Thanks to a new law here in California, all enrolled public school students are entitled to a free lunch each day if they so desire. While we are fortunate enough to have this resource, we know that many others are not so lucky. 

On days like today when they are serving up her favorites like hotdogs or rolled tacos, I simply pack a few snacks for recess and let her enjoy a meal at school. Most days Mads chooses to bring her own; here are a few of her favorite homemade lunches that are perfect for any family on a budget.

Yum Yum!!!

Sandwiches- A lunchtime classic! There’s a reason your parents made sandwiches for you so often. The ingredients are inexpensive and delicious! For just a few dollars you can make a good quality lunch for all of your kids! We like to start with mayo on both peices of bread then pile on a few slices of honey or black forest ham before stacking on a few rounds of Genoa salami. Finally, we top it with whatever is our favorite cheese at the time and cut it into manageable quarters for easy consumption. 

Deli Plate (Homemade Lunchable)- When I was in school the Lunchable was just starting its rise into lunchtime supremacy. If you had one, immediately you were the cool kid at the table! Twenty-some-odd years later and that still seems to be the case. With so many different options and most of the commercially available products maintaining a pricepoint under $3 per serving they are popular with parents as well. However, there is still room to make them even cheaper, if not better in quality.  Not unlike the sandwich, you can make a lot for very little. Simply select your child’s favorite luncheon meats and slice them into manageable, bite-sized pieces. Ham, turkey, and cheese are some of the best choices. Pair that with a rich-buttery cracker, and you’ve got yourself a yummy lunchtime copycat. We like to arrange ours in an easy-to-clean bento-style lunch box with a little something sweet, like Oreos, as an added treat. 

Chicken Salad- My daughter goes crazy for this one. As a protein-rich (and better-smelling) alternative to tuna, chicken salad is delicious and easy to make at home. The best part is, that you can control exactly what goes into it! If you want a slightly healthier experience you can boil or grill chicken yourself or simply use canned chicken. Add mayo garlic, black pepper, paprika, black olives, and maybe even some celery. If you wanted to make yours just a bit healthier you could substitute plain greek yogurt or even a bit of dijon mustard in place of the mayonnaise. Serve open-faced on sourdough bread, with wholegrain crackers, or snack-sized bell peppers for some extra crunch. Our recipe (with alternatives) will be available soon!

Share your budget friendly school lunches in the comment section below!