brown bag vs. school lunches

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One thing that happened to my son – he had some dental work done, needed soft food for lunch. He took a container of applesauce. Well – the lid came off in his backpack – and he had applesauce everywhere. So if you are using your own containers – make sure that the lids won’t pop off – as the mess isn’t worth the little bit saved by not using convenient sized items. Lois

Don Calkins wrote: There are a number of
factors to be considered, most important of which is
what the attitude of other kids towards someone who brown bags. If they
will be kidded and ostracized for using them, you’re out of luck.

If brown bagging is acceptable, and often a group evolves who do this, then
the question is whether it is possible to really save money. The answer is
a tentative “Yes”, but it will take some planning.

First off, remember that a single serving represents only about 1/2 cup of
foot. Measure, don’t guess. So there are 3-4 servings of fruit
cocktail/mixed fruit in a standard can.

Purchase appropriate containers for taking the food to school. As someone
mentioned, the small plastic insulated containers usually work fine. I used
them for years taking my lunch to work. To make them really hold things
cold, let them set in the freezer over-night. In my experience, using the
larger metal fiber-glass insulated containers really only work on
stews and
the like. This is because I never found any that held much less than a
pint, which represents 4 servings.

If you have to buy chips and other snacky type stuff, buy the largest
package available and repackage it in baggies. For an idea of the
appropriate amount, compare your baggy to a single serving size package of
the chips.

Make as much of their lunch as you can at home the weekend before. It is
likely to be more nutritious as well as cheaper. E.g., a while back I
posted a recipe for custard style pudding that is inexpensive, fairly easy,
and quite nutritious.

Salad type sandwiches fit the bill, but if the filling is not relatively
dry, you end up with soggy bread. Egg salad is by far the cheapest. Pack
the bread and filling separately. Deviled eggs are also cheap and
nutritious. Contrary to popular myth, they do not increase blood
cholesterol.

Home-made banana bread also can fit the bill. I use
whole wheat/soy flour
mix at a ratio of 4 to one. And/or you can substitute peanut butter for the
oil/shortening in the recipe. I’m sending my recipe separately. I buy bags
of “over-ripe” bananas locally for 25 cents a pound.

Don C

Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha!
Play Monopoly Here and Now (it’s updated for today’s economy) at Yahoo! Games.

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