A year or two ago someone posted here or on a FB page pictures of their high schooler's lunch. The standard serving was 4 chicken nuggets that day plus some sort of starch and milk or water. For any teen who is even moderately active that is not enough food.

School lunches are gross and my teen normally packs but has in the past admitted to buying two school lunches because it simply isn't enough food to just buy one, especially if part of it is gross and the kid doesn't eat it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here we go. OP asked a specific question. Pretty sure she and her daughter, over the many years of education they’ve managed together, have realized that bringing lunch to school is an option.

Yes, my kid does this and I work at a school and see the lunch portions. They are very small.

Through the many years of education we’ve managed together, we’ve learned that taking lunch to school is an option. Kid does not select this option, while my other kid does.

So why wouldn’t you bring a lunch? Especially if school portions aren’t enough food?

NP, but based on my kids I’m guessing that the kid doesn’t leave enough time in the morning to make their lunch and doesn’t want to do it the night before. My kids don’t particularly love school lunch but they like making a lunch even less, and I’m not packing a lunch for a 12 year old so it’s on them to do it.

Anonymous wrote:No. Mine barely eats one lunch and then comes home and hoovers everything in the house.

Same

My kids both did this for a while. I’m embarrassed to admit how long it took me to catch on. Most days I send their lunch with them now.

My son did this too, he was just simply hungry.

But I do agree with the others to ask if perhaps she isn't buying lunch for someone else. I found out my daughter was doing this in elem. school for a classmate who didn't have lunch money and didn't bring lunch. So I explained to her that there are options for this classmate and reached out to the teacher.

Anonymous wrote:Here we go. OP asked a specific question. Pretty sure she and her daughter, over the many years of education they’ve managed together, have realized that bringing lunch to school is an option.

Yes, my kid does this and I work at a school and see the lunch portions. They are very small.

Through the many years of education we’ve managed together, we’ve learned that taking lunch to school is an option. Kid does not select this option, while my other kid does.

So why wouldn’t you bring a lunch? Especially if school portions aren’t enough food?

Here we go. OP asked a specific question. Pretty sure she and her daughter, over the many years of education they’ve managed together, have realized that bringing lunch to school is an option.

Yes, my kid does this and I work at a school and see the lunch portions. They are very small.

Through the many years of education we’ve managed together, we’ve learned that taking lunch to school is an option. Kid does not select this option, while my other kid does.

Why doesn’t she just bring her lunch?

School food is terrible, both for you and taste wise. The portions are small. By the time you wait and line and get it there is barely time to eat. I’m shocked she has time to even eat one school lunch, let alone two. Just pack.

No, but mine did tell me the portions are small. Now in HS, he sometimes eats his packed lunch AND buys & eats the school lunch, too.

That's a lot of processed food. Will she bring lunch?

Are they buying for someone else, by chance? My kid was coming home ravenous and I found out they were splitting their lunch with a friend who never brought money or lunch from home.

But I could see how the school lunches would not be enough especially during a growth spurt. Would be good to try to get confirmation that they're not just eating the fries or whatever is tastiest from two lunches and throwing out the main thing. And are they drinking the milk? I think the schools tabulate that when they are accounting for school meal calories.

Unless the school lunch is particular good and nutritious, I would consider having them just buy one but bringing supplemental extra snacks from home like fruit and nuts, if allowed.

No. Mine barely eats one lunch and then comes home and hoovers everything in the house.

Hmm...would wonder if she's buying for someone else as a way of ingratiating herself somehow with another kid or friend group.

School lunch tastes like crap... why would they want more of it

My kid apparently orders at least 2 lunches every day at middle school. I was wondering why her school lunch account was draining so fast. She says the portions are tiny, so she needs that much to fill her up. She is average height and weight, and eats normal portions at home. Is my kid just a ravenous school lunch eater, or are you seeing the same in your kid?