Interesting facts about the cost of a lunch!  In this economy, everyone is looking for good ideas that will help save a few $$ each week.  Here is a great one - have your son or daughter buy a healthy school lunch instead of spending on a packed lunch.  (A retail Lunchable costs approx. $2.99 without milk or fresh produce.)
Independent research puts the average cost to prepare a sack lunch from home at $3.41.  Each school age child in your family can save about $1.00 each day by buying a lunch at school. Over the course of a school year that is a savings of almost $240!

What do you get for $2.50? That is the really good news: school nutrition programs are providing nutritious, balanced meals that can help children reach and maintain a healthy weight. Meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must meet federal guidelines based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. No more than 30 percent of calories can come from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. School lunches provide one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories.

Studies show students who eat school lunches consume less calories from fat and that school lunches contain twice as much fruit and seven times the vegetable amounts as lunches brought from home. With today's school lunches featuring kiwi, whole grain bread and lean protein, you cannot go wrong dining in the school lunch room.

The next time you are at the grocery store spending too much money on school lunch supplies - consider the nutritional and economic value of purchasing school lunch instead.
Good nutrition and learning go hand in hand.

The Orange Unified Nutrition Services department is made up of a team of food and nutrition professionals that are dedicated to students' health, well being and their ability to learn. We support learning by promoting healthy habits for lifelong nutrition and fitness practices.

Meals, foods and beverages sold or served at schools meet state and federal requirements which are based on the USDA Dietary Guidelines. We provide students with access to a variety of affordable and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of students.