Sending a sack lunch with your child to school is becoming more costly, with prices rising faster than inflation over the past year.

A recent study analyzed four different lunch options parents might pack in a week. The average daily cost is now $6.15, which is about 3 percent higher than at the beginning of the 2024 school year.

The "classic" lunch, featuring a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk, has seen an even bigger price increase. Although it costs less than $5, the price has gone up by 6 percent compared to last year.

Despite cafeteria food being cheaper or sometimes free, 42 percent of surveyed parents said their children still bring lunch from home.

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