Savvy Shopper: Save by packing great school lunches

School is back in session and that means that the kiddos will either have to purchase a school lunch or you will need to pack one for them. After waiting in the lunch line, kids often do not have much time left to eat. Packing a nutritious lunch with items that your child likes can help avoid the lunchtime rush at school and save you some serious cash. School lunches prices can creep up, so you may want to pack it. Follow my tips to pack a “Savvy Lunch.”

Tip 1: Shop savvy. Always make sure you are getting the best price available on whatever you purchase. Use the Shopping Wizard at www.savannahnow.com/savvyshopper to compare prices at area stores and to find coupons that match those sales.

Tip 2: Don’t buy individual anything. Unless it’s free, do not pay for individually bagged chips, snack mixes, etc. Invest in some cheap plastic bags or containers and take the time to divide individual portions. Pop some popcorn and divide into individual bags to keep fresh. I was able to score a bag of Chex Mix for 30 cents. This will go a long way when I divide the bag into snack-size servings.

Tip 3: Invest in a good, insulated lunch box. It should have plenty of space to hold a Thermos, snacks, a drink and an ice pack. Don’t forget to write your child’s name in it.

Tip 4: Pack water. Juice can be very expensive. If you can, pack bottled water for your child. I never pay more than $3 for a 24-pack of water. When you find it at this price or lower, stock up. (Better yet, skip the bottled water and place your own water in a reusable container).

Tip 5: Purchase a leak-free drink container. Watch for a reusable drink container for your child. Stock up on juice when it is $1 or less for a 64-ounce bottle. (Jones Red and White just had apple juice for $1 for 64 ounces.) To keep the juice cold, freeze some of the juice in ice cube trays and fill the container partially with the ice cubes and the rest of the way with the juice. When the ice cubes thaw out, the juice will still be cold and won’t be diluted.

Tip 6: Invest in an insulated bottle. You can easily pack leftovers in the bottle — soup, ravioli, sloppy joes (without the bun), etc. The Thermos will keep things warm for your child. No need to microwave

Tip 7: Vary the Bread. Use tortilla shells and crackers. You don’t have to pack the same sandwich day after day. Pack wheat bread one day and white the next. Make it fancy by taking a star cookie cutter and cutting the shape out of the middle of each piece of bread. Take the wheat star and replace the star cutout on the white bread and vice versa.

Not Rice Krispie Treats | Americana Village - Tahoe Adventure ...

Everyone has had a Rice Krispie treat, right? It is an excellent treat, but have you ever thought about making your own Cereal Bars? I love to bake and treats made at home are always better for you than store bought, so why not have some fun and make your own at home? (They are also good snacks to take a long on a hike, a bike ride, or on a kayak … I do!

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