Frugal Friday: Cheaper Pizza Lunch Packs
Pizza Packs at Half the Cost
I know those Pizza Lunchables are popular because I've seen them in all sorts of situations (from airplanes to soccer games). One of those "boxes" will run you about $2.50 on sale (regular price = $3.29).
While I was happy to see "pizza crust made with whole grain" written on the box and 3 grams of fiber listed on the nutrition label, I think we can do better than this in our own kitchen and save money doing it.
We can't easily replicate the mini pizza crusts they include, but what will work in their place are two 100% whole wheat mini bagels (Sara Lee) or one whole wheat pita bread pocket, available in several brands in most supermarkets.
The rest of the lunch pack is all about the toppings. You can spoon a tablespoon or two of bottled pizza sauce into a small plastic container and wrap 1/4 cup of shredded reduced fat cheese plus about 10 slices of less fat turkey pepperoni if desired in a snack size plastic bag or small piece of foil.
If you think ahead and pop a small 100% juice box into the freezer the night before, the juice box doubles as an ice block keeping the lunch cool through the morning at school.
Let's see how this homemade stacks up in price!
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Lunch Pack
The biggest nutritional bonus is that making your own pepperoni pizza lunch will double the fiber! If you use the mini bagel option, the lunch will contain 6 grams of fiber. This option will also trim off some grams of fat and saturated fat per serving as well.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: Frugal Friday, lunchables, pizza, healthy diet
I know those Pizza Lunchables are popular because I've seen them in all sorts of situations (from airplanes to soccer games). One of those "boxes" will run you about $2.50 on sale (regular price = $3.29).
While I was happy to see "pizza crust made with whole grain" written on the box and 3 grams of fiber listed on the nutrition label, I think we can do better than this in our own kitchen and save money doing it.
We can't easily replicate the mini pizza crusts they include, but what will work in their place are two 100% whole wheat mini bagels (Sara Lee) or one whole wheat pita bread pocket, available in several brands in most supermarkets.
The rest of the lunch pack is all about the toppings. You can spoon a tablespoon or two of bottled pizza sauce into a small plastic container and wrap 1/4 cup of shredded reduced fat cheese plus about 10 slices of less fat turkey pepperoni if desired in a snack size plastic bag or small piece of foil.
If you think ahead and pop a small 100% juice box into the freezer the night before, the juice box doubles as an ice block keeping the lunch cool through the morning at school.
Let's see how this homemade stacks up in price!
Homemade Pepperoni Pizza Lunch Pack
2 mini whole wheat bagels (they come presliced) = $.61
[The bag costs $4.00 and contains 13 mini bagels]
1/4 cup reduced fat shredded cheese = $.31
[Bag of shredded cheese with 2 cups costs about $2.50]
2 tablespoons pizza sauce = $.14
[16-ounce jar of pizza sauce contains 14, 2-tablespoon servings and costs about $2.00]
1 juice box (100% juice) adds about $.25 apiece
Total cost = $1.31
NOTE: If you add 12 pepperoni slices this will add about $.14
[A package of turkey pepperoni contains 21 servings of 12 slices and costs around $3.00]
The biggest nutritional bonus is that making your own pepperoni pizza lunch will double the fiber! If you use the mini bagel option, the lunch will contain 6 grams of fiber. This option will also trim off some grams of fat and saturated fat per serving as well.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: Frugal Friday, lunchables, pizza, healthy diet
1 Comments:
Most managers at pizza buffets will sell you the remainder of what was left on the buffet at the end of the buffet serving time for whatever one meal would have cost. I usually end up with enough pizza to make up 4-5 pizzas for about $5 total. I then freeze it in individual serving size plastic bags. By the way; the managers are happy to not have to through out the leftovers.
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