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?!

...and questions aside.. most cheese will be fine, salami...apples and bananas and other fruit will be fine, carrot sticks etc, crisps, bread stick, fruit bars....there is loads of stuff available! Maybe not chicken wraps 😇

Good grief. Unclench.

Mini flapjack tubs are brilliant in these circumstances.
Nutritionally sound in the long term? Nope. Will keep you going for 24 hours? Yep.

I doubt they are forcing your child to go on this 18 hour trip...I assume it's a ski trip or something with such a long coach journey.

The risk assessment for the trip will undoubtedly cover this already and say something like "write to parents and request that packed lunches are nut free and can stay fresh" that's it. There's plenty of food that will stay fresh. As others have said pack frozen sarnies or something like jam or marmite, for lunch the next day and things like brioche and fruit for breakfast. Your child will probably survive on pure haribo and no sleep for a week if my experiences of taking kids away are anything to go by. Stop being so precious.

Great idea to freeze as much as you can and let it slowly thaw out. I do this.

I can clearly remember being quite a bit older than nine and being given some money to buy lunch on a ski trip and buying a whole toblerone 😂.

I feel so sorry for the teachers. You're being so ridiculously over the top. Cheese connoisseurs actually recommend not keeping cheese refrigerated because it affects the flavour. God forbid your PFB eats something with 'zero nutritional content' either.

Give a moments thought to the teachers who are giving up their own time to take your kid on a trip they will remember for ever! Then have word with yourself before you start demanding RAs etc and make MORE work for them!

You’ve been given lots of great suggestions. I think you are overthinking this big time. Please don’t be that parent who causes additional stress to the staff organising the trip. This is a non issue.

I wouldn’t worry about the nutritional value of the meals - the focus should be food that are filling and easy to transport. You do not need to include dairy.

However, whole fruits will travel well. Apples, pears, bananas. You could make a tub of crudités if you are really concerned about the meals being balanced.

In this situation I would be relying on non perishable items like croissants, brioche, crisps (wee tub of salsa too?), snack bars, chocolate, nice crackers that are nice dry,rice cakes, snack bars (think go ahead etc), belvitta. I would fling in some fruit and plenty of water.

Imagine trying to get a coach full of 9yos through mcdonalds, where you need to a debit card not cash these days...

Its going to be stressful enough getting them all to the toilet!!

And so what if the teachers get coffees?

Ah in the spirit of Friday, let's assume it's the first time DS has gone away without his Mum, and Mum is fretting. DS however, can't wait to eat any kind of shite put his way whilst away from the nutritional rules....

The time I’m asked to risk assess a cheese sandwich is the time I’ll leave teaching

What are they providing for the return journey? I'm assuming it's a similar length.

Unless they're driving through the desert most typical packed lunch food will be fine. Pack a lot more than you think they'll eat.

Then have a word with yourself and calm down.

nutella sandwiches, crisps, popcorn, cereal bars, fruit, bread/other bakery products, fruit pouches.
there are lots of options and it’s one day while traveling it doesn’t matter if it’s not the most nutritious food.

A slice of cheddar will not become dangerous! FFS! It's been ageing in a warehouse for about for about a year before you bought it.

Frozen sandwiches in with freezer block should last long enough to the next day. I remember trying to eat ones when we did this as a kid and they were still half frozen 24 hrs later 🤣

Risk assessment 😂😂😂

or just expect parents to use some common sense…

This is mumsnet gold.

Poor schools.

I can't actually believe this is real. I have a degree in Molecular Biology which included several years worth of Mircobiology modules. A cheese sandwich, kept in a cool bag, or even a plastic pox, in winter, will be a little dry after 17 hours, but other than that, will be absolutely fine to eat! Unless you are talking about a trip that will be taking place in July, you are being ridiculous.

And even if you dont want to risk it, send them with a babybel (covered in protective wax!), a few bags of crisps or biscuits, some rcie cakes, wrapped brioche or madelines and a few apples. Supermarkets are 70% aisles full of things that sit there for weeks outside of fridges or freezers, surely you didnt need to ask this. Ok it might not be the most nutritional lunch if it's all pre-processed but it's one day!

Oh my God, just send him with some jam sandwiches, a bag of crisps and a banana and stop with all the dramatics.

"Is there any food that can safely last for that length of time in an insulated bag or flask?"

No. There's nothing. Humans, as we all know, did not exist prior to refrigeration being discovered. It was part of the miracle of creation, you can see it on the Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes.

@lapsedrdwhoenthusiast DS1 went to France and decided to starve himself so that he could buy a computer game instead!
DS2 is the fussiest eater in the world and went to the land of deliciousness (Italy) only to survive on bread and chips. Both had the times of their lives and survived.

OP even if your child eats a little unhealthier than usual on the trip, they will be having too much fun and excitement to care.

😂😂😂

I seriously wouldn't blame you.

You are being ridiculous. Lots of suggestions made here by other posters. Just pick some ideas of safe to keep items and pack the food. It’s not hard!

https://www.ocado.com/products/alpro-soya-chocolate-long-life-drink-11199011?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2KitBhCIARIsAPPMEhJMrgWJDWxInLqAEAuP_d3nMErtfopUCf7tCHIlbz3ST3KM_UBIJRYaAmvrEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

id use these, as the,mperature isn't an issue, they'll be fine for 48hours or more and put with cereal. they come in different flavours or plain. You could also use the Alpo yogurt, again its. something that will last much longer than dairy, so will be fine for 48 hours or more - the vanilla flavour is delicious. add some tinned fruit.