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 think I’d better self report myself to someone… we often drive to southern Europe and take sandwiches with us. Usually hummus/salami/ham/cheese. I make that the night before and they last 24 hours. But sweaty, but no one’s been ill. Moaned a bit.

world’s gone mad.

Do you not eat leftover takeaway pizza the next day? A cheese sandwich in a cool bag will be fine for a couple of days!

SausageRollsWithMustard · Today 18:13

Demanding?

That one word tells us all exactly how you view schools and school staff.

You should try going on a residential trip with a load of teenagers...

Came on to say this! Those poor teachers...!

Look you even have AI providing all the top tips for you!!

I raise this as another scientist parent who runs a food company has pointed out it’s difficult to guarantee the safety of food - particularly dairy - after more than a few hours even in an insulated lunch bag and particularly on a stuffy coach!

I have not yet written to ask about any paperwork. But as someone who used to be involved in education I can assure you we conducted risk assessments for every trip.

Cheese sandwiches would not technically be safe after 17 hours surely?

Processed croissants have practically zero nutritional content.

If it was a few hours, no problem. It’s not a DofE trip in the fresh outdoors. It’s on a stuffy coach.

Thank you for the lunch ideas though.

I think you'd better keep them at home OP. It's just too risky sending your poor darlings out there to starve 💔 god bless all those other kids, I hope they make it there alive.

world’s gone mad.

Well, not really given the overwhelmingly sane responses to this thread.

It would very much depend on the age of DS. 15 onwards I would calculate calories, DS would easily need 4000 calories to stop him becoming irritable over 18hrs.
High calorie foods will keep them full and relaxed, so flapjacks, plain biscuits, cheese, bread and crisps.
Low odour foods so that children travelling who suffer with travel sickness aren’t triggered.
18hrs of high calorie crap won’t do them any harm.

honestly -chill . just put a few frubes in. They will be ice packs to start with and then a yogurt snack later.

Or you do your own eosj assessment and send croissants, pastries, fruit, cereal bars, cartons of juice.

You don't need school to tell you what to send. Just be a grown up.

Did anyone die from a soggy cheese butty ?

I would pack some droëwors or biltong or vacuum packed salami, rye thins, biscuits, crisps, protein bars, may be some fruit leathers, fresh oranges and apples, sliced cucumber and carrots, cheese and grapes. Plus plenty water, some fancy non-alcoholic pop drinks: costa coffee, butter bear, fruit water, etc. I would make sure the child have enough to share.

I did two trips taking around 100 teenagers to Europe.

Then I swore I'd never do a trip again!!!
(I have done ONE more since!)

Give the teachers a break.

School trips are totally knackering.

Risk assessment?? Just pack stuff that doesn’t grow bacteria!

My daughter has been in a few trips where a long bus journey is needed. Have always had to supply money so she can grab food but not taken full meals with her just snacks. Think I'd just go with it tbh but it does seem a bit strange.

I'm a scientist parent - re dairy I wouldn't send them with a Brie but a couple of cheese strings or babybels would be fine.
Processed croissants have practically zero nutritional content.

They've got some calories. Honestly, you do not need to worry about 'nutritional content' for less than a day!

Peanut butter and jam sandwiches if you’re looking for something that is fine at room temperature?

I've been on long road journeys as an adult.
I wouldn't put up with that arrangement, so why expect children to ?
Surely the coach will have pre-arranged stops, so can book ahead for food at them?

You are being completely ridiculous OP. I imagine you are teh kind of person that will through away perefcly good fruit and veg becasue it is at its best before date.

Some ideas for you to pick and choose from.

Rolls with cheese/marmite/cured meats/jam
Crackers
Oatcakes
Cheese
Salami, chorizo, peperoni
Matthesons smoked sausage
Marmite / Vegemite
jam
Pasta salad with oil based dressing
Apples, bananas, oranges, satsumas, kiwi
Carrots, pepper, cucumber, sugarsnap peas,
Tins of tuna salad
Rice cakes, plain, choc covered, yogurt covered, flavoured
Crisps, popcorn
Pitta bread
bagel
brioche
pan au chocolat
croissant
biscuits
pancakes
muffins
Wraps
some sweets
water/juice

It really isnt hard. I can't believe an adult couldn't think of a decent packed breafast and lunch out of the list above.
It's no wonder teachers don't want to do trips if they have to deal with parents like you.

@Snoopmummy you do realise that people used to eat cheese before the invention of fridges right? And that the entire point of making cheese is to turn something that spoils (milk) into a preserved product? And many of us are old enough to remember when fridges in houses were by no means universal. Of course cheese, especially hard cheese like cheddar will be fine after 13 days. I ate year-old Stilton that had never been in a fridge at Christmas. It was delicious.

Cheese sandwiches would be fine, just whack a frozen water bottle in with it.

This 😂😂😂😂

"Risk assessment"???

😂

What do you think people have been doing in similar situations for, like, generations???

We had to do similar last year, we did:
Packaged croissants, apple and cheerios (without milk) chocolate spread (no nuts) sandwiches, crisps, banana, bear yoyos and cereal bars. Mainly snacks really but that way they if they don't eat everything it'll last whenever they want it on the trip.

What’s the plan for the journey home?