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?!

You are both unreasonable and bonkers.

They aren’t “demanding” they are saying you’ll need to provide food for the journey.

A risk assessment for packed lunches? That would require a different assessment for all the food options.

Your suggestion of stopping en route would need more of a risk assessment than having some packed lunches.

Parents like you put an end to trips.

Individually wrapped packs of crackers.
Tub of jam
Brioche rolls.
Individual soreen bars.
Fruit winders.
Raisins.
Crisps
Biscuits.
Grapes
Banana
Oranges
Apple
Breadsticks
Ricecakes

DC had to take enough food in a rucksack for a 3 night/4 day Duke of Ed hike. The list is made up of some of the stuff they had for breakfast/lunch There was more but they survived 😉

I think you need to stop being rigid about meal times for this trip. If they eat snacks or breakfast/type food at lunch on this one occasion it really does not matter. It also does not matter if it’s nutritious. It does not matter if it is eaten on a stuffy coach.

None of this matters. I think you need to get some perspective on this issue.

Wow, your DC never gets to eat anything that has “zero nutritional content”? must be a barrel of laughs in your house.

We have this for our French residential trip. Though it’s dinner and breakfast. We’re sending sandwich, crisps, cereal bar, fruit and drink, then pastry, fruit and drink for breakfast. Obviously two non-perishable meals wouldn’t be too different, but it’d be more like babybel on a roll or peanut butter and jam.

I do sort of wonder what they’ll do on the way back, but that the accommodation who is providing all their other packed lunches will send them with something. And then a teacher can buy a few packets of croissants from a supermarket somewhere.

😂

It seems fine to me. Brioche or croissant for breakfast plus a peanut butter sandwich, crisps and fruit for lunch.

Surely for any school trip the lunch boxes are opened and contents consumed before they’re even out of the car park?

It will be fine. I have done it for both of mine.

Fruit, cereal bars, pain au chocolate, bagels with cheese, croissants, crisps.

Ask DC. Give them what they ask for as long as it's not perishable over the 18 hours. What is the problem here?

And while it's kind of posters to give suggestions, honestly if Mum hasn't thought of any of them already, well I just roll my eyes! And a risk assessment?? WTAF. Really am gobsmacked by the thought.

Hats off to the teachers. They deserve medals for doing the trip, and surviving 2 x 18 hour bus trips not to mention the trip itself! DC will be fine.

If it's even remotely like the Bronze (as mine weren't the superduper special kids, they just wanted to do something that sounded like fun), the tubs of mini flapjacks and krispie cakes from Tesco's did a lot of heavy lifting for at least the first day...

I wonder if the staff will be eating 17 hour old sandwiches or whether they'll be permitted to buy something fresher?

And again, obviously not the peanut butter sandwiches since they've specifically been told not to take nutty snacks hopefully everyone has the nous to extend that to the breakfast and lunch.

Oh stop it! Why does it matter if a croissant is not great nutritionally, its not like that is all they will eat every meal for a month. Do you never have a coffee and croissant or pastry for breakfast?

Quite a few people book coach trips for themselves and not all opt to use service stations for their food. Often they'll pack food for themselves.
I genuinely don't get the problem.
Pack a few sandwiches/croissants, some fruit, some pain au chocolat type things or brioche. You could use an ice pack thing or freeze a bottle of water which will double up as a drink once defrosted. Your child will be fine.

You need to start your own thread

'Hey kids, just stay on the coach by yourselves at the side of the road whilst we staff nip off to get a three course meal. It'll be fine, honestly, just so long as nobody starts fighting, gets out to walk 5kn in search of a MccyDs or brings out a bottle of vodka and some edibles whilst we're fulfilling our epicurean needs, OK?'.

They'll be lucky to get enough time to have a flaccid sandwich.

Lunch: Plastic container or bento box containing cold pasta with olive oil / pesto. Separate container of cheese and separate container with salad bits. Store with a ice pack if weather warm. If you have a hungry child, supply double.

Breakfast: Pack of mini pancakes and a separate pack of brioche / croissants. Lots of fruit. Maybe a cheese roll.

I think they’re wise not relying on finding appropriate food for that number of people on the road. They’ll journey much faster too.

I don’t see the problem, I’d much rather Dc had healthy food from home than random junk bouhht on the road. But then I’ve been on a coach trip with someone who had food poisoning 😬

Cheese is absolutely fine outside the fridge for a while. It's only refrigerated to preserve it long-term.

Wow you are being totally extra. 😂 of course a sandwich will be ok with an ice pack for a while, just don’t do chicken or fish.

DS is 9 so I guess I’m being precious and overly protective. (Peanut butter will be banned due to allergies of other children).

Risk assessment

lol

This is what takes our teachers attention away from the important things, responding to ridiculous queries like this from parents 🙄

‘Demanding’ and ‘risk assessment’ give over 🙄