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5 easy school lunches to pack

By WTOP Staff

For kids, back to school means meeting new teachers, swapping summer stories with friends and showing off new school supplies and clothes. But back to school has a different, sometimes dreadful, meaning for parents.

Yes, we parents now have to get ready to pack those lunches, check the homework, and once that’s all said and done, volunteer at the school. I do all the above while working full time and can say it’s no easy task, especially when you add extracurricular activities into the mix.

While almost everything is manageable, packing my children’s lunches are the hardest thing to do. I could only wish my kids would make my life easier by eating at their school cafeteria — it’s cheaper and they also have healthier options.

However, since my kids only eat home-packed lunches, I thought of another way to make lunches simpler and more pleasurable. During the summer, I sat down with my kids to create a weekly menu. Because they were involved, it was more exciting and they know what to expect in their lunchboxes — no more complaining and whining. Plus, when you have a menu, you can shop smarter and end up saving a whole lot of money because you can buy things when they go on sale.

Here is an example of what our weekly menu looks like. You’re welcome to use and share it, but I highly suggest sitting down with your kids and coming up with your own customized menu:

Mac and Cheesy Monday: My kids love macaroni and cheese whether it’s regular cheese or even cashew cheese. It’s really easy to make, and if you have a good lunch bag (we use the PackIt), it won’t go bad. Plus, it’s probably one of the cheapest lunch options. I pack some celery and hummus to accompany it and a package of 100 percent fruit gummies. I don’t give my kids juice, so water in a water bottle is what they expect.

Taco Tuesday: The name isn’t creative, as many families do have Taco Tuesdays for dinners, but my kids have it for lunch. I usually pack corn tortillas that I heat in the morning with four spoonfuls of chili (which I always have ready to go in the fridge or freezer), cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and avocado. I pack all the ingredients separately, so the kids can make their own tacos when it’s time to eat them. I also usually pack some mangoes or blueberries on the side to cover their sweet tooth.

Waffle and Strawberry Wednesdays: My kids hate peanut butter and jelly. I don’t know why. So to encourage them to eat peanut butter, cashew butter or almond butter, I came up with a wafflewich. It has strawberries and peanut butter (or any other nut butter), and they’re sandwiched between two waffles. I use whole grain waffles, so they’re nutritious and tasty. I usually pack carrots and hummus to accompany the wafflewich, and my kids just love it.

Tomato Sandwich Thursdays: I have kids who do not eat meat, so I’ve come up with some ways to make tomatoes taste phenomenal. I usually marinate tomatoes in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, with some salt and pepper, the night before. I add a minimal amount of truffle oil to a halved French baguette. Then I top it with tomatoes, arugula and thinly sliced avocados. I usually buy reduced salt potato chips to accompany the sandwich and include a packet of 100 percent fruit gummies.

Farfalle Fridays: There is nothing special to this no-nonsense pasta, but my kids love it! I boil Farfalle the day of, drain it and add olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper. I usually have some packets of Parmesan cheese from the Costco food court that they can use to top it. I’ll also pack some cornichons (a French pickle I purchase from Trader Joe’s), and I’ll also include a banana with dark chocolate syrup.

We’ve already had one week of school, and our customized menu is working great! Like I said before, sit down with your kids and create a menu together so that your mornings aren’t so dreadful and packing lunch is something you look forward to.

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5 Easy School Lunches to Pack originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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