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Frugal Meals for Kids: Cheap Snack and Lunch Ideas

post #1 of 160
8/22/09 at 8:44am
Thread Starter 

One of the challenges we parents face is packing lunches. We want to ensure our children are eating right, but not breaking our budgets either. It's so easy to grab the prepackaged "snacky items", as a quick fix. That can add up over the course of a month!

That is where the help and suggestions of our Mommysavers members can help us find cost effective alternatives!

Share your Free or Frugal Snack and Lunch ideas here


frugal lunch ideas

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post #2 of 160
8/22/09 at 6:55pm
I make "uncrustables" for my kids. No need for fancy cookie cutters. We use Arnold soft whole wheat, a 40 oz container of Jif peanut butter, and whatever jelly your kids prefer. Make your PB and J however you like, then take the lid from the peanut butter jar and place it on your sandwich, and then press down and twist your wrist a few times. Wal-la the crust is removed and sandwich is sealed so there is no pb or j leaking out the side. the larger jar has a large enough lid that you are not wasting anything but the crust.
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post #3 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:39am
Homemade lunchables

-Buy a reusable container. Fill it with your own selections such as cut up cheese, bologna, ham or turkey, and crackers. Add a cookie if you want.
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post #4 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:40am
Wrap

-Take a tortilla and spread on some peanut butter. Add a banana and roll it up. It's fun for the kids to eat.
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post #5 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:41am
Make your own pudding or jello in reusuable plastic containers. It's cheaper than buying prepackaged pudding and jello.
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post #6 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:43am
Ants on a log

-Spread peanut butter on cut pieces of celery. Add a few raisins.
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post #7 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:45am
Buy bigger packages of such things as chips, Teddy Grahams, Goldfish, etc and send them in small ziploc sandwich bags. Cheaper than buying them in the prepackaged smaller bags.
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post #8 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:46am
Gorp

-Mix peanuts, raisins, M & M's, chocolate chips, etc together and send in a baggie.
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post #9 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:47am
If they like yogurt it's cheaper to buy the bigger containers and place it in smaller reusable plastic containers.

Try adding your own fruit to plain or vanilla yogurt. My girls like cut up pears in vanilla yogurt.
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post #10 of 160
8/23/09 at 7:48am
Send egg salad or ham salad as a dip.

My girls don't like sandwiches, but they will eat egg salad or ham salad if they have some crackers to dip it in.
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Mommysavers › Forums › Frugal/Simple Living › Spending Less and Saving More › Money Saving Tips: Food › Frugal Meals for Kids: Cheap Snack and Lunch Ideas