Save Money with DIY Snack Cups

With school in full swing, I’m trying to come up with a few ideas on how to save money with my daughter’s lunches and keep her interested in the food that I send. She’s never been a “meal eater”  but more of a snacker, and the only sandwich she will eat is a peanut butter and honey sandwich. However our school does not allow peanut butter due to severe allergies, so her one and only sandwich choice is out.

One way that I have started saving money for her lunches is by making my own snack cups. You can fill out these little cups with your kid’s favorite snacks and they are the perfect serving size. I bought mine at Smart & Final, but you can also get them online at Amazon here: (ad) Disposable 4 Oz. Cups w/ Lids – 125 Pack. I filled my cups with Jell-o, pudding, applesauce and diced fruit. But you can also use trail mix, goldfish crackers,  mini pretzels – anything bite size.

Here is the cost breakdown for the snack cups that I made…

DIY Cost:

• 47 oz Applesauce $2.29
• 15 oz Pears $0.99
• 15 oz Peaches $0.99
• Large Pudding Mix $1.29
• Large Jello Mix $1.29
• 125 Cups & Lids $8.98 ($0.07 per cup & Lid combo)

Cost: $9.93

Pre-Made Cost:

• 4 Peaches Fruit Cups $2.28
• 4 Pears Fruit Cups $2.28
• 12 Pudding Cups $5.97
• 12 Applesauce $4.36
• 12 Jello Cups $4.50

Cost: $19.39

So, overall I saved $9.46 by making these snack cups myself. With three kids and lots of lunches to make it was well worth it the 20 minutes it took me to make these! I’m trying out a few homemade fruit and granola bar recipes, so hopefully she will like one of those too and I can add them to her lunch menu.