What are the pros and cons of paying for school cafeteria lunches as opposed to taking a lunch from home?

I think 4 days you pack his lunch and on the 5th day you let him buy it. You just don't know whats in the crap they sell these days, even a 'healthy low fat' bar these days is full of sugar and food dye. It is also better for the budget to pack his lunch and that way you know what he is eating and have control over it, I know somedays he will swap his apple with someone who has a chocolate bar but on most days he won't. So for his health and your pocket i say pack his lunch and leave the hot lunch as a treat.

when i was in elementary school i took a sac lunch everyday and loved it i got to choose what iwanted and u dont have to choose from the greasy school foods i would let him take a sac much healthier

DON:T GET SCHOOL LUNCH! SOON, VERY SOON, THE TERRORISTS WILL USE HOT LUNCH TO POISON YOUR CHILDREN. IT WILL APPEAR LIKE A MINOR FLU OUTBREAK, BUT THEN MILLIONS OF CHILDREN WILL DIE I WARNED YOU!!!!!!!! I WILL RETREAT TO MY OWN PERSONAL ISLAND BEFORE THE END OF THE WORLD! 50 CENT WILL ACCOMPANY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

School lunch (even when the menu items LOOK healthy) is full of fat and sodium. Hardly anything is prepared in the cafeteria anymore. The majority of the items are frozen/prepackaged which adds a lot of preservatives (also known as salt!) And, things like vegetables are commonly cooked in butter!! You can call his elementary school and request a lunch menu WITH nutrition information. Once you have a look at the numbers, you will definitely brown bag it! lol I brought my own lunch in elementary school, Junior high AND high school. I used to pack a bagel, string cheese, apple/banana, carrot sticks and a bottle of water :) The only days I ever bought school lunch was when they served "thanksgiving dinner" because I am a sucker for mashed potatoes and gravy lol

sac lunch all the way, every day. If you let your kid have the junk food, he will get hooked on it. If he likes healthy stuff, feed him that.

Schools here are not allowed to serve junk foods any more. I suggest finding out what is served and go from there.

The food offered at any school can be very different from another. If you don't already know, see what they are serving. I did a practicum at a Private School and ate lunch with the kids. They got VERY good food there. I was impressed. It was far better than what I got as a kid. But by packing his lunch, you always know what's inside. But that doesn't mean he will eat it all, or that he won't trade with other kids. Recalling my own childhood, I would suggest that whatever you do - keep it consistent until he is older. I remember being in first grade and getting confused on the day's routine. Sometimes I would pack, sometimes I would buy lunch. On top of that, some days I took the bus and some days my mom picked me up. There were times I couldn't remember if the money in my pocket was for lunch or the bus. So, if I wasn't sure, I'd skip lunch so that I could make sure I'd get home at the end of the day. Other times, I would use my lunch money for things that other kids were selling. The big things were little horseshoe magnets and fortune teller fish. These were dime store trinkets that we all HAD TO have. So depending on the kid, it could be risky if you are sending him off with money. So all that being said, I'd say go for the packed lunch.

Pros of bagged lunch: (1) At least until he's old enough to say, "no more" -- you can write him notes and tuck them into his lunch bag/box; (2) you can help create healthy eating habits outside the house by packing fresh fruit, vegetables, etc.; and (3) your son has more autonomy in choosing what he eats (i.e., "Mom, may I have PB&J today?" instead of being a the mercy of the cafeteria food). Cons of bagged lunch: Forethought and preparation (can be a hassle). Pros of bought food: (1) convenience; (2) variety for kids who have broad taste buds; and (3) hot meals for those who aren't crazy about cold/room temp. food. Cons of bought food: (1) Cost; (2) no control over portions served; and (3) depending on the school district, some meals may not be as healthy as a packed lunch. My kids are 10 and 8 and both enjoy sacked lunches. Although they do eat school food once every other week (their choice -- do prevent being in a food rut). I pack a main meal, fresh fruit, Gogurt or string cheese, and fresh vegetable. Fridays, I include a chocolate chip cookie (their favorite).

It really depends on the school. The quality of lunch from one school in my district was way better than the quality of another. I found myself eating school lunch almost every day at the one because the lunch ladies were super competitive (they win all sorts of lunch lady awards) and took a great deal of pride in what they served. At the other, I pick and choose what days I'll bring my own lunch because the quality of food just isn't as good. There's a definite push to make lunch foods healthier throughout the nation, but there IS room for improvement. At such an affordable price though, you're getting relatively healthy food for the money. The Friday idea is a good one, unless Fridays are the day the school serves whatever's leftover from earlier in the week. A more practical solution is to get the monthly menu (the kids usually get them, and you can probably find them online as well as in the local paper), and choose TOGETHER. Let your little tyke choose foods he thinks are really yummy, and if you're okay with his choices, don't send his lunchbox that day. Choosing foods in the cafeteria can be a real responsibility-booster, and most teachers (especially kindergarten teachers) take an active interest in making sure their students make healthy choices. If I were you, I definitely wouldn't allow him to purchase "extras" except for on special occassions. I LOVED when Mom came to eat lunch with me b/c it meant I would get a "big cookie" and maybe a sip of her ice tea. Also, it really is an absolute necessity that your son not miss out on grilled cheese day. It is, by far, the most exciting day in a school week. My students get excited FOR me b/c they know how much I dig it. Hopefully your school district serves it with carrots and soup. :D