Sassos said one of the best ways to save on groceries is to talk with kids about what they actually like, which can help cut down on food waste. On average, a household of four loses around $2,912 per year in food waste, according to a 2025 report by the Environmental Protection Agency. Sassos and her team recently tested hundreds of snacks for Good Housekeeping’s annual Snack Awards, focusing on taste, nutrition, convenience and value. She shared some of the top-rated snacks for kids’ school lunches, along with a few simple lunch-packing hacks. “Because if they’re not eating it, it’s a food waste problem, right, as well as a waste of money.”