I did ask once b/c my ES'er was racking up all kinds of charges. They essentially said the main lunch price was the subsidized price so was lower, but then extra entrees cost more, and there are different costs for various snacks as another poster mentioned. I was initially confused as to why just an extra entree costs more than the whole lunch but the explanation makes sense. My MS boy says the lunches aren't big enough and so he just packs so he can take alot of food.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to restrict it but he has literally no idea what anything costs or whether anything is included in pricing. He takes lunch from home every day except when he forgets it but he’s growing pretty quickly and often buys a second or third thing to eat.

When my 2 kids were in MS I would top up their account to about $120 month. He would blow through it and she would always have about 40 dollars left. Boys eat a lot of food. Mine now take in extra apples etc (in HS)

Most girls rarely eat in middle school because they are body shamed

Boys overeat ton of junk and extras and don't care how much mom spends

Neither are options. I have never understood why kid's this age can't pack their own lunch

They also charge extra from double entree (at least they do in FCPS).

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to restrict it but he has literally no idea what anything costs or whether anything is included in pricing. He takes lunch from home every day except when he forgets it but he’s growing pretty quickly and often buys a second or third thing to eat.

When my 2 kids were in MS I would top up their account to about $120 month. He would blow through it and she would always have about 40 dollars left. Boys eat a lot of food. Mine now take in extra apples etc (in HS)

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to restrict it but he has literally no idea what anything costs or whether anything is included in pricing. He takes lunch from home every day except when he forgets it but he’s growing pretty quickly and often buys a second or third thing to eat.

Mom, if you are going to baby your middle school son this much, it won't bode well for him. The kid can literally ASK anyone that works in the kitchen or the cashier what is and what is not included and the cost for certain things. But the fact that you make him so helpless makes him not care and take advantage of the fact that he can just get whatever he wants and not care of the cost. He isn't a victim. He is entitled and aloof

I don’t want to restrict it but he has literally no idea what anything costs or whether anything is included in pricing. He takes lunch from home every day except when he forgets it but he’s growing pretty quickly and often buys a second or third thing to eat.

Smart spending is bringing real food from home and not buying school junk food.

"For specific information regarding items available at your child's school or to restrict the purchase of a la carte items, please contact your school cafeteria manager."

He might be buying à la cart, which would be different prices.

On the myschool bucks account, I see 2.80 for MS Meal; 3.00 for entre, and then also a different price for snacks, or for sandwiches.

Does anyone know how this works and what costs what? The menu has no prices and the website just says lunch is $2.80. What's included in the lunch? A drink and a side? If so, what counts as a side?

My kid often racks up multiple charges in a day, getting a burger and then also mozarella sticks or something. Trying to figure out how to advise him on smart spending, but it's hard when there are no posted prices anywhere.