Do Or Did Your Chilren Have A School Dinner Or Packed Lunch?

I alternate packing their lunches or buying the school lunch. I know that £1.85 is approximately $3.70 or so in dollars. Yes, that does seem a bit expensive to me. Especially since she is only eating pudding for that amount! At my children's school the lunch is not too expensive - it is $1.75 a day. They usually eat what is served, chicken or pizza or hotdog or whatever. At least it is a hot meal. But I do also pack them sandwiches, chips, fruit, pudding, juice, or cookies. And you are right, when you pack their lunch you know exactly what it is they are eating. I just try to change it up a bit to keep things new for them so they don't get too bored with either the school lunch or the lunches I pack for them. But I with you on the price, that money adds up and it is cheaper to send them with their lunch in tow. Have a great day and happy myLotting!!!

here its 2 dollars for school lunch. and there is a menu we keep at home that lets us know what they will be serving everyday.. which we check every morning to see if its something she likes, or doesnt like.. and either give lunch money or pack a lunch accordingly. there is also a midmornng snacktime which we also pack and send in. id think that what you sent is more than sufficient for a four year old. my daughter, who is 8, wouldnt eat that much LOL and wouldnt have the time to even if she would, as the allotted time for lunch is only 20 minutes.

When my son was at kindergarten, we had to send him with a packed lunch...there was no option of a school lunch/snack. Anyways, he was home after 3 hours at school. I would usually send healthy stuff as snacks...and he would have a hot lunch after he got home. In primary school, they had the option of school lunch which was done by some caterers and not cooked at school. And we had to pay for the whole year in advance if we chose the school lunch. So, I didn't take up that option and would make a whole meal for him every day (he wasn't a fussy eater and wanted a balanced meal everytime). But when I was expecting my second child, cooking a full meal in the morning was too much trouble and I opted for the school lunch. Our school lunch fees is a little on the higher side considering that one has to pay in advance and with so many holidays and half days that come in. But our son makes it worth our money because he eats well (he's sometimes late for the next class because he's having second or third helpings). This year he gets the lunch for free because I work at the same school. As far as your question goes, I think what you sent your 4 year old is a healthy lunch...but the question of if you've sent him enough depends on what he will eat and if it's enough for HIM. The requirements for each child is different.

My son has always had a school dinner. He has wonderful school dinners here - a veg based soup, main course and fruit for pudding. It's probably better than I'd serve myself, and as he's very tired when he gets home he often won't eat a proper meal. There would be no point in my paying for it if he weren't going to eat it though, so in your son's case a packed lunch sounds more sensible. Maybe he just doesn't eat the school meal because it's unfamiliar though. Do you get to see a copy of the menu? I think the food you've packed up for your son sounds great. Younger children like variety so it's probably best to supply lots of little different things. Personally I find sending apples to school is a waste of time. My son eats so little of them without me there to supervise that most of them gets thrown away still attached to the core. I'm sure not all kids are like that, but I think time pressure is to blame in his case.

I know £1.85 doesn't sound like a lot but if you are paying it every day then it soon adds up - especially if he is not eating what you are paying for! I think you've sent him with enough, he's getting a cooked meal in the evenings so he's not going to be hungry! I used to have a packed lunch when i went to school, with similar things to what you have given your little boy. It's good that it means you can keep an eye on what he is eating as well so you know he is getting the nourishment he needs! xxx

Oh, ellie, you have brought back memories. As a child. many years ago, my sisters and I had school meals. Mt cost for the week was One shilling and three pence, my elder sister had to pay one shilling and eight pence and my eldest sister's lunch money for the week was Two shillings and one penny! The point I am making is this. How can your son only eat dessert? We had teachers patrolling up and down and many a day my sister cried because she was forced to eat cabbage. We did not receive dessert unless we finished our lunch. If we were lucky then there may be left overs for dessert and we could get more. I'm not saying that he should be forced to eat cabbage but there should be supervision over what the children eat. Sometimes, they just need a bit of encouragement from the teacher to eat up. Having said that, you are obviously packing a nutritious meal that costs less so go for it girl. Forgive for going down memory lane. Blessings

My son is only 2 years old so he hasn't started school yet. But when he does start school I'm sure I will pack his lunch for him. I think it's cheaper to pack lunch than to buy it everyday. Plus if your son isn't really eating the school lunch then it's crazy to spend the money on it, you know? It's just wasting your money when you can pack what you know he likes and know that he is eating it.

