How much Lunch money do you give to you High school/Secondary school DC??

[anewyear]

Ok so my 13yr old DS, will be 14 in 2 wks time, hes 5ft 11, slim build, is starting High School next week.

The school, on news letters sent home, would appear to have a cafeteria style layout, so I guess you pay at the till once you've collected your food? We've not had much information regarding this.

I have no idea how much money to give him for his lunch..

He has breakfast at home (cereal or egg, 2xtoast, fruit juice) and what I would term a 'proper', 'old fashioned' if you like, evening meal when he gets home.
But as with most parents, Id rather he didnt eat a load of 'junk' but he's a child still, and left to his own devices......will eat junk

What would be an acceptable amount?

my DD gets £2 which at her school pays for a pannini, piece of fruit and a drink

I know this is what she is eating too because they have a card payment system so I can see what she is buying unlike when I went to school when I would tell my mum I'd had salad and had actually had a can of coke and a mars bar on my way to school then nothing all day

I give ds £10-£15 a week which he puts onto his account and pays using his fingerprints. He uses all of that as he can't resist the roast beef! (he does sometimes only eat fruit and yogurt though, which I don't like) It depends on what your child likes to eat.

And this is where the problem lies, Im certain (no paperwork from school) they dont have either of the above, card or fingerprint method..

I'd send him with £3 a day unless there's a menu online so you can see what they are selling. If he doesn't spend it all on the first day then send him with less the following day.

We pay per term, but I think it works out at about £2 per meal.

For that, they get home-made soup, a main course (eg roast dinner, stir fry, pasta bake or salad/sandwich bar) and a pudding (traditional, yoghurt or fruit).

I think you have to wait and see as to what is an acceptable amount. You can't dictate up front.

School have sent home a price list.
I dont have it to hand, from what I can remember everythin is priced individually, ie roughly, main meal from £1.50ish, pudding from £1.50ish, drink 50p upward, fruit 50p upward?

I give £2.50 to mine - 13yrs and 15yrs

DS (15) gets £2.50-£3 per day depending on what change I have. This also covers a snack at break time- lunch is quite late. He's almost 6' and eats like a horse atm so this only keeps him going until he gets home at 3.30