Not to switch DD to packed lunch in juniors after FSM ends?

[bumburlinga]

At our school most parents switch to packed lunches after FSM ends at end of Y2. I guess because of cost which is £2.10 a day. They’re good quality and she likes them. I LOVE the convenience and hate having to make a packed lunch (like now for Easter holiday club) and think this is worth my money.

DH isn’t here during the week and can’t see past the money aspect. He wants us (me) to start doing a pack up. This will soon turn into three lunchboxes I’m sure because I have 2 others at the school including one in the school nursery (I pay lunch because it’s not free until Reception) and I’m sure they won’t put up with biggest having a lunch box and their not having one just for the FOMO factor.

So AIBU paying for lunch after FSM ends when it would be cheaper to make?

I’d say if Dads so keen for them to have packed lunch he needs to be around to make them!

If you can afford it, why not?! Packed lunches still cost money!

God no. Mine still have school lunch. It also means I can give them a lighter tea if I’m busy as I know they’ve had a hot meal in the day

At £2.10 its probably worth it.

Weve just ben informed ours are rising by 65p a day to £3.20. Not that DD has them, as they aren't good at her school.

Why a hot meal? Why does one meal a day have to be hot?

I do not understand why this is always trotted out.

We do a mixture. On days I work from home and less rushed we do packed lunches, on days I go in we pay for school lunches. And £2.10 is quite cheap, ours are £2.80 rising to £3.00 after Easter. Doesn't have to be either or, most schools let you do a mixture. Also, what does your child prefer?

can't believe you are undermining your poor husband like this

clearly he has big ideas about creative lunches he would like to pack for the kids. don't squash his dreams OP. tell him he is now the boss of all lunches, including yours.

it's our responsibility empower the men in our lives to take on leadership roles

If the lunches are good quality, I'd pay.

I’m sure they won’t put up with biggest having a lunch box and their not having one just for the FOMO factor.

If you did go with a packed lunch then surely you just tell them school dinners are free until juniors, so that's what they get, the same as the eldest did? They understand that free means more money for other things right?

Two of my kids are fussy eaters and always chose the sandwich option so I started them on packed lunch once it was no longer free. They enjoy the dinner on Fridays however as it's fish and chips so they just have the hot dinner that day.

If you can afford it and your child likes the school meals, do it. I hate making packed lunches with a passion, my kid is too fussy for school dinners. Tenner a week to make life easier is worth it x

Ours are £3 a day and are tiny and crap.

Packed lunches don’t have to be a hassle to make.

dd takes a cheese roll which takes seconds to put together, or a cheese and onion “sausage” roll, a Greek yogurt, a banana, an apple and a small pack of individual biscuits. All chucked in a lunchbox in the evening in seconds and put in the fridge.

Our dinners are 2.60 and I have 2 so whilst I resented paying I kept the oldest on paid for dinners until they both grew out of FSM as I cba making just one packed lunch. Now mine are both pack ups and just have an occasional hot dinner

A proper school meal is almost always going to be healthier than a packed lunch. All those sugary yogurts/juice boxes/fruit winders etc etc.

No issue here. If he wants her to have packed lunches then he makes them.

I hate making packed lunches so refuse to do them. School dinners all the way.

We just pay for the school dinners, can't be bothered with making another packed lunch (already do my own when I'm not WFH) and I like knowing DD has had something more substantial at lunchtime.

A lot of her friends have school dinner once or twice a week now.

Both my children have a hot lunch. It means they are less hungry in the evening so we can do sandwiches or picky tea. The little one is Y4 and gets free meals as we live in London. A lot of parents went back to school meals this year because of that. They are both allowed to veto one day - one doesn't like the pizza and the other doesn't like roast. Generally they both eat well and love the salad bar aspect.

Yanbu. Your dh can make the packed lunches if he feels so strongly.

Making packed lunches everyday makes me want to pull my own eyes out.

YANBU, I paid for the school dinners for DS from year 3-6. His choice as he liked them, it was also convenient for me as a working parent not to have to make packed lunches!

Packed lunches take minutes to put together, but for some unknown reason feel like the biggest faff - I loved it when mine chose school dinners! Well worth the money.

If you’ve got money spare to spend on dinners and are happy to, then go for it.

I rarely did it as it was cheaper to make packed lunches than pay for dinners for 3 of them. That would have cost me £30 a week, whereas a loaf of bread, some fruit and few other bits were much less.

If you can afford it, and DD is happy with school meals then go for it - if DH has such strong opinions on it he can make the packed lunch! I do packed lunches but it's only because I really like watching those bento box tiktoks and making similar for the DC (although mine are always a bit shit in comparison). If I didn't enjoy doing it I'd probably get them school meals instead!

I order DD hot dinners on the days that she likes them, usually 3 out of 5 days. I have to do myself a pack up and it’s just one less stress for me - because it’s not just doing the pack ups but also cooking a meal at night. Post hot dinners snack seem easier! It costs £2.40 a meal for me which I think is worth it.

YANBU but if DH wants to make all the packed lunches then he can go ahead and do that.

Like others here I absolutely hate making packed lunches. I don't really know why, it's just one of those chores I hate! I hate making my own and I only work outside of the home 2-3 times a week and that's bad enough hah.

100% with you @bumburlinga
No way I’m shopping, thinking about, making or cleaning up packed lunches. Life has enough stress without making more if you can afford not to.