Perla Lozano's two kids are about to start school on Aug. 14. They'll be taking a lunch that their mom packs for them every day, even though the cost of brown-bagging is likely more expensive than buying a lunch at school ‒ and the costs are going up.
The rising price tags for food and other goods due to inflation and tariffs are also affecting the cost of home-packed school lunches. But parents like Lozano say they're willing to make cuts elsewhere in their budget to ensure their kids are eating a healthy meal.
In its latest survey of 1,203 caregivers of school-aged children, the 2025 Deloitte Back to School survey found that nearly half (48%) of parents and caregivers said the cost of lunch on school days will likely be higher than last year. But 42% of the respondents said they would continue to pack their students' midday meal.
According to an analysis by Deloitte examining three years of lunch-related food prices, this year's average daily cost across brown-bag school lunch options the company studied is $6.15. Compared to the start of school last year, Deloitte said packing a lunch is expected to cost 3% more on average, or slightly higher than food-at-home inflation overall.
The company looked at a variety of packed lunches for the index, including the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a more contemporary lunch featuring a chicken and avocado quesadilla, a health and wellness lunch centered on a salad, and a "convenience" lunch built around a prepacked meat, cheese and crackers kit.
