Packing lunches every school day adds up in both time and money. These tips from Canadian public health sources can help you keep lunches affordable and safe.
Start with the basics
- Find out what your school offers. Some schools have snack or meal programs, so you may not need to pack everything.
- Check your school's rules. Many schools have allergy policies that limit certain foods, so read them before you plan.
- Let kids help. Giving children options and letting them help pack makes it more likely the lunch gets eaten.
Keep it safe
- Keep cold food cold. Use an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack or frozen water bottle. Chilling the whole bag in the fridge overnight helps.
- Keep hot food hot. Pack soup, chili, or pasta in a preheated insulated thermos. If the lunch is meant to be hot, reheat food to at least 74°C (165°F) before packing it.
- Keep it cool. Remind children to store the lunch away from sun and heaters.
- Don't leave perishables out. Foods like cut fruit, meat, eggs, pasta, rice, dairy, and leftovers should not sit at room temperature for more than two hours.
- Keep it clean. Wash hands, wash produce, and wash the lunch bag regularly.
Lunch ideas that don't need a microwave
- Hummus with pita, carrot sticks, and cucumber
- Cheese, crackers, and fruit
- Wraps or sandwiches
- Cold pasta salad
- Leftovers that taste good cold
Canada's Food Guide resources note that dinner leftovers make a good school lunch, packed cold with an ice pack or hot in a thermos.
Save money
- Buy larger packages and portion them yourself. Canada's Food Guide suggests buying the full or family size and dividing it up, as long as you will use it.
- Plan lunches on the weekend and prep what you can the night before.
- Use leftovers from dinner as the next day's lunch.
The bottom line
A simple routine, a good insulated bag, and a little weekend prep can make school lunches cheaper, safer, and less stressful. ShoppedOut can show you where the staples for the week cost the least.
Sources
- Alberta Health Services, "Keeping school lunches safe": https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/Keeping-School-Lunches-Safe.aspx
- Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, "Eating well at school with Canada's Food Guide": https://www.wechu.org/sites/default/files/Eat_Well_At_School_ENG.pdf
- Alberta Health Services, "Tips on making healthy school lunches": https://albertahealthservices.ca/assets/news/wa/ne-wa-2022-08-29-school-lunches.pdf
- Health Canada, Canada's Food Guide, "Healthy eating on a budget": https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/tips-for-healthy-eating/healthy-eating-budget