Easy Lunchbox Swaps That Can Save You Money
Ever finished the big weekly shop, glanced at the docket in the car park, and wondered how the snack aisle took up quite so much of it? You're definitely not alone.
Multipacks of crackers, yoghurt pouches and little fruit cups are made to be convenient, and they are. But over a full school term, that convenience can quietly become one of the biggest lines on the grocery bill.
The good news? Spending less on lunchboxes doesn't mean packing less, or giving up your whole Sunday to chopping. It usually comes down to a handful of small swaps that get easier the more you do them. Here are the ones we keep coming back to in our own kitchens.
1. Swap Snack Packs for Bulk Buys
Individually wrapped snacks almost always cost more per serve. Part of what you're paying for is the packaging.
Buying the bigger bag or box and portioning it yourself is one of the simplest ways to bring the cost down. Think crackers, pretzels, popcorn, sultanas, rice cakes, or cheese cut from the block. Same snacks, smaller price per serve.
The trick is having somewhere handy to put them. Our new Multiway Duo Snack Box has two 150ml compartments side by side, so you can portion out two snacks at once. Cheese and bikkies, carrot sticks and hummus, popcorn and a few sultanas. It's made from stainless steel with a food grade silicone lid, so there's no plastic in sight, and it's top shelf dishwasher safe for an easy clean.
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Montii Tip: Portion a few days' worth of dry snacks on the weekend. When the bulk bag is already divided up, it lasts the whole week instead of disappearing in one afternoon. |
2. Swap Yoghurt Pouches for a Big Tub
Pouches are handy, but a large tub of yoghurt usually works out much cheaper per serve. It also means you can choose the flavour, the fat content and the toppings yourself.
One compartment of the Multiway Duo Snack Box holds about 125ml of yoghurt, which is just right for a snack-sized serve. Thicker yoghurts work best. Press the silicone lid on firmly and keep the box upright in the lunch bag.
Pop berries or a sprinkle of granola in the other side, and morning tea is sorted.
3. Swap Pre-Cut Fruit for Whole, In-Season Fruit
Pre-cut fruit cups and veggie snack packs charge a premium for the chopping. Whole fruit costs less, lasts longer in the fridge, and fruit that's in season is usually the best value of all.
It's also perfect for Munch and Crunch (or Crunch and Sip, or Brain Break, whatever your school calls it). Our Snack Lunch Box has two leakproof compartments* with tall walls, so a whole mandarin, a small apple or a muffin fits without any cutting. One easy latch means little learners can open it on their own, and it slips into most backpack side pockets so kids can grab it without unpacking everything.
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Montii Tip: Mandarins, bananas and small apples need zero prep. Keep a fruit bowl near your lunch packing spot and let kids choose their own. They're far more likely to eat what they picked. |
4. Swap Last-Minute Lunches for Last Night's Leftovers
Cook once, pack twice. When you're making pasta, fried rice, meatballs or homemade pizza, cook one or two extra serves and set them aside for tomorrow's lunch.
It saves buying extra lunch ingredients and cuts down on food waste at the same time. On cooler days, a warm serve of leftovers in an Insulated Food Jar is a lunchbox favourite.
5. Swap Store-Bought Treats for a Weekend Bake
Packaged muffins and slices add up quickly. A single weekend batch of banana bread, muffins or bliss balls can cover a week or more of lunchbox treats for a fraction of the cost.
Bake, cool and freeze in individual portions. Pop one straight into the lunchbox from frozen in the morning and it'll be thawed by lunchtime.
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Montii Tip: Let the kids help choose and bake the recipe. A treat they made themselves almost always comes home eaten. |
6. Swap Disposable for Durable
Cling wrap, zip lock bags and cheap containers feel inexpensive in the moment. But rolls run out, bags get thrown away, and containers with cracked lids end up being replaced every term.
Investing in a few reusable pieces that actually last means you're not buying the same thing twice. The Snack Lunch Box has a durable matte finish that hides everyday scratches and a removable silicone seal for easy cleaning. The Multiway Duo Snack Box pairs tough stainless steel with silicone, and both are dishwasher safe.
7. Swap the Grab-and-Go Snack for One You Packed (Yes, for You Too)
It's not just the kids' lunches that add up. A cafe snack after drop-off or something from the servo on the way to pickup can quietly cost more than the whole lunchbox did.
While you're portioning snacks for the kids, pack one for yourself. The Multiway Duo Snack Box comes in Cream, Blush and Khaki, with Lilac arriving mid October, so it looks right at home in a handbag or on a work desk. It also fits inside our Mini Lunch Bag.
If you like to prep ahead for the week, the Multiway Duo Snack Box Set includes three boxes and costs less than buying them separately.
Little Swaps, Real Savings
You don't need to make every swap at once. Pick one or two that suit your family this week, then add another when it feels easy.
A few dollars here and there turns into a real difference by the end of term. And the right reusable gear makes those swaps easier to keep up, school year after school year.
Ready to start swapping? Explore our Snack Lunch Box and Multiway Duo Snack Box ranges, or save even more with our Snack Lunch Box Bundles.
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