debra/no ny re: lunch ideas and saving $

My daughter is very picky and quite limited in the foods that she will eat. If
you have an insulated bag and a cold pack your options open up somewhat. Some
ideas follow: apple slices with peanut butter for dipping, yogurt, cottage
cheese with or without fruit. If your kids eat celery you could make ants on a
twig. (Celery, peanut butter and raisins.) Also, various cheeses or thinly-
sliced sausage wrapped around breadsticks.
If your husband has access to a microwave or boiling water you could do soup
in a cup or oriental noodles in a cup. A good-sized bowl of this costs about
69 cents locally. Some come with a bowl & some don't. You can make your own
mixes but I haven't tried this myself. You can also get them in spicy or other
flavors. How about soup in a thermos? Or leftovers ? Does your family like
tortilla wraps? They are a good way to use up bits and bobs. Also, I find
that if I vary the bread it's a nice change. A hunk of french bread for
example instead of regular can make a difference. Evan a small bit of pate or
brie (not necess frugal!) can go a long way on a baguette. Sometimes I'll make
a mini sub with salami,a bit of mozzarella, lettuce, tomato etc. with a little
oil/vinegar/spices. It's a nice change. Very important to include the lettuce,
tomato, sprouts or? as filler and to keep things crunchy. To keep prices down,
I go to Sam's Club and buy 2 pounds of sharp cheddar (Land O' Lakes) for $2.19
per pound. It's good quality but still less expensive than the grocery store.
Also, I will buy salami, ham or roast beef at Sam's pre-sliced in large packs.
When I get home I repackage into smaller amounts and freeze. I also go to an
Italian "green grocer" for good bread, parmesan, pasta, olive oil and my
veggies. The quality is high and the prices are low. Hope that this helps.