Thousands of children across the country headed back to school this week, much to the relief of some parents.
However, as usual, the back-to-school rush comes with a whole host of new jobs as parents scramble to get out of the house on time in the mornings.
One thing every child needs as they head back to school is a packed lunch, the cost of which can creep up if not planned out.
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With that said, we took a trip to Aldi, Lidl, Tesco and Dunnes to see what value was to be had and were able to put together two weeks' worth of school lunches for around €15.
In each lunch box we chose a sample of a ham sandwich on wholemeal bread, two pieces of fruit (orange and some berries), a yoghurt or cheese string and some rice cakes.
Here's a look at what we got:
Lidl
Cooked Irish Ham - €2.29 x 2
Wholemeal Medium Sliced Pan - €0.69
Funsize Easy Peelers - €0.49
Mixed Seedless Grapes - €1.49
Cheese strings - €2.49
Spreadable butter - €2.99
Rice cakes - €0.69
Raspberry yoghurts 4 pack - €1.75
Total: €15.17
Dunnes Stores
Dunnes Stores Cooked Irish Ham - €2.59 x 2
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Wholemeal Sliced Bread - €0.99
Dunnes Stores Juicy Citrus Fruit - €1.29
Dunnes Stores fresh raspberries - €2
Dunnes Stores Strawberry yoghurt 4 pack - €2
Dunnes Stores Mt Family Favourites Irish Creamery Butter - €1.79
Dunnes Stores Rice Cakes - €0.69
Cheese strings 4 pack - €1.25
Total: €15.19
Aldi
Delicatessen Style 10 Crumbed Irish Ham Slices - €2.49 x 2
100% Wholemeal Ballymore Crust - €0.99
Mixed Berry Tray - €2.99
Cheese strings 8 pack - €3.49
Delights Strawberry Fromage Frais 4 Pack - €1.69
Kilkeely Original butter spread - €1.09
Rice Cakes - €0.95
Total: €16.18
Tesco
Tesco Big Buy Crumbed Ham - €2.59 x 2
Tesco Family Brown Sliced Pan - €1
Tesco Raspberries - €1.95
Cheestrings 8 Pack - €3.49
Tesco Strawberry Yoghurt 4 pack - €1.89
Kerrymaid Spread - €2.59
Tesco Rice Cakes - €1.49
Total: €17.59
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