1. Send plain water in a re-usable water bottle (or other re-usable container) as a beverage rather than juice, soda, flavored milk, or other store-bought flavored drinks. This will end up saving you a large amount of money over time, is much more healthy for your child, and cuts down on all of the unnecessary beverage packaging that gets thrown out daily. Try this: fill a water bottle half-full with water and freeze; before school, remove it from the freezer and fill the remainder of the bottle with more water. This way, the water will still be cold when your child is ready to drink it, and his lunch will be kept cold as well.
2. Purchase products in larger packaging or in bulk and then portion them into individual servings on your own - preferably into re-usable containers. You don't necessarily have to buy "in bulk" from the large warehouse stores to take advantage of this money-saving tip. For example, rather than buying a bunch of "mini" 100-calorie bags of pretzels, buy one large bag and then portion them into small plastic snack baggies or containers. In addition, instead of purchasing multiple 4- or 6-ounce containers of yogurt or cottage cheese, buy the large tub and then spoon 4- to 6-ounces into your own small, re-usable containers that you can place in your child's lunchbox. Tell your child to bring home the plastic spoon you send with it, so that can be re-used as well! Rather than purchasing pre-sliced or individual servings of cheese, buy a large block and slice or cube it yourself. Buying items this way should improve the health-value of your child's lunches; when you purchase items in bulk versus single-serving sizes, you are more likely to choose the healthier items - or at least you should be! In addition, your child will consume less additives and preservatives.
3. Avoid the temptation to buy pre-packaged lunches (such as Lunchables) or lunch items (such as vegetables with dip). Send "fresh" items whenever possible. It will take more time and energy, but making lunches "from scratch" will save you a tremendous amount of money as well as be much more nutritious for your child. And again, your child will eat far fewer additives and preservatives. To make packing lunches easier, assemble at least 2 or 3 lunches at the same time - this will streamline the process and help lunch-packing go much more quickly. You can pre-portion out non-perishable foods, such as pretzels or crackers, as soon as you get home from the grocery store or over the weekend; store them in a large tub or basket, then just grab a serving and throw it in a lunch as needed. In addition, most fresh vegetables can be washed, cut, and placed in a lunchbox-sized storage container over the weekend for the following week's lunches and snacks.
4. Make use of your leftovers from dinner the night before. As a special lunch "treat," let your kids create their own pizza at lunchtime. Send toasted bread that you've cut out into little circles (or other shapes) with a cookie cutter. Add in small containers of pizza sauce, shredded reduced-fat cheese, and other healthy toppings such as turkey pepperoni and diced green pepper or tomato. Another special "treat" your children will love: put your breadmaker to use and make homemade bread, bagels, or rolls to send in their lunches.
5. Send re-usable lunchboxes/bags, water bottles/cups, cutlery, containers/bowls, and so on rather than one-time use items that get tossed after lunch. You can still send plastic cutlery, but have your child bring it home to be washed and re-used whenever possible. Use re-useable plastic containers rather than plastic baggies when appropriate; in addition to saving money and the environment, this will "save" your child's lunch by preventing "smooshed" sandwiches and broken pretzels or crackers.
The Bottom Line
Of course, these ideas are going to take more time than just handing your child lunch money or throwing a Lunchable into your child's lunchbox. But you will find that the rewards are well worth it: money saved, a healthier child, and a "greener" planet. The key is to have a plan and stick to it!
Copyright © 2010 Keeley Drotz, RD – TGBG Nutrition. All rights reserved.
