Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids Under £1

School dinners sound easy… until you realise you’re paying £2–£3 a day, per child. With five kids, I’d need a part-time job just to cover lunchtime pizza and chips. That’s why I stick to packed lunches – cheaper, healthier (sometimes), and way easier to control. The trick? Keeping them under £1 each. Here’s how I do it.

1. The Classic Sandwich Box

• Chicken sandwich – 2 slices bread (10p) + 1 slice Chicken (20p) + lettuce/tomato/cucumber (15p) + 1 tsp mayo (5p) = 50p.

• Crisps – multipacks work out at 20p a bag.

• Fruit – an apple (25p).

• Drink – refillable bottle of squash (basically pennies).

✅ Total: ~95p

2. DIY Lunchable

• Crackers – 5 crackers (15p).

• Cheese cubes – 30g (20p).

• Cooked chicken slices – 30g (30p).

• Cucumber sticks – quarter cucumber (15p).

✅ Total: ~80p

3. Egg & Veg Box

• Boiled egg – 20p each.

• Carrot sticks & hummus – half carrot (10p) + 2 tbsp hummus (20p).

• Mini roll/flapjack – multipack works out at 30p each.

• Fruit – banana (20p).

✅ Total: ~90p

4. Pasta Pot

• Leftover pasta – 100g (15p).

• 1 tbsp mayo/tomato sauce – (10p).

• Grated cheese – 30g (20p).

• Fruit pot – tinned fruit in juice (30p).

✅ Total: ~75p

5. Snacky Box (Kid Favourite)

• Half a bagel with soft cheese – 25p.

• Popcorn (homemade or multipack) – 15p.

• Carrot & cucumber sticks – 20p.

• Chocolate biscuit bar – 30p.

✅ Total: ~90p