Lunchtime Tips
Many parents are wondering how to make healthy lunches for their children this year and keep them affordable. Here are some things parents and analysts recommend:
- Package your own bags or snacks in baggies or reusable plastic containers rather than buying prepackaged ones.
- Take a reusable water bottle instead of a drink like a juice box. Fill it with water, milk or juice.
- Consider buying more hot lunches, which sometimes cost little more than a dollar.
- Shop around for sales and buy in large quantities when you can. Freeze things until you need them.
- Think about lunches when you’re making dinners, and set some aside so you have enough for the next day. That will make sure your family doesn’t eat it up.
- Take a food inventory so you know what you have and can plan around that. And that will cut down on trips to the store–which could add up to big savings.
- Talk to your kids to see what they really want. If they’re not going to eat it, don’t give it to them.
- Involve children in the lunch-making process. Analysts say if kids take part in packing their lunches, they will be more apt to eat them.
