My kids always want to bring their lunch. I don't blame them; the school food is pretty bad.

I agree with the comment about slow-eaters/long lunch line.

We pack a lunch on most days, but buy on some days depending on the menu. However, if your kid is a slow eater, definitely pack a lunch. Going through the lunch line will often rob your kid of about 1/4 of their lunch time.

We pack Monday-Thursday. Our DC doesn't mind cheese pizza on Fridays or the occasional breakfast for lunch day.

I work for ACPS and I've eaten their food more times than I'd like to admit. It's pretty gross. You're better off packing.

Anonymous wrote:We always packed. Cheaper and more nutritious. My son likes to eat the exact same thing every single day year in year out. Going on 8 years now.

It's not cheaper. I don't think I can pack dd's lunch for under the $2.50 or so that school lunch costs.

By the time I put in an apple, a bag of Sun Chips, a Thermos of Mac N Cheese or something and a drink, it's more than that.

We always packed. Cheaper and more nutritious. My son likes to eat the exact same thing every single day year in year out. Going on 8 years now.

My kids liked it for a while, but grew tired of it. Ultimately the asked to start packing, but the main reason was because they had a teacher who let them eat in her room sometimes and it was much easier if they had their lunch, rather than having to go get the food and then head to the classroom.

I know some families that still buy, some that don't, and some that do half and half.

Since it is summer now, they may not have any menus posted, but during the school year they have the monthly menus posted and you can take a look and see if they have options your kid might like.

I really have no idea what relevance the number of FARMS kids has to do with this discussion.

Agree with PP - 40% or more at every school are getting free lunch.

The lunch is gross and my kid won't eat it so we pack lunch everyday.

OP here: Thanks for the responses.

It will drive me crazy to pack lunch every day, but my daughter is a picky eater so I guess it would be the best option.

My kids tried the school lunch and hated it. Even the pizza. As such, we packed every day. It sucks.

Also, pp is right -- huge number of FARMs in ACPS schools.

most get free lunch

Do most children bring or buy lunch? My DD starts K at an Alexandria City school.