridge, you can also pick up a jar for less than $2, making each serving less than $1.

4. Pepperoni Bites

back to school lunch ideas

These pepperoni bites will take a little more effort than the options listed above. However, your kids will look forward to this meal in their lunch boxes. All you’ll need is a 4-count can of refrigerated flaky biscuits, a package of pepperoni, and pizza sauce. Altogether, the ingredients will cost around $7 and will make a single serving. You will have plenty of pepperoni and sauce leftover though!

5. Classic PB&J

back to school PB&J

Of course, there is always the trusty PB&J. A jar of peanut butter will cost around $2, and jelly and bread cost about the same. So, for $6 you can make as many sandwiches as a loaf will allow (less than $1 per serving).

6. Banana Burritos

back to school

You can buy a pound of bananas for about $0.56, peanut butter, jelly, and an 8-count package of cost $2 each, making each serving cost less than $1.

7. DIY Lunchables

back to school DIY lunchable

DIY Lunchables can save a ton of money too. Lunchables in the store cost about $3.50, while making your own version at home can cost less than $1 per serving.

8. Lunch Meat Rolls

back-to-school lunch

Lunch meat roll-ups are another great budget-friendly lunch idea. All you’ll need is ham or turkey, pickle spears, and the sauce of your choice. Each serving, as with the other options on this list, will cost less than $1.

9. Tuna Salad

school lunch ideas

Another classic back-to-school lunch idea is tuna salad. A can of tuna will run you about $0.50, a jar of mayo will cost you less than $2, and bread will also cost less than $2. A serving will cost less than $2.

10. Ants on a Log

school lunch

Ants on a log is another classic lunch/snack idea. You can buy a large bag of raisins for less than $3, peanut butter for around $2, and celery for less than $1. Each serving costs less than $1.

These are just 10 of many cheap and fun back-to-school lunch ideas. What would you add to the list?

Read More

  • 10 Daily Purchases That Hurt Your Budget as Much as Morning Coffee
  • The Myth That Making Your Own Lunch Saves Hundreds Of Dollars
  • 50 Ways to Save Money on Food
  • Your Family Will Savor This Beef Brisket Recipe
  • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Amanda Blankenship
Amanda Blankenship is a full-time stay-at-home mom. Her family recently welcomed their second child, a baby boy, into the world. She loves writing about various topics, including politics and personal finance. In her spare time, Amanda loves to play with her kids, make food from scratch, crochet, and read.

Reader Interactions

What did you think about this article?
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    • Articles
    • Tips
    • Make Money
    • Credit Score Guide
    • Forums
    • Blogs
    • Tools
    • About
    • Contact

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
    Your subscription has been successful.
    Copyright © 2025 SavingAdvice.com. All Rights Reserved.
    • Privacy Policy