Soreen Lunchbox Loaves feedback thread – find out what MNers and bloggers think NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

We gave 100 Mumsnetters the chance to test Soreen’s Lunchbox Loaves, in both banana and malt varieties. Hear what they – and their 2-11 year-old DCs – had to say, after they’d tried the lunchbox treats.

Soreen have said: “we know how hard it is to find a snack for school lunchboxes that’s both nutritious and tasty but Soreen Lunchbox Loaves strike that perfect balance. Available in Malt and Banana flavour with a satisfyingly squidgy texture, Lunchbox Loaves are individually wrapped, low in fat, contain only 95 calories and provide a source of fibre.”

“If this doesn’t already sound too good to be true, Lunchbox Loaves are suitable for vegetarians and meet the guidelines set by the Children’s Food Trust for ‘School Foods Standards’.”

Testers, please answer the following questions:

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?
• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?
• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?
• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Everyone who leaves their feedback on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

We also asked 5 Mumsnet bloggers to test out the Soreen Lunchbox Loaves; you can read their reviews here:

• What the Redhead said
• Chelsea Mamma
• Attachment Mummy
• Life With Pink Princesses
• Mummy from the Heart

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

Yes, we all enjoyed them. We all preferred banana.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Yes, but I was a little worried that they looked too much like a treat! We had no problems with them though.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Not particularly. The other snacks my DC would have are fruits, so no. Healthier than crisps and chocolate though.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Yes, they were really tasty.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Yes, they were the perfect little snack.

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves?
Yes we all liked them Which flavour did they prefer? We all preferred banana as the dry texture of the loaves compared to normal slices benefited from the extra moistness

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch? Yes very easy - quite robust and a good size
• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks? Ok in moderation as other snacks. More filling than other cakes
• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why? Yes- I like the brand and find these a handy, filling treat
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member? Yes

- Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?
Me, DH and DD (2) all tried them. I preferred the malt one and DH and DD liked the banana one.
- Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?
DD takes a snack bag to nursery (yoghurt and two pieces of fruit) so this was an easy treat to include.
- Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?
Not sure if they're healthier as they have quite a lot of sugar in them, but they'd be a nice treat now and again.
- Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?
Probably, as they'd be handy snacks for when I'm out and about with DD.
- If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?
Yes, because they're convenient but only as an occasional treat.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer? Both flavours went down well and we're eaten very quickly.
• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch? Absolutely. Very quick to grab, no prep, no mess. Very convenient.
• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks? Healthier than a lot of snacks. Still has sugar from the fruit but much better than some alternatives.
• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why? Yes. Convenience is a real selling point. Also easy to keep in the handbag for emergencies.
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member? Yes. Again a very convenient snack to have to hand

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves?
I love lunch box loaves -they're my 'go to' mid afternoon snack! My DCs have them daily in their lunch boxes, healthy and filling.
Which flavour did they prefer?
My DD prefers the banana one - saves her having to eat a banana she says! My son prefers the others 😮

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch? Yes no slicing, spreading....
• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Not necessarily, but they are filling so DCs less likely to want biscuits

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Yes definitely Why? They reasonably priced and quick
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member? Yes already have

My children aged 5 & 2 really enjoyed the taste of the Soreen loaves. My 5 year old preferred the malt and my 2 year old preferred the banana. I enjoyed the malt it was very moist and juicy.

The loaves were easy to use for packed lunches as they are on the list of approved school snacks. The individual wraps make them convenient to pack too.

I think the loaves are a healthier alternative snack as they are low in fat and include natural ingredients.

I would definitely but them again as my children really enjoyed them and they are a healthier little snack for me as well.

I would recommend the lunchbox loaves if they came up in conversation.

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?
Both my DC loved the lunchbox loaves. They didn't have a preference and loved them equally. I, on the other hand, didn't like them at all. The outside tasted dry.

Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?
Yes. Just pop one into the lunch box.

Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?
No. They are just little cakes.

Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?
Yes, I would buy them again. DC have school lunches and I use these as afternoon snack at the childminder's. They usually get fruit and crisps. I have been substituting the crisps with the loaves. They loved it so I can't see why I won't buy again.

If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?
Yes. But I have never recommended what others put in their children lunchboxes. If someone asked me specifically about the loaves for whatever reason, I'd say DC loved them.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

DD and I tried both, and we much preferred the banana flavour, as it had quite a natural taste to it. I personally found them a bit too stodgy though, although that might be down to being pregnant!