We have the same problem - out little one is not a good eater and we cannot afford £1.85 a day. We send her with a sandwich and raisins, fruit and a drink, but she often says she threw some of it away and I'm sure the school dinner would be wasted.. They also have a no junk policy at school which I am in complete agreement with. She will eat a fairly wide range of things, but eats extremely slowly and with little enthusiasm!! Your packed lunch sounds pretty much the same as we send our four year old with - and I don't think she eat it all...

It was mixed, depending on what the school was serving. I would fix them a lunch on the days they were having something the children did not like that the school was serving. I would give them left overs from dinner the night before. Or make them something, or make sandwiches...which ever one they would prefer. And give them a dessert that I had made. I always had desserts made that I had baked.

My daughter usually eats the school lunch. It is alot cheaper for me to let her do that than to dens her a lunch to eat daily. She is a very picky eater and likes alot of drinks and junk food.

My son started reception class in september and he has school dinners. This is because all the children have to have a school dinner. They cost £1.50 a day here so £7.50 a week and I think it is worth it as he seems to eat more different food at school than he would at home. He has also received a sticker a few times for eating all his dinner.

When I went to school I had school dinners. I'm not sure how much they cost as you are going back a few years now. I think if your son would prefer to have a packed lunch on days when the school are giving out food that he dislikes is good. Giving him a packed lunch is good as you can see what he has eaten but the only thing is can you be sure he has eaten it?? Who knows what he could be giving to his friends (not saying that he would) but children do trade food for something their friends have!! I think you have sent him enough, I mean its better to put to much food in than not enough. Ask your son for ideas on what he wants in his packed lunch, he might see a friend with something and may want that aswell. I think the price of school dinners vary from area to area and are going up in prices!

I think it is kinda hight, 1.85 in lunch. (my opinion will be that one fruit will be enough) I have send my kid to school with lunch and then lunch money but because of a lunch program it is free for her now. I wish you good luck

My daughter has free meals in school and they are given healthy foods.The school also sent us a copy of their menu every school year.And my daughter really love their food.I think a kid meal cost $2 to $3 here but i am not really sure.

The school that my son attends do not provide a school dinner. However I would prefer if my son had that service at his school.I think that a £1.85 for a school dinner is fair enough. I do agree with healthy eating and I do think that crisps and chocolates should not be sold at school. Your son needs to learn to eat healthy food. If he is not eating school dinner than it is useless to pay for this service. It is much wiser to give him a packed lunch.

Since the time both of my kids started school, I have always packed their lunches. Though the schools here provide free lunches to the students, I just want to make sure that my kids are eating right and getting the appropriate amounts of food to keep them going through their day at school.

I will be fixing my daughter lunch when she starts school next year. Shes kind of a picky eater and I heard that the lunch isn't too great at the school. I won't pack her lunch forever just for elementry school. Unless she tells me she wants to start eating at school.

I our house, the decision has nothing to do with money. It has to do with what my daughter will eat and what I want her to eat. I feel more in control if I provide my own lunch and, hopefully, provide some barriers to my daughter catching a cold or illness which might be spread by some kitchen worker at the school.

Well, my Mother always prepare a lunch for my children so that it is so sure to know that the food they eat is safe and healthy as well.....

Hi Ellie, I too have children at primary school 2 of which are on packed lunch the other on school dinners....befor you think that's a bit strange, my youngest is only on school dinners because as he is in reception class, they have been given a free trial of school dinners until after christmas so while they are free he has them but as soon as this trial is over he will be going on packed lunches like the other 2!!! I can do a weeks packed lunches for all of them for just over the price of a week's school dinner!!! At least I know what they are eating and that they are getting enough, my older 2 have very good appetites so i know what i give them is going to fill them up!!!!....i tend to give them a couple of sandwiches or chicken or tuna pasta, couple pieces of fruit, yoghurt, juice and a cereal bar!!! hugs Jessica