AIBU to put mash and gravy in food flask?

[Ghanagirl]

Have just changed my year 4 twins to packed lunches (they've always had school meals even in nursery).
But recently they've been complaining that food is getting worse so I went to tasting session and food was really horrible.
Have been doing hot lunches in food flask but running out of ideas my DS suggested meatballs mash potatoes with veg and gravy! Would this work in a flask, has anyone tried it? Main worry is gravy making everything soggy

[Artandco]

I wouldn't do meatballs with gray and mash as that sounds horrid

But in a food flask you can do:

-Meatballs in tomato sauce with pasta

• soup
  
• chicken and roast veg Coucous
  
• various rissotos

[momb]

You'd need a smaller flask for the gravy to go on separately. Do they eat together? Could one take the meatballs and mash and the other one the gravy?

[Notso]

Meatballs with mashed potatoes and gravy is delicious.
We are having this tonight, I use my Swedish grandmas kotbullar recipe.

The mash might go soggy in a though but would they care? Try it at the weekend for a test run maybe.

[JanetOfTheApes]

Mash is soggy anyway. If they will eat it, who cares what anyone elses opinion is?

[AnthonyPandy]

Could you make the mash without butter and milk so it is quite dry? Or enough just to help it bind?

[Fiona80]

Would never have thought to send hot food in for lunch. Might try it. I would worry that food would go off after 3-4 hours.

What have u been previously sending in?

[OohMavis]

I think it sounds lovely but realistically the meatballs would end up floating in a soupy-potato mess. Separate gravy?

[FeelingSmurfy]

Don't think that would work, 2hat about those (aladdin?) lunch boxes that work like a flask but are lunch boxes?

[gastropod]

Don't see why not.

I've done sausage, peas and mash in a food flask before.
Also pasta bolognese, pasta & pesto, lasagne, meatballs & couscous, noodles...

If you heat the flask with boiling water for a few minutes before adding the food, it'll stay hotter for longer.

[Ghanagirl]

Thanks everyone, think I'm going to try layering, sweet potato mash then mixed veg followed by meatballs and gravy!
Will let you know how it goes.
Have previously made seafood linguine, various risottos, plus jolof rice (west African dish that my SIL taught me) various versions of stir fried noodles and usual sarnies!!

[Ghanagirl]

gastropod
Thanks sounds like it might work and if not they won't starve for one day!

[littleducks]

Put the meatballs and gravy underneath the mash like shepherds pie?

[scarlets]

I've never heard of a food flask but this thread is making me hungry. Will you do me a packed lunch please, OP?

[VertigoNun]

My children loved a nice soup and roll in the winter. Trial the meal at home first to see how it sits like.

[Neffi]

Slightly off topic but what food flask are you using and how long is it keeping the food hot for? Is it still properly hot for the kids at lunch time?

[SohowdoIdothis]

these are brilliant the whole family uses them
we use the double ones mostly as do most the school]]

Just fill with boiling water, heat the food, tip the water away, and the food stays hot all day, we batch cook and freeze food in containers, so everyone can just pick what ever they want, they pay for themselves really quickly. and you can give up on boring sandwiches.

[Neffi]

SohowdoIdothis Thank you!

[SohowdoIdothis]

Brilliant for the beach when you don't want to eat gack, nothing better to come out the water after surfing to eat a good stew.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I can't believe people are knocking mash and gravy in a flask - that sounds like genius to me!

Test it over the weekend but I think it's a brilliant idea 👍🏻

[gastropod]

I use these - perfect size for primary age kids and fit into schoolbag easily.
Have lasted really well - bought two of them four years ago and they are both still going strong. Easy to fill and clean as well.

(We have one of the Aladdin containers but the kids find it too bulky for their schoolbag.)

[Ghanagirl]

Gastropod we initially bought the flasks you've suggested but looked really small, my twins are tiny 8 year olds but they love big portions X

[spanky2]

My dcs complained the food was lukewarm by lunchtime. I did pasta, baked beans, soup etc. But I had lunch from one as ds2 was ill and wanted something else and it wasn't that warm.

[spanky2]

Back to gravy and mash... I think gravy first then a mash float on top.

[Fiona80]

Glad you showed what they were as never seen them or maybe haven't noticed them before.

Dd is fed up of cheese or jam sanwiches, won't have nothing else. Will try pasta or stew. She is so fussy!