In the real world, we don’t all agree on everything. Sometimes, you think you’re right and actually, someone comes along and shares their point of view with you and you start to think that they have a point. So, once a month I’m going to post my opinion on a particular issue and ask another blogger to share their differing views.
As we’re in back to school mode right now, we’re kicking off with the packed lunch vs school dinners vote and I’ve asked the very lovely Jen from Mum in the Madhouse to share her thoughts too. You can find her post here.
This year I’m going to have children at two different schools for the first time – one will be on school dinners and the other on packed lunches.
Miss Frugal is going to be on school dinners at her new secondary school at a cost of around £2.20 a day. I say around £2.20 a day because it’s a case of loading up a card daily / weekly and then her choosing what she wants to eat every day. The average cost of a meal including a drink is £2.20 and she’s asked to go on school dinners rather than packed lunches as that’s what ‘most kids’ will be doing apparently.
Whilst I like the idea of not having to make a packed lunch for her, it’s so much cheaper to send her off with a packed lunch!
I wouldn’t consider packed lunches for Master Frugal because again, at £2.20 a day, I know I can do it cheaper myself by sending him with a packed lunch.
It’s not just the cost issue though although that’s a big factor for me!
Master Frugal is a fussy eater and on the two occasions when he has forgotten his packed lunch in the last few months (yes, twice) he hasn’t really liked what was on offer so has hardly eaten hardly anything and been starving when he got home.
I don’t like the way the dinner ladies tell him he has to try things but he really doesn’t want to as that puts him off trying things with us at home although I do appreciate that they can’t let a child have an empty tray. A packed lunch means that we don’t have to worry about that.
I much prefer him taking a packed lunch to school because I know exactly what he’s eating and I can vary it so he has different foods each day and I can use up leftovers in his packed lunch which makes it even cheaper.
When I’m feeling particularly organised, we bake packed lunch cake and cheese straws on a Sunday to last us for the first part of the week at least and if I’m cooking pasta for tea, I usually save a little bit to use for packed lunches the next day.
I think a packed lunch takes a little bit more organisation but it’s worth it to save so much money and to know your child is taking a lunch that they will eat and more importantly, enjoy!
If you’re still undecided, here’s last years packed lunch vs school dinners post including a costing of how cheaply you can make a healthy nutritious packed lunch and if you do decide on packed lunches you might find this post helpful as it includes 50 nutritious and frugal packed lunch ideas.
Are you a packed lunch or a school dinners family?
Don’t forget to add your posts to the Back to school linky over at Jen’s blog while you’re there!
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My two always have packed lunch, I know exactly what and how much they are eating that way plus we always like to sit down for a hot meal together in the evening as a family. Minxy does however had the odd dinner at school if there is something that she likes the look of !
As Isaac is entitled to free school meals this year we are going to give it a go. He is really fussy with his food but I am hoping seeing his peers eating things he wouldn't normally try will encourage him to experiment
My son is in elementary school and he doesn't want a packet lunch because no one else brings them to school either. So, I give him money to buy something. I'm afraid the something isn't very healthy most of the times.
I was always a pack lunch girl due to be such a fussy eater and as you say, it's much cheaper to make pack lunches.
School dinners for me but if I had to pay for them I would consider packed lunches.
My 4 year old son is starting school next month and although I'm going to be taking advantage of the free school meal offer I am a little anxious as he can be quite picky so it's going to be a case of just testing the water and seeing how he gets on with it
My daughter will be eligible for free school dinners from next month thanks to the new government's new initiative so we'll mostly be dong that. The school makes their menus available to all parents so that you can see what's on offer; I'm happy with their selection and my daughter isn't a fussy eater. But, if she does want to take a packed lunch then I'm happy to make them for her.
we've always had packed lunches. 7y0's school offers school meals but we've never ordered them.
I'm sure school lunches would get expensive if you were buying every day!
We do packed lunches because they are cheaper, but I'm looking forward to my son having school dinners while we are having our kitchen refit. I don't much mind any which way to be honest, but that might be because my son isn't a fussy eater and doesn't have allergies etc. Gutted he's just missing out on the free ones though.
My two love school dinners, but I am open to options. I am too lazy to make school lunches every morning!
My little brother have school dinners and he's quite ok with them. They had a bit of tasting prior to it so he knew what to expect. I guess it will shape his taste a bit as they serve variety of dishes!
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade
We do a mix there are times when mine will have school lunches and others when they will take a packed lunch – it's good to mix it up sometimes I think, at least that works for us!
Oh we have all this to come. I like the idea of packed lunches though from the cost perspective and knowing what they are eating xx
We have been a packed lunch family but I am going to let the younger two try these free school meals. I am not sure how happy I am about encouraging them to have a pudding every lunch time, as generally we have pudding on Sundays. The youngest is also a fussy eater and I can see us reverting back, so many thanks fo your helpful packed lunch ideas post.
I’m never paying for my children to have school dinners for two children it would be over £20 a week and it’s not happening. When I was in secondary school I often wanted to eat chips or a tuna baguette and hated my lunch box lunch but then I got Ill and developed food intolerances so school lunch was useless for me as would primary if I cared. My daughter and son can get free ones now because of the changes but daughter is so fussy it’s pointless, next year she’d have to pay though. My son may or may not eat school dinner is rather do lunches so I know what they’re eating.
I always hated packed lunches as a child but then as you say £2.20 a day adds up to quite a lot of money, though I am pleased there seems to be a choice of what to eat x
I have to make packed lunches for 3 kids and hubby everyday. But I let my 2 older ones have school lunch on a Friday,and couldn't afford it everyday. My youngest is a fussy eater so he has to have packed lunch.
I too like to know they are eating a healthy lunch,and I also bake stuff to put in their lunch.
But I also work in the kitchen at my two youngest school,so I am probably one of those dinner ladies that say "why don't you try it " , but only because you do do worry that they are not getting enough to eat. There is nothing worse than picking your child up knowing that they have been starving at school 🙂
I too love my packed lunch to school.It's really a enjoyable one.miss my school days.