School lunch brings up memories, nutrition, and the Obama girls

From a purely cost standpoint, I could pack a lunch for my daughter much more economically than the school charged. These days we homeschool, so it's not an issue.

What's interesting to me is how the childhood obesity rates have exploded, even after many school districts placed bans on vending machines, and have made steps to offer healthier choices in the school cafeteria.

Diane

lost 150 pounds and talks about it at:

www.fittothefinish.com/blog ( http://www.fittothefinish.com/blog )

My daughter is eight and packs her own lunch most days.  She has often complained about the cafeteria food (except for the ice cream bars that are readily available for purchase).  I prefer sack lunches because they tend to be healther (and tastier) than the options available at school.  Occasionally, though, I let her buy lunch...sometimes because they are having something that she likes that particular day and sometimes because I forgot to pick up some more sandwich meat at the grocery store.

It's all about balance to me -- eating the school lunch every now and then doesn't hurt, but in general I think sack lunches are the way to go.

Blogging as S. Joy @ www.fitandinspiredliving.com ( http://www.fitandinspiredliving.com/ ).

While I understand teaching nutrition to our children is important, I feel that it is my responsibility to feed them and nourish them with healthy food options.  Now don't get me wrong, we are not perfect, but for the most part, I pack lunches that are tasty and healthy and have the appropriate pyramid ratio.  I know that if I allow my child to eat lunch from the school cafeteria, she isn't going to get the same quality that I pack for her...but, really it's been like that at least since I was a kid.

Not that we shouldn't strive for better, I know that some parents and children rely on the school meals because of convienence and/or need.  They are cheep and they are provided so that even people of low means can afford to feed their kids.  I know all kids deserve healthy choices, so if there is ever a way to help schools out, I am all for it.

But that being said...When I was a kid, I only bought school lunches when they were horrible for me.  I mean come on, the grilled cheese, tomato soup, tater tots meal was my favorite and I am sure that I ate my whole calorie needs for that day in that one meal.  But, most days I brown bagged it and ate somewhat healthy.  I also was on the swim team and swam two hours a day, so you know, it's all kind of relative.

I say, you don't like the school choices...make the lunch for your kids.  I'm sure someone won't agree with me on that one, but hey, I respect that too.

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when my kids went to public school, they qualified for free lunches and free breakfasts and I totally went along with that!

Now two of my three school age kids will be homeschooled (second year in a row) and the other is able to attend the private school at our church. There the lunches are $3.00 a day if bought a month in advance (adding an extra $3 for salad bar) or $4.00 if bought that day. The menu they gave us from last March was like something from a restaurant. (for those prices it should be!). However, economy-wise, I am pretty sure that she'll be toting her lunch most days, and buying when it's something particularly appealing.

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I let my children buy lunch once or twice a week. Our schools publish a monthly menu, and we plan around that based on favorites.

Since our schools have accounts for each student, I pay ahead for a set number of lunches. The kids know that money has to last them a set number of days and if they use it up, then they have to bring lunch until it's time for me to pre-pay again.

I prefer sending them with lunch because I know the nutritional value is higher and what I send is more cost effective. But the occassional alternative option is good for all of us. Especially on the days we're all running behind and making lunch will make them late for the bus and me late for work!

I have four kids in school this fall, and lunches are $1.50 per day, per child. That's $6.00 a day to feed four kids, $30.00 a week, and $120.00 a month if they eat the hot lunches every day! Do I think I can send a sack lunch that's equal to or better than the school lunches for less than $120 a month? Absolutely, and I also believe that my husband's sack lunches can be added into that total as well. 

However, there will be days (pizza!) when the kids just want to eat lunch at school. I'm ok with that. We occasionally get pizza or make something junky like hot dogs here for lunch, so I'm good with the occasional school lunch. That's our plan for this year. 

my son will start 2nd grade this september.when he first started kindergarten, the whole year he got lunch from school, i never thought the lunch was healthy but the only reason let him have it was, during the first week the lunch he took from home he brought it back, he didn't have good food habit then he liked the junks offered at school, i paid around $50.00/month for his lunch. But before he started 1st grade the whole summer i worked on his food habit especially school lunch habit i made lunches at home that i would give him in school and eventually he started eating them, and since the whole 1st grade lunch was from home, we are sticking to that in 2nd grade too. I can give himm healthy lunch and it dosen't cost me $50.00/mo.