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?!

In years to come I hope he never wants to leave home, she'll be going with him!

The teachers will be taking it in turns to have a fry-up while the kids pee and buy more crisps.

I have never done this, obvs.

Risk assessment? They are children not precious petals

I would through and ice brick maybe or send packaged stuff, they are not going to starve

My only thought is you can't take dairy or meat into the eu these days! Jane sandwiches though would be fine

Why do you keep using the word "demand" instead of "ask" eg. "School is demanding we drop children off in the evening having fed them"
Is it to try and make the school sound unreasonable?

This has been mentioned and then mocked by other posters. If I were the OP, I'd be asking the school about this - the last thing the staff on the trip need is an over-zealous customs official who got out of bed the wrong side that morning.

@DonnaBanana

My dd begs to differ, she's just travelled that to go skiing, saved a lot over flying plus they have transport once there.

I drove to Italy last year ... I love long distance road trips

Do every one on the trip a favour (except your poor child of coarse )and keep your child at home ! It must be utterly exhausting policing life as you do .

Especially as many of the 9 year olds, especially this one, will have never bought themselves food in a cafe, especially a foreign service station with the problems of language and money. Does the risk assessment include staff being at the counter and till to supervise each child's purchase, quantifying nutritional value?

Don't the cafes in the European service stations sell alcohol, they certainly used to! Staff will be well stocked with their special bottles of 'water', the little cans of Fever Tree being wedged in the bottom of their cool bags!

Grapes… marmite sandwiches or jam. Croissant. Pots of jelly. Crisps. Make some cheese biscuits. Make some flapjacks. Fruit smoothies - like the ones you give babies (Ella’s kitchen) - just the plain fruit ones. Boxes of raisins. Crackers. Banana chips. Lots of water.

18 hours travelling is grim.

At the return pickup I wonder how many parents will say thanks to the teachers who, hopefully, kept their children happy and safe? That was always an eye-opener, not usually the ones you expect.

AND at least one of them has a nut allergy.

Maybe the risk assessment had

Children purchasing food:

1. Loss of money = unhappy parents,
2. making inappropriate choices such as all Skittles = technicolor vomit on bus seating,
3. being unable to read labelling in 3 different languages = killing Clementine Dooms-Patterson through the medium of Nutella.

" just equip them with money to buy food ..."

Honestly can you imagine the total chaos.

I’m usually very chilled - especially compared to the other tiger parents in the class! Now the EU dairy ban does pose a dilemma. DS is far from a Michelin grazer and the only types of sandwiches he will eat are cheese, ham or tuna. Latter two I won’t send obviously! Won’t touch yoghurt, Soreen, babybel cheese, Marmite. Will happily scoff a hot meal but won’t be sending that following the other good points raised. Can’t withdraw from trip as it’s not refundable and child wants to go. I had reservations about such a long coach trip given the eye watering cost of trip.

She did, at 18.37 yesterday.

If you can't read all the thread (understandable), it isn't difficult to skim the OP's posts.

I meant the opening post, not the original poster, my post was based on what was in that.

God knows why you’re so picky, chill out 🙄

You can buy Army ration packs online or from some camping shops. No need to refrigerate or cook. Could also be bartered for goods / services once they arrive at the destination.

My kids have this sort of trip a few times with school. From 18 - 20 hrs.

Wild horses wouldn't drag me but they all loved it. Particularly the journeys. ( yep )

Well equipped with snacks/food ( of the type helpfully listed across this thread ) ear phones, pillows, phones ( at their own risk ) and all the rest, they horsed, chatted, slept, truffled and were generally in pig heaven with their mates, making their way across the continent.

Your son is a bit younger than mine were, but the school already sound sensible, not letting them loose to buy their own food. Be reassured by that.

@Snoopmummy having escorted a party of school kids through the services I can totally understand why they're not wanting to do that! Also it's bad enough trying to get 3 dc to agree which concession to go to, never mind 30!

Freeze a ham sandwich. In an insulated lunch box with frozen juice box and frozen frube it'll be grand.

Demanding or simply asking? Seems like a reasonable request; fruit, cakes, veggie sticks, crisps, pasta, sarnies will all keep pretty well in an insulated lunch bag. Give them cash as well just in case they can buy something hot on the way. Don’t overthink it; it uses way too much energy

I thought there are strict health and safety rules for how long fresh food can be left out the fridge? Sounds strange that a school would go against health and safety rules. Only safe food would be unhealthy processed food, which shouldn't be what a school are requesting parents to provide.

I thought there are strict health and safety rules for how long fresh food can be left out the fridge? Sounds strange that a school would go against health and safety rules. Only safe food would be unhealthy processed food, which shouldn't be what a school are requesting parents to provide.

🤦‍♀️

I think pretty much every school uses an agency for trips longer than a day, and presumably the agency gets a substantial discount on all parts of the journey because they make thousands of bookings + have insurance etc. It would cost the school much more to arrange themselves even without factoring in the time it would take to research it all.

As for the packed lunches, I’ve heard first hand experiences of school trips being held up in Dover for hours recently and the only food being available to buy was at a very overwhelmed Costa, so I’d send ALL the snacks you can to be in the safe side!

Whilst i share your initial reaction OP chances are there aren't many good food options they can buy on the way anyway. Maybe just pack them something with an icepack to make sure they won't go off?