School demanding packed meals for 18 hr bus trip

[Snoopmummy]

DC is off on a school trip involving an 18 hour coach journey. School is demanding we drop children off in the evening having fed them (fine), equipped with nut free snacks (makes sense). We have also been asked to provide TWO meals: a packed breakfast and a packed lunch.

That means breakfast will be consumed 13 hours after they set off and lunch will be something like 17 hours later. Is there any food that can safely last for that length of time in an insulated bag or flask? DC does not like dried fruit or cereal bars.

AIBU to consider asking for the risk assessment over this and suggesting we equip them with money to get food on the way as they will need to stop anyway?!

I would make bread rolls with something that won’t go off if it gets a bit warm (marmite/salami/cheese) and freeze them. They should defrost slowly in the bag with the ice pack.

it would take a long time for a class full of kids to get served in the service station.

What's wrong with a croissant, some fruit, sandwiches (e.g. jam, peanut butter) and crisps?

It's fair enough to ask if they could buy lunch, but this doesn't need a risk assessment, that's just creating paperwork.

Most food will be fine

I'd avoid meat , but people used to shop daily ( so up to 24 hrs in the height of summer ) when they didn't have a fridge

Packaged brioche for breakfast, cheese sandwiches for lunch. Loads of snacks and water, and you’ll be grand.

Seems a long time for sure .When we go out I usually pack Cheese rolls and you could put an ice brick in as well.However it does make you wonder how safe it would be .Maybe ask them for suggestions or give them cash as you say

Think about meals kids take on DofE walks which they eat on the go, rather than the meals they heat up in the evening. You can get pasta pots that don’t need refrigerating or cooking

You know, I love a room temperature cheese and marmite sandwich . Preferably on granary.
Really fancy one now .

Pre packed croissants, pain au chocolate, plus some Starbucks type iced coffees would be more than fine for my teen (who will be doing the same journey in Feb)

"Demanding" is really odd language here. They are asking you to do this.

Just provide things that don't go bad quickly and put an ice pack in anything that would usually be in the fridge Croissants and pain au chocolat for breakfast. A sandwich with a non-meat filling, crisps and a bit of fruit for lunch. I don't even think this is particularly hard.

Cheese sandwiches last for ages. One for breakfast, one for lunch. Banana, muffin, crisps, whatever other snacks you like. Job done.

It will just be snacks stuff. They won't want them eating a massive feast on the bus. Crisps, cheese sandwich, crossoint type things, fruit,cakes, crackers, dried fruit, smoothie etc

Sounds fine to me, there are plenty of options- sandwiches with cheese, marmite etc, fruit, most snack foods. Presumably they want to keep the costs down and not have a million children wandering off buying snacks when they stop which is sensible.

They're not demanding anything. They're expecting you to provide enough food to keep your child fed. Which you're meant to do several times a day, every day, whether on a journey or not.

If they hadn't made the plans clear, people might not think for themselves and organise the right things, before blaming them for their kids going hungry.

Popcorn, cheese and crackers / mini cheddars and an apple for the evening

croissant, carton of juice and banana for breakfast

marmite or jam sandwiches, couple of babybels, crisps and a satsuma for lunch?!

doesn’t seem that difficult…

Marmite wraps? Baby bels can be kept out of the fridge for a good few hours

Could you freeze a couple of water bottles to use as ice packs, then dc can drink the water as well, as it defrosts.

Risk assessment for what?

‘Demanding’? I suggest that parents pack enough food to keep children happy on 8 hour journeys, because there isn’t time nor is it practical to allow 50 kids to all queue up at Burger King etc plus all their buns have sesame on, ime, I’ve had multiple trips with kids who are allergic)

I think it’s a normal suggestion, not ‘demand’. Most coach drivers won’t allow the kids to bring burgers etc back into the coach. I’ve been taking kids abroad for over 25 years, never had a parent complain about this. The children will survive without an insulated flask, just pack snacks. They will probably have time to grab something at a services, we always build in a small amount of time for a leg stretch/loo break.

Risk assessment for eating a packed lunch? Don’t be silly. People ate food before artificial refrigeration, 13 hours is not that long.

Send them with some sandwiches (if you’re worried then jam for example will keep), non dried fruit, vegetable sticks, snack bars, pastries, muffins, the little shelf stable tuna pot type things, crisps, chocolate bars and yes I’d probably give them a bit of cash too.

Are you always this hostile towards an organisation that is taking your child away on a trip, probably for no extra pay and definitely working extra hours and with considerable worry and hassle?

I'd do prepackaged pain au chocolat and a banana for breakfast, then cheese rolls, crisps, biscuits and fruit for lunch. Cheese will be fine in a coolbag with ice packs.

Risk assessment?!
Brioche, fruit, crisps, sandwiches, frozen yogurt/frube which can defrost slowly, crepes, jelly pots, chopped cleaned veg, biscuits, rice cakes. Just off the top of my head. You're being ott.

Sandwiches will be totally fine.

veg sticks and dip / fruit / crisps / Biscuits / etc

total non issue.

How kind of the teachers to give up their evenings /overnight to escort your children on this trip!
And in recognition of that, you want to 'thank' them by asking them to provide risk assessment paperwork for their request that you pack some suitable food for your child.
Honestly....

It's perfectly possible to do this - and the "risk assessment" is in the parents' hands.

I'm curious as to what's happening on the way back, though.

Pasta salad.

People taked packed lunches on long day trips al the time.

Demanding? They're asking you to feed your child.. something you'd do anyway?

You're being really weird.