Do lunchables need to be refrigerated?

[K and K's Mommy]

Okay, bad mom here.
I've let my son take the pepperoni pizza lunchable on a field trip. Didn't even freeze anything to send with it. Just pulled the drink and lunchable from the fridge at the last minute and bagged it up. I figured the cheese and pepporni are so processed and preserved, it wouldn't go bad in a few hours.

Must be a hoosier thing I have done it too. Both kids are semi-normal

Kae

So funny! I was thinking the same thing and didn't even notice she was from Indiana.

 

[mombrontrent]

It will be fine. The cheese is processed anyways so it doesn't reguire refrigeration at all. The meat is so chalked full of preservatives it will be fine as well.

 

[RadioNate]

It will be fine. The cheese is processed anyways so it doesn't reguire refrigeration at all. The meat is so chalked full of preservatives it will be fine as well.

I agree - it is a Lunchable. I've sent them tons of time w/out refrigeration.

Never had an issue. I wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[Poohforyou]

When my dd has to take a brown bag lunch the nite before I pour about 1/2 of a small bottle of water into a container and refrigerate. The bottle goes in the freezer. In the morning I add back the water I poured out & dd has ice pack/drink combo.

 

[quentina]

My son says no. He wants to take a pizza lunchable on his field trip and swears up and down that most of the class does this and nobody has keeled over

Will it be okay? We're looking at 3-4 hours out of refrigeration.

TIA

I will agree with your son.....the bulk of kids on field trip take them. I would not use them without some sort of ice pack....gross

 

[NYEmomma]

Bad mommy in the making here... I'd never think to put an ice pack or something in with a Lunchable or lunchmeat sandwich.

 

[Pigeon]

I think those lunchables are so infused with preservatives that they are impervious to biological action. Like the experiment with the McDonald's cheeseburger that looks the same after sitting on a shelf for a year.

 

[Mandychelle79]

I send Lunchables all the time for my kids for field trip days. Honestly I dont send their lunches in insulated bags or with ice packs when they pack. No tummy issues here.

 

[mombrontrent]

So this morning I come downstairs and my DD is polishing off a ham sandwich while making her lunch. She goes on to tell me that she didn't have time to eat it yesterday so she is eating it for breakfest. It had been sitting in her backpack unrefridgerated for 24 hours I'll let you know if she feels sick later

 

[goofyintoronto]

I was a chaperone on my daughters field trip recently and I was in shock with what some children had for lunches. Kids brought everything from a day old McDonalds burger, a subway grinder, lunchables, you name it.

We were on an all day field trip and the children were asked to bring a brown bag lunch that didn't need refrigeration. Many children had meals that had meat, cheese and mayo.

Not that this really answers your question, but some parents do send kids lunches that "need" refrigeration despite knowing there will be none.

Whats a subway "grinder"??? I assume its a regular subway sandwich? Anyway, the day old mcd's burger is gross, i agree. But the subway sandwich, lunchables, and pizza i've done before. Many times! And my son NEVER had tummy issues. He's 12 now. So im just curious, if meat isnt allowed in their lunches, what on earth would I give my son for lunch? Meat is out of the question, so are eggs, so i'll just pack him carrot sticks then? And some tomatoes? Or just plain cold pasta with sauce? Im sorry but there's no way. Call me a bad mom if you want, but this has worked for my son so far, im not about to change. I think that if you dont have a proper lunch insulted lunch bag, and if your lunch is sitting out in the sun/heat forever, then that is definitely a risk and there's no way my son should be eating that. But he has a good insulated lunch bag. Its refrigerated up until the time he goes to school. Im 36 yrs old and havent once gotten sick from meat sandwiches at lunch either.



Yup. I agree with the 2 below.

I agree - it is a Lunchable. I've sent them tons of time w/out refrigeration.

Never had an issue. I wouldn't think twice about it.

Bad mommy in the making here... I'd never think to put an ice pack or something in with a Lunchable or lunchmeat sandwich.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Yep I saw this too when I have chaperoned. Shocked me to say the least. Also..the OP kid doesn't know that some kid didn't go home and throw up or have other stomach issues from eating the 3-4 hour lunchable.

many kids in my sons class (including my son) bring lunchables to school. they are repeat offenders. im assuming that since they keep bringing it in, they didnt get sick from it the first time. usually once something makes you sick you know better than to bring it again next time.

It also depends on your kid thou. If your kid has a sensitive stomach then perhaps you should take the extra steps to be careful. But my son must be like me, a stomach of steel. He's fine eating whatever. Tuna sandwiches, meat/cheese/mayo, pizza, you name it!

