DD1 has just started reception - half days until December. Come January we need to decide whether she has school lunch or a packed lunch.
We are on a tight budget atm, and the school lunch costs over £2 a day, which is an extra possible £40 a month (which we don't have and IMO we'd hardly notice her not being there in terms of food - we'll still buy the same size loaf of bread/packs of ham etc). At home we eat 'cold' lunches anyway (sandwiches/cracker breads etc) so to us it makes no sense not to continue with these kind of lunches.
My parents are insistent that she'll need a 'good, hot meal' inside of her, and while not oblivious to our financial restrictions, think she should have hot meals while at school. They've even offered to pay for half!
Now, here's my question: do you think 'hot meals' are necessary for little people - especially in the winter months.
I am loathe to accept money from my parents for this (my mum already pays for the girls' ballet lessons). We also have three children, so this payment would likely be needed for the next seven billion years 
. I was planning on continuing what we do at home for her lunches and don't see it as a big problem, but my parents are making me feel like a bad mother for suggesting packed lunches.
Help!