Every parent has a different style and a different opinion, a different way of dealing with things. I wouldn't worry about school lunch harming his health, unless my child had special health needs, of course. I think if breakfast at home and dinner at home are healthy, then school lunch won't make that big an impact by itself. I wouldn't make it a power struggle unless there's a special need to do that, i.e. some kind of special health issue. I would casually offer school lunch every day or lunch from home every day, but not both. If my son said he needs both, I'd offer to tweak home lunch so that it is more nutrient dense - more fiber, possibly more protein if you think that's appropriate, maybe a small piece of chocolate or cheese that would be satisfying.

Do you think it's appropriate to talk to his doctor? Young men do start eating more about that age.

Does he have a problem with weight gain? Is that why you're particularly concerned?

Thank you, DaisyinGA. There are no health issues at all but I just feel it's a waste to spend $12/week on school lunches when he's taking a healthy lunch from home. Also, he says he eats home lunches and does not throw it away but I am not convinced. He is a good kid and generally truthful. I am just surprised he's eating so much. I checked with other middle school moms. Some of them said their kids eat cafeteria lunches only on Fridays, other kids do eat home and school lunches together only twice a week.

Pack him two lunches and don't have a school account at all. Can you give him cash for the occasional school lunch?

From 7 am to 1 pm is 6 hours. Pack him 2 lunches.

How about he earns the money by doing chores? I had my son doing his wash at age 10 and it was a huge help to me. Now at 18 he figures he will be teaching his future college friends how to do it.

Yes kudos for staying on top of your sons dietary needs and your budget.

What I've learned from raising four sons is this. At times (most times) they are always hungry...can eat. That said he may need a little extra. They are using/burning a lot of calories in simply growing into being young men. There's a lot going on in their young bodies.

Another thought.....Thinking of peer pressure from friends and others....it may be cool or better said it may be not cool to pack lunch. To help him feel comfy in doing so, maybe let him pick out/choose the container that he carries and uses for sands, snacks, etc.

I like the idea of doing chores to earn extra money for school lunches. This instills a variety of qualities needed for young folks.

Best of luck

Each month, load only enough money in the account for him to buy the school lunch twice a week. If he chooses to eat through all his lunch money in a week's time, so be it, but he'll have to wait until the first of the next month to be able to buy a school lunch again.

Surely they have a break before lunch?

He needs food during that break. I'd be starving too if I couldn't eat anything between breakfast and lunch. I agree with Sylvia, pack him something for the break time AND for lunch.

(Stuff at canteens can be appalling rubbish. Don't know what it's like over there but Jamie Oliver tried to move mountains, improving the rubbish dished up in British school canteens. Unfortunately, the fast food industry is involved and so he didn't have a hope. What was worse (almost) is that he didn't get much support from parents.

I think you son is very lucky to be given good food by his mum. And he probably does eat it.

The trouble with going so long between 'feeds' is that the body does a bit of a crazed gobbling act where we can't really enjoy our food due to such hunger. Appetite is great, but being too hungry isn't (in my opinion).

Hope all goes well.

Lunches from home may not be popular. It is likely considered more fun to eat what friends are eating. Nutrition is always more important to the parent. The cool factor is the ultimate for the kid.

Yup, my guess is this is about being cool. It's not cool to have your mom pack lunch when your buddies are buying. Teach him how to make these choices by having him pay for his own lunches with money from doing chores.

My son went through bad bullying as he said he was the only one in his grade taking in packed lunch. I gave him lunch money for one lunch per week (suggesting Fridays but any day it was up to him) as I couldn't afford to give him any more. Once I found out about the bullying I went into school to deal with it but as they get older there is even more peer pressure for everyone to be 'cool'. I got him to choose what he wanted in his lunches (from a list of options of mostly healthy things) and then I would double up on the healthy stuff so he had enough. He still would come home from school tarving and head for the fridge! Boys, in particular, do eat an awful lot during the years of 12-18 :)

My older son sometimes gets hungry outside of lunch time so I pack healthy snacks in his backpack such as granola bars that he can quickly eat without making a mess. I pay my boys 25 cents per lunch that they make and they're allowed to buy once a week. Occasionally they choose to skip a week and eat twice in one week. If I could afford it I would just let them buy lunch because the food is delicious and healthy at their school (in addition to the hot lunch option there's always a salad bar, a fruit display and a healthy sandwich bar) but I can't afford to do that.