Packing It Up: Frugal School Lunches Quiz

Though the USDA says any lunch bag or box will work as long as you include an ice pack to keep food cold, the best type to maintain chilled food is the insulated kind.

Turkey and ham are about equal in popularity -- each making up about 30 percent of deli meat sales, according to the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association.

Many school lunches are pretty healthy, while others might not be. It's important to take a look at the school's lunch menu day-by-day to determine whether or not to give the go-ahead on buying.

Buying a few extra ingredients to make that spaghetti dinner bigger is a lot cheaper than buying a whole new set of ingredients to make lunch. Plus, eating leftovers for lunch ensures nothing goes to waste, which definitely saves some bucks.

The school's principal said her intention was to ensure that students had a healthy lunch -- which wasn't always the case when they brought food from home.

Keeping food cold inhibits the growth of bacteria, ensuring a safe and healthy lunch.

According to the USDA, at 25 cents, a serving of fruit and vegetables is not only healthier than a bag of chips, it's cheaper too!

In the long run the more expensive reusable ones will be the real money savers. As long as you keep them clean and your kids remember to bring them home, they'll pay for themselves in no time.

Growing kids need a lot of fuel (1,600 to 2,200 calories) to keep them going.

According to the School Nutrition Association the cost of an average lunch from home ($3.43) is more than a school lunch, which averages around $2.08.

Most kids' lunches will stay at their desks, in a locker or in a common area until lunchtime -- not in a refrigerator. That's why it's important to make sure all their food stays cold by using ice packs.

It may take a little extra effort, but you'll save dough in the long run if you divide large portions of snacks -- like popcorn, chips and even yogurt -- into smaller, lunch-sized portions instead of shelling out for the convenient, small sizes.

Lunch is short, only 25 minutes, but one advantage to packing lunch is that your kids won't use up valuable time waiting in the lunch line!

Since deli meat is usually sold by weight, check the packaging to see if water has been added. Sometimes there is up to 10 percent water in packaged deli meat, which means you're paying for more water and less meat.

Depending on what type of bread you buy, wraps might seem a bit pricier. But they're usually healthier. Try buying them in bulk and freezing them to cut down on the per-wrap cost.

Nutritionists say a combination of protein and carbohydrates from lean meats, beans, vegetables and fruits will make sure your kids make it through the rest of their day (and hopefully stay awake for that afternoon math class).

True! If you cook something in the morning, then immediately pack it in a lunchbox with ice packs, it'll never get fully chilled. The USDA recommends preparing food ahead of time and refrigerating it until it's completely chilled before ever putting it in the lunchbox.

Packing lunch can sometimes be cheaper than the alternatives, but only if you make smart shopping decisions and plan your meals ahead. If you don't pay attention to your budget, it's easy to overspend on food.

The majority of the country's 57 million schoolchildren don't bring their lunches from home, but an incredibly large number (32 million) still does!

Peanut allergies are pretty common, so some daycares and elementary schools actually ban them from lunches. That includes peanut butter too.