School Lunch - Healthy, Happy, Cheap?

It's so hard to come up with a healthy and affordable brown bag lunches for a child every day because of this parents often end up over spending on short cuts and prepackaged goodies.  Here are a few tips on how to cut the costs for your child's lunch:
1. Do not spend on packaging. Cut down on zip lock bags, water or juice bottles, etc. by using reusable containers. There are some really cool looking water bottles out there these days and I'm sure you're child wont mind repacking her empty tupperware after she finishes her delicious and nutritious meal so you can wash it and reuse it the next day! Cutting down on this expense is probably the easiest way to cut the cost of your child's lunch. And you'll be setting an example to your child and her classmates to do something good for our environment!
2. Buy in bulk. Every so often take a trip to a Costco or another buy in bulk market where you can stock up on raisins, crackers, cheese, and other snacks that your child loves. Buying in bulk always cuts cost and will also make your life easier because your supplies will last longer!
Annoying to have to make individual snack packs instead of just buying the pre made serving size packages? Get your kids involved! This is their lunch! And having them pack things they approve of eating will ensure that your money will go to good use!
3. Does your child's school offer lunch? Let you child take advantage of this option at least once a week to cut the cost of lunches. Most schools offer a hot meal that includes protein, starch, and vegetable. Worried that your child will choose all the empty calorie options? Eh, it's just one day out of the week! Make sure to make an especially nutritious dinner on that day and rest easy, you're doing the best you can!
4. Pack up your child's favorite leftovers. You know what your child loves to eat, so give it to them! Lots of dishes can be just as delicious the day after they are prepared like pasta salad, meat loaf, quiche, and others. You already made it, you know they love it. Eating leftovers is efficient and money wise. Leftovers one day, school lunch, another, that leaves you with just three lunches to make each week!
Get your kids involved in choosing their lunches, buy in bulk, save on packaging, that's as much as you can do to save on lunch! Healthy food can be expensive, but only spend on the right things, like fresh produce, meats, and cheeses. Save on snacks. The next challenge is coming up with a creative meal every day! Talk to other moms and look online for brown bag lunch ideas for some great tips!