 

[mjkacmom]

I wouldn't give it a second thought. The protein in those things is SO processed. Heck, some of the pepperoni I buy comes in a pouch, and is not refridgerated in the store. One could probably eat a lunchable that has been sitting out for a month, and still be fine.

 

[TinkerwithDis]

Call CAS!! I give my kid lunchables, subway sandwiches, egg sandwiches for lunch too! Without an ice pack! Oh the horror! My kid hasnt gotten sick once. I think some ppl are just wound up a little too tight. Back in my day we brought in all sorts of things for lunch IN A PAPER BAG....egg/mayo sandwiches, meat/cheese sandwiches. You name it! And i turned out just fine.

 

[DopeyDame]

Like others have said, just freeze a juice box. It should be fine.

When I was a kid everyone brought sandwiches to school with no refrigeration, AC or ice packs and somehow we survived. LOL

Seriously! I survived 12 years of ham and cheese sandwiches, etc. (I'm way too old to have brought lunchables to school.) I can't think of anyone in my school who didn't bring some sort of cheese or deli meat at least occasionally, except for my one friend who only ate cream cheese and olive sandwiches (eew!) I'm positive your son is correct that lots of other kids bring lunchables without refrigerations and are just fine.

 

[luvmy3]

You could get the yogurt in the tubes (if he likes those) and freeze one or two and add that to the lunch. Adds a bit to the lunchable and keeps it cold. And disposable and edible!

This is what I do too.

 

[goofyintoronto]

You could get the yogurt in the tubes (if he likes those) and freeze one or two and add that to the lunch. Adds a bit to the lunchable and keeps it cold. And disposable and edible!

This is a great idea. I never thought of that!!!

 

[rszdtrvl]

I remember as a kid eating lukewarm Budding brand turkey, mayonnaise, cheese, and mustard sandwiches. The thought of them makes me want to hurl now.

When my son was in elementary school and had field trips, I always purchased either the pizza or the nacho lunchable. I never purchased any of the meat and cheese ones. I figure like others do, that the cheese is okay and the pepperoni is so processed that it is fine for a few hours out of the refrigerator. And the nacho lunchable is just chips, cheese, and salsa.

 

[mombrontrent]

Whats a subway "grinder"??? I assume its a regular subway sandwich? Anyway, the day old mcd's burger is gross, i agree. But the subway sandwich, lunchables, and pizza i've done before. Many times! And my son NEVER had tummy issues. He's 12 now. So im just curious, if meat isnt allowed in their lunches, what on earth would I give my son for lunch? Meat is out of the question, so are eggs, so i'll just pack him carrot sticks then? And some tomatoes? Or just plain cold pasta with sauce? Im sorry but there's no way. Call me a bad mom if you want, but this has worked for my son so far, im not about to change. I think that if you dont have a proper lunch insulted lunch bag, and if your lunch is sitting out in the sun/heat forever, then that is definitely a risk and there's no way my son should be eating that. But he has a good insulated lunch bag. Its refrigerated up until the time he goes to school. Im 36 yrs old and havent once gotten sick from meat sandwiches at lunch either.



Yup. I agree with the 2 below.

There are plenty of options. I agree the luchable will be fine though. I am and have a vegatrian DD. We always pack great lunches without any meat
Today she packed rainsins, cherry tomatos, cheese and crackers and an apple.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Okay, bad mom here.
I've let my son take the pepperoni pizza lunchable on a field trip. Didn't even freeze anything to send with it. Just pulled the drink and lunchable from the fridge at the last minute and bagged it up. I figured the cheese and pepporni are so processed and preserved, it wouldn't go bad in a few hours.

I'm a bad mom, too. In the dark ages (70's/80's) when I was in elementary school, we never even considered refrigerating meat sandwiches (even tuna, which was a favorite of mine). Long before the freezer packs, etc. Neither I nor my kids have ever gotten sick.

Call CAS!! I give my kid lunchables, subway sandwiches, egg sandwiches for lunch too! Without an ice pack! Oh the horror! My kid hasnt gotten sick once. I think some ppl are just wound up a little too tight. Back in my day we brought in all sorts of things for lunch IN A PAPER BAG....egg/mayo sandwiches, meat/cheese sandwiches. You name it! And i turned out just fine.

. Thank you!

 

[goofyintoronto]

There are plenty of options. I agree the luchable will be fine though. I am and have a vegatrian DD. We always pack great lunches without any meat
Today she packed rainsins, cherry tomatos, cheese and crackers and an apple.

My son is 12 and LOOOVES meat. There's no way a meatless lunch will do it for him. LOL!