Cost of Living: Packed Lunches versus Hot Dinners

This week, our article looks into the debate around what's better - packed lunches or hot dinners. Plus, FOUR £25 Argos Gift Cards and a £50 Wilko Gift Card are up for grabs.

Date:

16 August, 2022

It's debate time

Who can forget the days of skipping into school with a snazzy lunch box, showing it off to your friends and being the cool kid of the cafeteria?

There's also the cherished memory of when the dinner ladies would make everyone’s favourite dessert on a Friday afternoon. Fish and chips and a slice of school cake was, and still is, irresistible. It made the choice between packed lunches and hot dinners a tough one.

Food for thought

What previously seemed liked a minor decision for parents - school meal or packed lunch - has now taken on greater significance amid our cost of living crisis. What is the most cost-effective way of making sure your kids don’t go hungry until dinnertime?

For many parents, planning five days of meals in advance is not feasible, while many other parents struggle with the cost of school meals. So packed lunch versus school dinners - which is the best option? Here is our invaluable guide to the pros and cons of both.

Packed lunches

Pros

  • A packed lunch means that you’ll decide what they eat. Great if your little one happens to be a fussy eater.

  • Preparing a packed lunch can have a real bonding effect. It is natural to miss your child when they are at school. A lovingly-packed lunch is an expression of how much you care. You can even inset a comforting note each day.

  • You can ensure your child’s dietary needs are catered for and that the food choices are as healthy as possible.

  • It’s said that the variety is the spice of life, so you can keep packed lunches interesting in contrast to the routine of the rotating school menu.

Cons

  • Making a packed lunch is time-consuming, especially when you have more than one child. It is often the easier option to let the school take care of things.

  • You can’t always be sure your child will eat what you give them. For all you know, they could either bin food they don’t like or swap it with friends.

  • Research shows less than 1% of packed lunches contain enough nutrients. Chocolate biscuits, crisps and fizzy drinks are popular choices. An occasional treat is fine, but packing unhealthy snacks every day is unwise. Some schools even confiscate banned foods from pupils’ lunchboxes, which could be embarrassing for your child.

  • Food for packed lunches can prove expensive. Depending on what your child’s school charges for hot dinners they could be the most cost-effective option.

Hot dinners

Pros

  • Hot meals from schools are easy to rely on and are prepared by an experienced team. Many schools have a variety of options available, from salad bars to sit-down meals.
  • They also ensure that your child will have at least one hot meal a day. If your kids have after-school clubs to attend, you might not have time in the evening to make a substantial meal.
  • By law, hot dinners must include a select number of nutrients and the ingredients must be of a set quality. It could inspire healthy eating habits that could last them a lifetime.
  • Knowing your child already has their lunch sorted gives you extra time of an evening. Having that little bit of me-time makes for a more relaxed family environment.

Cons

  • School dinners can be a one-size-fits-all. It means kids in Year 7 will get the same meals as Year 11. However, kids have different nutritional needs as they grow and may require different calorie intakes.
  • They offer less flexibility as some schools have rules about sticking to hot dinners. For example, pupils could be locked into having school meals for a whole term.
  • In most schools, hot dinners are paid for on a weekly basis. This can cost anything from a pound to £10. It is well worth looking into to the eligibility criteria for free school meals.
  • Hot dinner presents a challenge for fussy eaters. If they don’t like what is on offer they may go without eating altogether.

Let's cut to the cheese

Whichever option you choose it is always smart to make that choice a collaborative one. Speak to your children about what they want to do. They’ll be the ones eating the food after all. Making them feel like they are part of the decision can be empowering and offers a great lesson in taking responsibility.

Competition: Win a £25 Argos Gift Card or £50 Gift Card from Wilko! 

This week, we’ve teamed up with both Argos and Wilko for another exciting competition. There are FOUR £25 Argos Gift Cards up for grabs, and Wilko is offering one worth £50. How awesome is that!? 

 A high-street staple, Argos is one of the UK’s biggest catalogue retailers – with nearly 800 stores located across the UK. They sell a whopping 60,000 products, meaning you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping at Argos.  

Wilko has been a favourite for more than 90 years, starting out in Leicester as a single store. In 2022, there are now 400 stores in the UK and a whole host of products that offer value as well as quality. 

 To enter, pop us an email at [email protected] telling us what you most need from Argos and Wilko this summer – and why. 

 Needing some inspo? Check out Argos and Wilko’s websites for some ideas.

T&Cs apply - here

PLEASE NOTE, THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

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Resource Bank

Below is a list of helpful articles and websites that are full of ideas sure to inspire:

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