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Money Saving Lunch Ideas
Lunch is something many of us must eat away from home. Many adults work, children are in school and it seems to be the perfect time of day to run those errands or go shopping. Unfortunately we spend a lot of our lunch time in a fast food restaurant or in a cafeteria. Not only is this expensive, but in many cases it’s not very healthy.
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Lunch Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive to Satisfy
Why not take your lunch? Pack a great lunch for the kids to take to school or for yourself. It’s pretty easy and it’s amazing some of the ideas you can come up with to make it different and tasty too.
Anyone who takes their lunch should invest in an insulated lunch carrier. This will help to keep the cold things cold and safe to eat. It also helps to protect things inside. It’s much harder to smash a good sandwich when it’s inside an insulated lunch carrier compared to a brown bag.
Also carry ice packs in your lunch bag. You can find ice packs in just about any store but if you would rather make your own that’s pretty easy too. You know those plastic bottles that we all drink our soda pop or water from? They make great ice packs. Rinse them out well, fill them 3/4 of the way full of water and tighten down the lid. It doesn’t take long for them to freeze and they last quite a long time.
Vending machines can be a killer when it comes to lunch. It’s so easy to run to a vending machine and grab a quick bite to eat and a soda. If you stop and think about the amount of money you insert in a vending machine everyday it would take your breath away. Instead of buying that soda, why not take a container of water? Add some ice cubes to help keep it cold. You can also add a powdered flavoring to give it a different taste each day. A little variety can make a world of difference when it comes to those lunch drinks.
Snacks are another thing we seem to look to vending machines for. Candy bars and chips seem to be are best friend in the middle of the afternoon. Not anymore. Try making your own granola. You can eat it right out of the container or with some honey or peanut butter you can make a great tasting snack bar that even the kids will enjoy.
Dried fruit makes a great afternoon snack. It’s healthy for you but it still has a nice sweet taste that will satisfy that mid-afternoon hunger. Even a few homemade cookies can do the trick. It’s okay to indulge once in awhile so go for it and bring a few cookies from home for that snack.
When it comes to lunch food the sky is the limit. Sandwiches can be made out of just about anything. Meats, cheese, onion, tomatoes, lettuce and just about any other item you can think of can create a great sandwich.
Even the bread doesn’t have to be the same on a daily basis. With pita bread, whole wheat buns and even English muffins you can have a different type of bread everyday of the week if you like. Many kids like their sandwiches without the crust. Tear if off and give them a surprise with that peanut butter and jelly. Try a peanut butter and banana sandwich for something a little different in their lunch box.
Another cute surprise for children and their lunch box sandwiches is to use cookie cutters and cut them in different shapes. The anticipation of how their sandwich will look each day will keep them coming home with an empty lunch box for sure.
Don’t forget the fruit and vegetables. Fresh fruits and vegetables are good for us anytime of the day. Swap from day to day. This will give a little variety also. Ranch dressing is a hit with the kids as a dip for their veggies and they even make a great fruit dip that many kids like to eat.
Carrying your lunch everyday can not only save you money and time but it is much healthier for you. Making sure your family has a healthy lunch they actually eat is of the utmost importance to their well being. A little imagination and some fun and you will have a lunch they will be proud to say is theirs.
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