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

They were certainly easy to throw into a bag for the toddler. Because they're quite dense they don't squash easily and they don't leave any mess, unless you count sticky fingers! Toddler DD couldn't open them though, I think because the edges were straight rather than ridged, iyswim.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

They're certainly less chemically-tasting, and they do have less sugar than most oat-bar type things.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Maybe. I tend to buy whatever is in offer, as DD isn't too fussed when it comes to snack foods. I might buy them for a day out, since they're filling and would survive being packed up.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

I might do, if someone asked me!

Thank you for letting DD and I take part.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

They liked both but preferred the banana loaves.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Yes, they were good for packed lunches and snacks. They were surprisingly un-sticky too.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

I don't know - better than a chocolate bar hopefully!

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Yes, the children loved them and they're easy to transport.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Yes, definitely.

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

We all tried them. Well all apart from DS that is who doesnt eat anything unless its orange and covered in breadcrumbs.
DH and I preferred the original one, DD the banana one.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Yup, just grab and go.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

All in moderation I say, although there was banana in the banana loaf it was concentrated banana puree. I would probably limit these to an after-meal thing as opposed to a standalone snack

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Unfortunately not, its cheaper to buy a big loaf, slice it and cling film it.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member? I would only recommend them to school friends as a 'gets around the lunchbox police' type thing

Thank you for the bars we enjoyed testing them.
1, We both enjoyed the Soreen bars, my daughters favourite is banana, which I like too.
2, The individual wrapping and size is easy to pop into a packed lunch. no crumbs which is always a bonus.
3, it does contain 6gms of sugar so it's not super healthy but it does have nutritional value so I would rate it better than junk foods like crisps or chocolate bars. Also it'd get through most school lunchbox bans which is a bonus :)
4, Yes I already brought the bars before the trial and will continue to do so. It would motivate me to buy them a lot more often if they were fairtrade certified.
5, I would , but if be a lot more passionate in my recommendation if they were fair trade certified.

I worry about the slave trade involved with bananas and it'd be fab to know more about the company's ethics and that what I feed my little girl is benefiting other children and families aswell as my own.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

We all enjoyed trying the loaves and liked both flavours although my fc liked banana the best.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Very easy, perfect size.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Yes, although they are not the healthiest they are a lot better than most alternatives.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Yes definitely they have already been requested and put on the shopping list.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Yes

Both were extremely tasty, DS preferred the banana, I preferred the original.

They were very easy to add to a lunchbox, however I liked giving them as a snack when DS came out of school 'starving'. I like the fact they are individually wrapped so I can just grab one and throw it in my bag/pocket before the school run.

I would definitely, and have already, bought these again.

They do seem healthier and seem to have some goodness in them.

I would recommend them to others, both for children and adults, they were enjoyed by all in our household.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

We all enjoyed them, my 4 year old as a filling snack and me as a treat with some butter on. The banana flavour was the clear favourite.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

My 15 year old took them in her packed lunch instead of her usual cereal bar and said they were more filling.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Hmmm, I would imagine they contain more fibre but I wouldn't class them as a particularly healthy snack.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Yes definitely, we usually buy the loaves but these are really handy to throw in my handbag as emergency snacks.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Have actually been discussing them this morning at playgroup, have recommended them to other parents.

Thank you for choosing us for this test. The results are not as I expected, but here goes...

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?
They hated them. It's the squidgy texture. I love the regular fruit loaf, so tried the banana one. It was like eating playdoh and I had to spit it out. Dh didn't like it either, and he's not usually at all fussy.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Yes, very handy size.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Depends on the other snack! Healthier (more fibre) than a cake bar or chocolate bar for sure.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

No, because the kids hated them. I would eat the regular fruit ones though.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Only if I knew they like the full-sized loaf. But not the banana ones as they were just awful.

Sorry to be so negative... this test surprised me!

We've all (me, oh and DD(3)) tried the loaves and they've gone down really well. DD like the banana flavour... it was quite cake like, OH like banana best too and I liked the fruity version. I loved them bring in small packets as whenever no buy a Soreen loaf it goes stale before I remember to eat it all. They were also perfect for chucking into a lunchbox as I'm always short of ideas especially for items that don't need to be kept in the fridge. I will buy again and would recommend them to other parents.

- Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavor did they prefer?
My DS (6 years old) wasn't keen on either unfortunately. He can be fussy though so I'm hoping he will change his mind on the banana flavour.
My DD (3 years old) loved them both but I think preferred banana.
I preferred the banana as I'm not keen on the stickiness of the malt although I only got a bite as DD was such a fan I didn't get much of a look in.

- Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?
These are perfect for packed lunches. They are small but full of energy. They don't take up too much space and travel well.

- Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?
Yes. They have a reasonably low sugar content and kids saw them as a treat. They have energy too (not just from sugar) which is great for energetic growing kids. The are better than other cake and cereal bars.

- Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?
Yes. They are perfect for my DDs nursery packed lunch and post swimming snack. Love that they aren't a mess snack and very small and portable.

- If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?
Yes. I have already recommended to my sister who is going to try them for her DDs (age 5) snack at school break time. My niece and nephew tried one after we all went swimming and enjoyed them.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

DD liked the banana but wouldn't try the malt! DH liked them, he preferred banana too.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Yes

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Not as healthy as fruit but probably healthier than other biscuits.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Yes, because they were tasty and a nice size.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Yes.

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

Yes, we all enjoyed them. The children liked both flavours. The adults preferred the malt - the banana ones had a slightly artificial flavour.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Mine are too young for school but we sent them as snacks for nursery.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

I confess I didn't read the ingredients list. They tasted quite sugary. I would guess that they are not as healthy as fresh fruit, but definitely healthier than chocolate or crisps.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

Yes, we all liked the taste and they were practical to take out for the day

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Yes probably

My children love the banana lunchbox loaves and they are very fussy eaters!

I like the fact that they are individually wrapped so retain their freshness. They are healthy and filling. In my opinion the best thing is that they are egg free and dairy free and as my son has many allergies they are perfect. A lot of free-from snacks are lacking in flavour but these are great. I love the fact that these are marketed as a snack for everyone so my son doesn't stand out having to have a separate snack from his friends/sister.

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

We all tried them and I think we all preferred the banana version. We've been eating the Aldi version of the original malt loaf for years now, and we all seemed to prefer the texture of that compared to the Soreen original.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

Not a school packed lunch, but we used them on day trips out and about, and they were very easy to incorporate. Just grab one and put it in our bag.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

They do give that impression; however, when you see that there's around 6g of sugar present in each bar... I'm not sure how healthy they actually are. I certainly wouldn't choose them over a piece of fruit or some crackers for the kids, but they are a convenient sweet treat to pick up.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

I would buy then again, especially if they were on offer. Mainly because they are convenient, keep fresh in a bag and have some fruit in them.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

Probably.

Thank you for letting me try these. I gave birth three days ago and being sent these to test was a great win win for us. I didn't have to go shopping and DS had something that he liked in the cupboard. I also nabbed a couple for post labour snacks, perfect!

• Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?

We all enjoyed the flavour, DS in particular loved the banana flavour. He's 2 and he thinks they are a huge treat for him.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?

DS is a pre schooler and these are perfect as an afternoon snack. They are a great size and the fact that they are individually packed is great for my handbag and for keeping things fresh.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?

Yes I do, snacks are difficult to get right and although it's great to offer fruit and veg, on the go (and during hospital stays to give birth) it's not always easy to pick up something that's healthy but convenient. This saved me making trips to the hospital canteen or shop and was a convenient healthy option.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?

I absolutely will. These are a great addition to snack time and I will buy them again, especially the banana flavour.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?

It has come up in conversation and I did recommend them. I think that children of the same age as my son and older find these to be a lovely snack which is tasty and easy to eat.

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer? They loved them, I asked my 6 year old and he said he preferred the banana one.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch? My son has school dinners but if he did have lunches these would be super easy as perfect size and the bigger loaves are messy to cut into lunchbox size portions
• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks? Probably not as full of sugar still but I'm a believer of everything in moderation and contain fruit so are healthier than a lot of things like cereal bars etc.
• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why? Yes for lunch boxes/day trips because useful size and easy to pack and not messy.
• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member? Yes definitely

-Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Yes, we all enjoyed Soreen Lunchbox Loaves.
-Which flavour did they prefer? We all prefer banana, because we aren't big fans of raisins.

• Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch? Yes, very easy because the individual wrapping and right sizes for children.

• Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks? Yes, Soreen Lunchbox Loaves are very fruity.

• Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why? Yes, because the right sizes and health benefits.

• If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member? Yes, of course, every mum tries to find the good balance between healthy and yummy snacking. I think, Soreen is the right answer.

Did your DCs (and you if you tried them) enjoy the taste of Soreen Lunchbox Loaves? Which flavour did they prefer?
My DC preferred the banana flavour, my eldest didn't like the malt flavour but my youngest liked it.

Were they easy to incorporate into a school packed lunch?
Yes.

Do you think that Lunchbox Loaves are a healthier alternative to other snacks?
yes, they are not too sweet, and quite bread like in texture.

Would you buy Soreen Lunchbox Loaves again? Why?
Yes, I would buy them again yes, they work well as an afternoon snack or in the lunchbox, they are also eggless which is unique in the little cake market.

If it came up in conversation, would you recommend Soreen Lunchbox Loaves to a friend or family member?
Yes. particularly if someone asked what convenient snacks for kids that have no egg or dairy, or a change from crisps etc