Abusing the School Lunch Privilege

on February 10, 2009 at 2:11 PM

abusing school lunch money Every Sunday night, I sit my kindergartner down in front of the weekly school menu and let him pick what TWO hot lunches he's allowed to buy that week. Each month, I send in a check for EXACTLY eight lunches. I remind him the morning of every "hot lunch day" so he can raise his hand during the morning lunch tally.

It seemed like a good enough system. I was giving him responsibility ... but not too much. And, I thought it was working ...

Until the note last week from the lunch room, revealing that my boy had already blown through his monthly tab -- just two weeks into the month!

"But, Mommy, I don't like sandwiches anymore . . . " went the excuse.

My cousin's son, also 5, wasn't living up to his end of the school lunch bargain, either. Instead of buying the agreed upon, balanced lunches he was supposed to, he grabbed a bagel and butter -- every single time. This went on for weeks before the school mentioned something to his parents.

I can't totally blame the schools. It's impossible to keep tabs on what every single kid is eating at all times.

So how should we parents deal with little lunch money mishandlers? Can you justify giving a punishment for ... eating?

tredafh does not mess around. Her son, like mine, way exceeded his allotted meal allowance because, he claimed, "he was still hungry." But even when mom sent him in with some additional snacks, he refused to eat them and continued to buy from the cafeteria.

"I have started making him pay for it out of his own money," she says. "He is ticked. I don't know what else to do besides make him take his lunch every day."

I love this. I only wish my son some money so I could employ it.

++Do your kids obey the school lunch money rules? How do you punish them if they break those rules? What money lessons are you teaching?

About the author Cynthia Dermody

is The Stir's Managing Editor who has trophies in her home for her skills at the Irish Jig. She makes cupcakes with as many fattening ingredients as possible, doesn't comb her hair for months at a time, and was probably a faerie in a former life.

Filed Under: education, elementary school

Comments (19)

Barb10

on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:52 PM

My kids started getting free lunch a few months ago when we had 6 in family cause of our income,but once I go back to work,we wont qualify anymore and ours are 2 dollars a lunch and with 3 kids in school,they will pack all but a day or 2 a week,its just too expensive.We never got free lunches before and when I had only 1 kid in school,he picked when he wanted to buy.I let them get lunch there now and dont pack cause its cheaper and I am so glad we can get the lunches right now. Maybe you could give your son one more chance and explain that he needs to eat the lunch on menu.,Maybe the lunch lady could make sure he is getting the reg lunch if you call and spoke with her.I know they do a pin # system at our school and maybe they could have it in the computer.

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RoseWall

on Feb 10, 2009 at 2:54 PM

our school lunch is where they can choose from the menu themselves. like a salad/fruit bar. my hs student especially llikes the salad bar choices.

mlregalado

on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:04 PM

I would pay for his lunches as before, no extra lunches, and I would make him pay for the rest. If he goes over, oh well, his problem.

JasonsMom2007

on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:07 PM

If he uses all of them up at the beginning of the month I'd just make him pack his lunch for the rest of the month.

momof2luvsshoes

on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:19 PM

My kindergartner never buys his lunch. I always give him the option but he says he doesn't want to wait in line and waste time for socializing, LOL! He loves taking lunchables, soups, and sandwiches so I'm cool with that. He's not a big fan of hot meals at lunchtime anyway. At his school the primary (k-1) can choose from 2 choices for breakfast and lunch and they don't have a la carte so unless kids waste their home lunches and buy school lunch anyway it really doesn't happen there. His teacher monitors the lunch line too so they don't have a lot of freedom until they sit down to eat. I am very impressed with their system. I would definitely tell him here is your allotted lunch money for the month, once it's gone you bring your lunch.

Julie411me

on Feb 10, 2009 at 3:35 PM

I think Jason's mom nailed it.

JasonsMom2007 Feb. 10, 2009 at 3:07 PM

Excellent advice and the child learns a lesson.

sweet-a-kins

on Feb 10, 2009 at 4:05 PM

My daughter is in first grade, lunch costs $2. They can bring it for the whole week or per day. and when they do, it goes into their own account, if they forget their lunch or money, they get 3 free a year. My daughter prefers me to make her lunch. I was giving her money, but she said she would rather I make it...

Maybe you could send in a note to the teacher as to what days he is having a bought lunch

MAyers

on Feb 10, 2009 at 4:06 PM

my kids aren't in school but i never had to pay for lunch.

MrsG423

on Feb 10, 2009 at 8:21 PM

At my son's school, they have an icon on there computer saying what the kids can and cannot buy, maybe you should look into it and see if they offer that option at your school.

mudgirl

on Feb 10, 2009 at 9:01 PM

my daughter gets free lunches but then she says shes still hungry and gets more food and then i get a bill for it. they will just let her eat as much as she wants so i had to call them and tell them she only needs to eat 1 lunch everyday.