More Nutrition, Less Cost: School Meals are a Sound Investment
Why choose school meals?
For less than $3 a day — and often free or reduced for qualifying families — your child gets a complete, balanced meal that costs far less than the $4.66 it takes to pack lunch from home or more than $6 it takes to get a small take-out meal from a fast food restaurant.
That adds up fast!
- Families save about $280 a year with full-pay meals, $700 a year with reduced-price meals, and roughly $800 a year with free meals.
- School meals are packed with more protein, calcium, vitamin A, fruits, and vegetables, while home-packed lunches tend to pile on extra calories, fat, and sugar.
- Plus, you save time, reduce food waste, and know your child is eating a meal that meets strict nutrition standards every single day.
Average Cost of a Sack Lunch: $4.66
Uncrustable + carrots + banana + cookie+ juice = $2.95
Lunchable + drink + banana + celery = $2.72
Deli Sandwich + Pudding + Chips + apple + juice = $ 3.28
Large Lunchable = $4.32
Gas Station Pizza + Drink = $7.68
Gas Station Hot Dog + Chips + Drink = $5.98
Hummus + Pita + Orange + Carrots + Milk = $2.85
Fast Food Burger + Fries + Drink = $7.89
Grocery Store Snack Tray + Juice = $4.27
The above costs do not include napkins, utensils, condiments, containers, lunch boxes, thermoses, etc
Cost of a fast food Double Cheeseburger, Small Fry, Small Coke: $6.00, which is more than double a school lunch! Cost of fast food chicken sandwich meal is $9, which is triple the cost of school lunch! Studies found that on days kids ate fast food, their diets were higher in calories, fat, added sugar and sugary drinks and less in fiber, calcium and fruits/vegies. Another study revealed that kids who at fast food daily in the 5th grade performed up to 20% worse in reading, math, and science by 8th grade.
| |
School Lunch |
Fast Food |
| Serving Size |
3oz Cheeseburger
1/2cup Baked Fries
3oz Apple Slices
1 cup 1% Milk
|
Double Cheeseburger
Small Fry
Small Coke
|
|
Nutrition Facts
|
676 Calories
26g Fat
1099mg Sodium
28g Protein
4g Added Sugar
|
870 Calories
35g Fat
1360mg Sodium
28g Protein
58g Added Sugar
|
| |
School Lunch |
Fast Food |
| Serving Size |
Chicken Sandwich
1/2cup tomatoes
1 Banana
1 cup 1% Milk
|
Chicken Sandwich
Small Waffle Fry
Small Lemonade
|
|
Nutrition Facts
|
619 Calories
14g Fat
608 mg Sodium
36g Protein
4g Added Sugar
|
930 Calories
37g Fat
1650mg Sodium
23g Protein
67g Added Sugar
|
Did you know?
Many foods made for schools look just like the versions you see in the grocery store, but they’re not the same. Foods served in schools must meet strict USDA nutrition standards that retail products don’t have to follow. That means school versions often have less sugar, sodium, and fat, along with more whole grains and other nutrients kids need. The ingredient lists are also cleaner, with fewer additives. When students pick up a familiar item at school, it’s been specially reformulated to support healthier eating while still tasting great.
