School snacks are expensive!
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School snacks are expensive!
| Sun, 09-13-2009 - 3:50pm |
For the past few years I've been sending in checks for Ds's school lunches. This year I have 2 in school and hot lunches would cost me 20 dollars a week which is too much. I've been buying a ton of snacks at the grocery store but am finding that they really don't last that long and are quite expensive. My grocery budget has gone over the past few weeks. I need to start making snacks at home. My only problem is that I have a weight issue and when I make things like cookies, I eat them...all! I can't freeze them because I like them even better frozen! But I'm afraid that I may just have to find a way to keep myself out of the cookie jar! Do you make snacks for your kids? Or do you have any cheaper snack ideas for me?

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A couple articles on inexpensive, healthy snacks for kids (and adults).
Statistically children with one overweight/obese parent are more likely to become overweight/obese, so instead of giving them cookies and what not, you are better off giving them healthier snacks.
While it appears to be expensive to buy healthier foods, with the high medical costs these days, a good diet makes economic sense in the long run.
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/990531a.cfm
Edited 9/13/2009 4:20 pm ET by marie_1229
Are you buying mini-snack bag snacks? Perhaps its more economical to buy a large bag of say chips or something and split it yourself into snack sized bags. Also, what about carrot sticks or something? If the food is in the bag and the kids are hungry- they will eat it. If not, they might throw it out but at least you aren't tempting yourself and gaining weight by eating cookies.
As a "treat" what about throwing in one or two hershey kisses? It's a small something but not as big as a cookie. Personally those don't tempt me to eat 'em so that would work for me but if not for you - then maybe try to pick something that you wouldn't eat.
Also, do you have an Aldi by you? They have applesauce and fruit cups in mini sizes. Those are great for school lunches.
Hope this helps.
I do try to buy pretty healthy snacks for my kids. Natural applesauce with no sugar, pretzels, low sugar juice boxes, fruits, and organic, no sugar fruit leather things (when they are on sale). I usually buy school packs of fig newtons and those are the expensive things and the things that my kids eat like crazy. I was just thinking that if I made the cookies instead of buying the fig newtons, it would be more cost efficient. A typical lunch for my kids would be
PB&J with natural peanut butter and low sugar jelly, whole wheat bread, sometimes stoneground if it's on sale.
Yogurt or applesauce
Juice box
a piece of fruit
bag of pretzels
Pack of Fig Newtons
Water
They eat one item as a snack with the water and whatever is leftover they eat as an afterschool snack.
I will say that I am really bad at vegetables as snacks. I always buy the little carrot sticks but never think to put them in bags!
Wouldn't you say though, that a homemade cookie is probably better for them than a store-bought fig newton? I have a weight problem due to high-stress (finances, lol), a thyroid problem and bouts of depression. I'm working on it, but I really do know a lot about health and cooking healthy, ex. I make cookies with flax seeds and oats and my dinners are always made with whole grains and lean meat. Sometimes I wonder myself why I have a weight problem! But I do tend to pig out when I get the chance! I binge eat at night as well. I am a total stress eater!
I just wanted to point out that I don't feed my kids junk for lunch. I've just been finding that my groceries are a lot more expensive since I've been making their lunches. I really hope that I can turn my weight around and be a good example for my kids. I would really hate for them to face the same struggles that I have.
I'm going to go read your article now!
Abby,
I am not implying that you feed your boys junk food. You brought up the issue with cookies which is why I made the healthy food comment.
You mentioned that you were on meds for your thyroid, then later you stopped because they were not quite right. Did you (or your doctor) get that straightened out? It should help with both the weight issue and depression.
Oh no...that must have been someone else that stopped their medication. I've been on my meds for 5 months now. They have helped with my exhaustion, but my levels are still in the higher range.
I just wanted to point out that just because I said I was going to make cookies for my kids, I didn't mean they weren't going to be on the healthier side. I guess I should have clarified.
Thanks for the info though!
I'm just curious how much is lunch money where you live - I have no idea what it is in other parts of the country.
Wow, that's super cheap!
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