Mike Van de Elzen: saving money on lunchboxes and super fast chocolate cake

Welcome from a very wet Auckland City, 

Whilst the rain continues to fall in Auckland, unfortunately the price of food in supermarkets continues to rise. Most schools are going back over the next two weeks. There is no better time than now for me to try and help out, with some money savings in the lunchbox.  

• First up is the lunchbox itself, try and buy a multi-compartment / bento style lunchbox. They are very affordable from places like The Warehouse and they help to speed up the process of packing the lunch and cutting down the need for cling film etc.  
   

• Lunch boxes don't have to be filled with uber healthy food that might cost a fortune and that the kids may not even want. We might like courgette noodles but that doesn't mean our kids do. Think 80 percent - 20 percent that's 80 percent healthy. Again, not a rule you need to stick to every day, just a guideline to think about. 
   
• Think ahead a bit, if you look at school lunches much like your dinners at home, think ahead a bit. You then might find yourself working dinner leftovers into your kids lunch boxes. Items like left-over, pizza, lasagne, cottage pie, meatloaf and even soup can all be a great lunch box addition.  
   
• Don't be afraid to buy some items in bulk, places like Bin-In and Costco offer bulk items which can be broken down and re-packed. Foods like crackers, chips, yogurt, croissants, nuts and fruits can be purchased in bulk and will last the time. Even a block of cheese can be easily sliced, avoiding the single serve options. 
   
• Ask your kid what they want? Dangerous, but I'm thinking more