Looking for a cheap school lunch? Here’s Big Daddy’s shopping list for cheap packed lunches
School dinners aren’t always affordable, and sometimes sending your kids to school with packed lunches is the only option. However, it can also be difficult to assemble an inexpensive packed lunch that your little ones will enjoy.
NHS Choices suggests that a healthy lunchbox should contain:
- starchy carbs such as bread, rice or pasta, fruit, vegetables or salad
- a source of protein such as beans, egg, meat or fish
- a dairy item such as cheese, milk or a yoghurt.
With this in mind, Big Daddy has created a shopping list of five different packed lunches each costing £5 and below in your weekly shop from Tesco.
Packed lunch 1
This is a classic British lunch of a ham sandwich, a packet of crisps, apple juice, mousse and carrot sticks.
Tesco Small White Bread 440g – £ 0.50
Tesco Everyday Value Cooked Ham 125g – £ 0.60
Tesco Everyday Value Variety Crisps X 12 – £0.66
Tesco Milk Chocolate/strawberry/lemon Mousse X 6 – £1.00
Redmere Farms Carrots 1kg – £0.47
Tesco Pure Apple Juice X 5 – £1.15
Total = £4.38
Packed lunch 2
This lunch seeks a bread alternative with chicken salad wraps, bananas, fruity cereal bars and pineapple juice.
Tesco Plain Mini Tortillas 8 Pack – £0.70
Tesco Everyday Value Chicken Roll 250g – £0.60
Tesco Iceberg Lettuce – £0.50
Tesco Loose Bananas X 5 – £0.70
Tesco Healthy Living 5 Apple & Strawberry Cereal Bars – £0.89
Tesco Pineapple Juice X 6 – £1.60
Total = £4.99
Packed lunch 3
This lunch is a bit barer as one item is slightly more expensive however, you can fill a whole lunchbox with this tuna and tomato pasta. Add a healthy bottle of water from home to compensate for the expensive items.
Tesco Fusilli 500g – £0.56
Hearty Food Co. Tomato And Herb Pasta Sauce 440g – £0.39
Tesco Everyday Value Tuna Chunks in Brine – £3.25
Bottle of water (from home) – £0.00
Total = £4.20
Packed lunch 4
This lunch has a slight Greek twist with pitta bread as the alternative to the usual sliced bread, filled with ham, lettuce and cucumber, along with juicy grapes and a delicious yoghurt for dessert.
Tesco Wholemeal Pitta Bread 6 Pack – £0.55
Tesco Everyday Value Cooked Ham 125g – £ 0.60
Tesco Iceberg Lettuce – £0.50
Tesco Whole Cucumber – £0.50
Suntrail Farms Grapes 500g – £1.25
Wildlife Choobs Strawberry Yogurt 6 X – £1.00
Bottle of water (from home) – £0.00
Total = £4.40
Packed lunch 5
Returning to sliced bread but with a touch of the US with a peanut butter sandwich along with some classic scotch eggs, a pot of jelly for dessert and another totally cheap bottle of water.
Tesco Small White Bread 440g – £ 0.50
Tesco Everyday Value Crunchy Peanut Butter 340g – £0.70
Tesco Mini Savoury Eggs 12 Pack – £1.00
Hartley Ready to Eat No Added Sugar Raspberry Jelly X 5 – £2.50
Bottle of water (from home) – £0.00
Total = £4.70
