Saving with 6abc: Save on lunch for school

As kids head back to school, parents have to head into the kitchen to make lunches or into their wallets to buy them. If you want to save money, Suddenly Frugal blogger Leah Ingram says the kitchen is the thrifty choice.

Ingram explains, "It is so easy just to say you're going to buy lunch. But you know what? At my kid's school district this year, buying lunch is about $4 a day. And you have to say, 'What are you getting for that $4?'"

Peanut butter and jelly is the old standby, but there are other high-protein choices, like tuna or hummus pouches that are convenient and cost-effective.

"You can throw them in the lunch box with some lettuce, with some crackers, some carrots," Ingram says. "You've got a healthy lunch option and nothing is going to get soggy."

To save on fruits and vegetables, Ingram suggests hitting a local farm stand and buying what's in season.

"The fruit and produce there is almost half the price of the supermarket. So, apples that would be $1.99 a pound at the supermarket are $1 a pound at the orchard. So, if you're packing fruit for snacks, look for that local option, which is probably healthier and will save you money," Ingram explains.

To save on snacks, make your own single-serving packets. A large bag of pretzels costs about the same as a box of single-serve bags, but you get nearly twice as much. And don't spend money on baggies and wrap that your kids are just going to throw away.

Ingram says, "I have these sandwich boxes right here that I bought when my girls were in middle school and one of them's in college and the other's a senior in high school. They still look brand new. These were the best investment I ever made."

For more of Ingram's money-saving tips, check out Suddenly Frugal.