Consumer Reports called on the Department of Agriculture today to remove Lunchables food kits from the National School Lunch Program. CR recently compared the nutritional profiles of two Lunchable kits served in schools and found they have even higher levels of sodium than the kits consumers can buy in the store. CR also tested 12 store-bought versions of Lunchables and similar kits and found several contained relatively high levels of lead and cadmium. All but one also tested positive for phthalates, chemicals found in plastic that have been linked to reproductive problems, diabetes, and certain cancers.
What was so good about them?
Marketing, TV Ads got me as a kid. I feel bad for my mom cooking me real food and my kid self being brainwashed complaining about wanting corporate toxic waste Lunchables
Why do you feel bad? That’s what parents are supposed to do.
Finger food that wasn’t messy and exploits the fact that kids haven’t yet lost all their taste buds.
Any kid between about 4-11 loves making little food stacks like that.
Given that charcuterie boards are pretty popular I think many people still like making stacks of food.
charcuterie boards but for kids makes sense
And they save the parents all that valuable time slicing a salami and a bit of cheese. Doesn’t save them any money though.
They definitely cater the flavor profile to what a kid would like. There’s no spice or offensive flavors, honestly kind of bland.
I loved the pizza one as a kid. Tried it as an adult recently. It was delicious, but the sauce was so dang sweet!
Easy prep. Granted, I grew up with a guy who fed us kids sleeve of saltines as a dinner because he couldn’t be fucked to do more. Better than nothing but in hindsight, I think I can do better for my kids than fucking lunchables.