You can make 7 back-to-school lunches for $2 each

The National Retail Foundation predicts that the average shopper will spend almost $700 this back-to-school season for elementary to high school students. That number is even higher for those heading to college, as they're predicted to spend nearly $970.

We get it, it gets expensive. From backpacks to school supplies to bedding, preparing for the school season seems nonstop. Parents can expect to drop hundreds of dollars even before their child makes it to their desk.

For families that are already struggling, these expenses can be an absolute nightmare. But one company seeks to resolve some of these worries with the Flipp App.

The free downloadable app brings weekly coupons and shopping lists straight to your fingertips, making heading back to school a breeze. Whether it's coupons for fresh produce, backpacks or clothing, Flipp challenges these prices, taking a lot of weight off of Mom and Dad's shoulders.

It may sound too good to be true, but we put the Flipp App to the test with the help of savings expert Lauren Greutman. With her help, we were able to prepare 7 healthy, back to school lunches for $2 each.

The Today Show frequenter gave us a grocery list, along with the savings she found for each item. Greutman was able to purchase enough food to provide for 7 days of lunches.

See her full shopping list below:

• 1 package Whole Wheat Bread $0.99 on sale

• Peanut Butter (from pantry)

• Jelly (from pantry)

• Brick of Colby Jack Cheese $1.50

• 2 Apples $1.00

• 1 lb bag of carrot sticks $1.00

• Ranch Dressing $1.00

• Dozen Eggs $0.69 at Aldi

• Pack of Tuna Fish $1.00

• Bag of Potato Chips $1.50

• 1/2 lb Turkey Breast - $2.50 on sale

• Hummus - $1.50

• Grapes - $1.99

Here's how Greutman used the food:

Look daunting? The expert provided us with a list of tricks to get the most bang for our buck.

1. Skip the bread for sandwiches. By skipping bread for sandwiches you can save over $3.00 per week. Find sandwich meat on sale using the Flipp app by searching for items such as deli turkey or salami. This week there was a sale on turkey for $4.99/lb. Instead of using bread, roll the turkey up with some American cheese and mayo and you have a fun bread free sandwich. Cost: Turkey slices, $0.50, add in the cheese for around $0.25 and you have a protein source for under $1.00.

2. Add a muffin! Making muffins is a great and inexpensive snack idea. You can make them in bulk on the cheap, then store in your freezer until you are ready to eat. You can make them healthier by adding in zucchini, carrot or pumpkin. Cost: You can make 2 dozen pumpkin muffins for right around $3.00, which can last you a long time for lunches/snacks.

Related: Back to school breakfasts

3. Take items you get for free and get creative. Often I can get food items for free with a coupon. I find these items using the Flipp app -- just pair the sale item with in-store and manufacturer coupons, which makes the item free! Some common examples are tuna, biscuits, macaroni and cheese, cereal and crackers. Then, try repurposing items you already have on hand. I take Rice Krispy that I bought for $0.50 and make them into fun protein bites by adding some peanut butter I already had in the pantry. Cost: For under $1.00 I can make a snack for my kids' lunches that won't break the bank. Another idea is to take the biscuits, (I recently picked up biscuits for FREE by pairing coupons) bake them, then add cheese and pasta sauce to make little pizzas. The cost of those would be around $1.00 for 8 mini biscuit pizzas that kids will certainly love at lunch time

4. Use a cookie cutter. My kids always enjoy when they get to eat their favorite foods in the shape of a heart, star or flower. Use a small cookie cutter to cut just about anything - from sandwiches to quesadillas - and make lunch more exciting for the kids. Making affordable lunches that your kids will eat can be a challenge, but taking cheese, for example, that you found on sale for $1.00 and cutting it into star shapes can make it much more appealing for a young child to eat. Put them on skewers to make it extra fun!

5. Eggs, eggs, eggs. Eggs are a very inexpensive item to put in lunches. I can find them using the Flipp app to see where they are the cheapest. This week they were on sale at my ALDI for $0.59. I make them in bulk for the week and turn them into multiple lunch items. Deviled eggs can be easily whipped up in the morning, as well as an egg salad sandwich. Add spices like paprika or cayenne pepper to the recipes for a different taste. Cost: I pay less than $1.00 for a dozen eggs, then add in the cost of the mayonnaise and mustard, which brings these recipes up to around $0.75 per serving.

Related: Best college food town finds

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