25 Cheap and Easy Back to School Lunch Ideas That Won’t Wreck Your Budget
Back to school season can sneak up on you, and every single year it’s easy to forget just how expensive packing lunches can get if you’re not paying attention. Between the new backpacks, the school supplies list, and everything else on top of it, the last thing you want is to be spending a fortune on lunch every single day too.
The good news is that packing a cheap lunch doesn’t mean packing a boring or unhealthy one. With a little planning, you can put together lunches that your kids will actually want to eat, all while keeping more money in your pocket.
Let’s start with a little confession. I homeschool my kids so I don’t need to pack a lunch every single day. But that doesn’t mean I don’t ever pack lunches. Homeschool kids go out, too. And whether I take lunch with us or we eat it at home, I still have to feed them. It just might not be in a lunchbox.
Here are my favorite cheap and budget friendly back to school lunch ideas.
Budget Friendly Lunch Ideas
1. DIY Lunchables Buy crackers, sliced cheese, and deli meat in bulk, then portion them out yourself in small containers. This is so much cheaper than the store bought versions and takes just a few minutes to prep.
2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll Ups Instead of a regular sandwich, spread peanut butter and jelly on a tortilla and roll it up, then slice into pinwheels. Kids love the different shape and it costs pennies to make.
3. Pasta Salad Cook a big batch of pasta on Sunday, toss it with some veggies, a little dressing, and maybe some cheese cubes. Portion it into containers for the whole week.
4. Bean and Cheese Burritos Canned beans are one of the cheapest proteins out there. Mix with a little cheese, wrap in a tortilla, and you have a filling lunch for less than a dollar.
5. Homemade Trail Mix Buy cereal, pretzels, raisins, and a small bag of chocolate chips in bulk, then mix your own trail mix at home instead of buying pre made snack bags.
6. Egg Muffins Whisk eggs with veggies and cheese, bake in a muffin tin, and freeze. Pop one in the lunch box in the morning and it will thaw out by lunchtime.
7. Leftover Night Whatever you make for dinner, make a little extra and pack it for lunch the next day. This is honestly one of the easiest ways to save money without any extra effort.
8. Homemade Granola Bars Store bought granola bars can get pricey, especially the individually wrapped kind. A batch made at home costs a fraction of the price and you can make a big batch that lasts all week.
9. Veggies and Homemade Dip Buy a bag of carrots or celery and make your own ranch dip instead of buying the small individual dip cups.
10. Quesadillas Cheese quesadillas are cheap, filling, and can be made in bulk and reheated throughout the week.
11. Rice and Beans A classic budget meal for a reason. Cook a big pot of rice and beans, season it well, and portion it out for the week.
12. Fruit Cups Made at Home Buy fruit in season and cut it up yourself instead of buying pre packaged fruit cups, which usually cost way more per serving.
13. Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels Similar to the PB&J roll ups, but with turkey and cheese. Slice into rounds for a fun presentation kids enjoy.
14. Homemade Chicken Nuggets Bake a big batch on the weekend and freeze extras. They reheat well (though kids enjoy them cold too if you don’t have access to a microwave) and are so much cheaper than the frozen boxed versions.
15. Overnight Oats If your child likes a cold lunch, overnight oats made with oats, milk, and a little honey or fruit can be a filling and cheap option.
16. Popcorn Instead of Chips Air popped popcorn costs just a few cents per serving and is a much cheaper alternative to bagged chips.
17. English Muffin Pizzas Top English muffins with sauce and cheese, and you have a cheap homemade pizza that kids love.
18. Hummus and Pita Make your own hummus at home with canned chickpeas, and pair it with cut up pita bread for a filling lunch.
19. Yogurt Parfaits Buy a large tub of yogurt instead of individual cups, then portion it into small containers with granola and fruit.
20. Baked Potato A plain baked potato with a little cheese and butter is filling, cheap, and easy to reheat in a thermos.
Stretch Your Lunch Budget Even Further
Buy in bulk whenever possible. Larger containers of yogurt, cheese, and deli meat almost always work out cheaper per serving than individually packaged versions.
Meal prep on the weekends. Setting aside just one hour on Sunday to portion out snacks and prep a few lunch components can save you so much time and stress during the week.
Watch for sales and stock up. If your favorite lunch staples go on sale, buy extra and freeze what you can.
Reuse containers instead of buying disposable bags every day. A set of reusable containers pays for itself within a couple of weeks.
Get your kids involved. Letting them help pack their own lunch, within reason, can cut down on food waste from things they end up not eating.
Make Back-to-school Budget Lunches Part of Your Routine
Packing a cheap school lunch really comes down to a little planning and buying smart. You don’t need fancy containers or expensive pre packaged snacks to send your kids off with a lunch they’ll actually eat. Start with just a few of these ideas, see what works for your family, and build from there. Your wallet will thank you by the end of the school year.
