Are uncrustables really frowned upon in school lunches?

[zeewifeandmama]

Lol I hope not! DD took one everyday when ds was brand new. I don't know why they would be, it's just a sandwich!!

[irishbride2]

I honestly have no clue what other parents pack so whatever!

The 14 grams of sugar in one sandwich would make me only use it as a special treat, though. That's a huge chunk of their sugar allowance.

[wildfloweragain]

Looked down upon by parents, but our school actually served them until last year. This would be my first Thanks Obama!

...sent from my Jedi Mind.

[irishbride2]

Sept 14, 2014 20:19:44 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

Sept 14, 2014 20:16:25 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

I honestly have no clue what other parents pack so whatever!

The 14 grams of sugar in one sandwich would make me only use it as a special treat, though. That's over 2/3 of their allotted daily sugar.

The box I have says reduced sugar at 6 grams.

I was just going off of their website. 6 is much better!

[Deleted]

Who would be frowning upon them? The teachers? The other parents? How would the other parents even know what you are packing?

My guess is the school faculty and staff have bigger concerns in the school cafeteria than the nutritional content of each kid's sandwich. Go with it.

[turtlegirl]

I get the new whole wheat low sugar ones.

My kids love them!

[VillainV]

It's a pre-made PBJ sandwich with the crusts cut off, and it comes in the freezer section. I don't know how anyone else would know what you pack in your kid's lunch, or why you would care what they think.

[6fsn]

Does it matter? I kind of don't get the appeal over just making a sandwich, but it's really just a sandwich. Who cares what someone else thinks.

[lara]

I personally wouldn't pack one because there are a lot of questionable ingredients in those. Have you thought about making your own?

www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/08/19/homemade-uncrustables/

This is how I send pb&j to school for ds.

[irishbride2]

Sept 14, 2014 20:26:58 GMT -5 lara said:

I personally wouldn't pack one because there are a lot of questionable ingredients in those. Have you thought about making your own?

www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/08/19/homemade-uncrustables/

This is how I send pb&j to school for ds.

There is actually a how-to about making a PBJ with the crusts cut off? This requires steps to be posted?

Mind blown

[lara]

Sept 14, 2014 20:31:55 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

Sept 14, 2014 20:28:03 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

There is actually a how-to about making a PBJ with the crusts cut off? This requires steps to be posted?

Mind blown

my mind is blown they actually make frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches without the crust for sale in grocery stores LOL

I agree with both of you! Surprised that a tutorial is needed but also that there is such a market for pre-made pb&j.  

[Deleted]

If you are really concerned, call the school and ask?

My M.O. in these situations is to do what I want to do and if someone has a major issue with it, they will tell me.

[statlerwaldorf]

Sept 14, 2014 20:28:03 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

Sept 14, 2014 20:26:58 GMT -5 lara said:

I personally wouldn't pack one because there are a lot of questionable ingredients in those. Have you thought about making your own?

www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/08/19/homemade-uncrustables/

This is how I send pb&j to school for ds.

There is actually a how-to about making a PBJ with the crusts cut off? This requires steps to be posted?

Mind blown

When I was in elementary school, we had an assignment where we had to write out step by step instructions on how to make a pb&j.  I got marked off for not specifically putting to remove the lids on the jars.  I'm still mad about it.

[fortmyersbride]

Our school is totally peanut free, but I can't imagine it would be an issue if we could send in PB.

[pamela]

Is the sugar reduced because it's replaced with something? The jelly itself likely has ~10g of sugar + what's in the bread + any in PB (didn't pull mine out to look if peanuts naturally have any). Personally I go for real sugar/fruit sugar over sugar replacements and therefore don't buy reduced sugar jelly/jam.

[dragonfly08]

In my girls' school, an uncrustable is available every.single.day and is what they serve to a kid who doesn't pack a lunch and has no money on account to buy one.  So at least the school isn't classifying it as lacking in nutrition.

That said, I think they're gross and my kids hate them so I wouldn't personally send one and I don't let the kids buy them...if they want a PB&J, I'm happy to send one from home rather than pay $2.90 for the icky processed one. And I even have a Pampered Chef sandwich press thingy so I can make an "uncrustable" if they really want it that way.

[imojoebunny]

My kids won't eat them. They don't taste the same as regular PBJ. I think the eyebrows raising at 16 grams of sugar is a little strange. An apple has three times that much sugar, as do most fruits. We use more peanut butter on the sandwiches we make at home, so they have more protein (and fat too :-).

[ssmjlm]

I think as long as you're not sending a candy bar and moutain dew, you're good.

At least according to another poster.

[mmmomof2]

I think they are gross, and would not give DD one. Not to say she never gets treats, but I find them over priced and over processed. I can make a pbj pretty quick!

[irishbride2]

Sept 15, 2014 8:28:11 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

My kids won't eat them. They don't taste the same as regular PBJ. I think the eyebrows raising at 16 grams of sugar is a little strange. An apple has three times that much sugar, as do most fruits. We use more peanut butter on the sandwiches we make at home, so they have more protein (and fat too :-).

There is a difference between added sugar (such as highly processed jelly) and other sugars. 

I simply said it would be my one personal concern if it was a daily thing, but I wouldn't judge it. Kids are supposed to have around a max of 25 grams of added sugar (again, different than an apple) so 14 grams for one sandwich is a lot. If they don't get much other added sugar, its no biggie

[Marmee]

Oh lord, people need to get a hobby if this is what's now frowned upon. My kids eat pb&j most days. I don't consider uncrustables much different. If people are looking over their shoulder & judging they can keep it to themselves.

[penguingrrl]

I wouldn't buy them because it's way cheaper to make my own pb&j and doesn't take a ton of time even with taking the extra few seconds the cut the crusts off. I wouldn't look down on it at all since pb&j is generally a nutritious meal, although I haven't checked the ingredients. I use natural pb (no added oils or sugar) and reduced sugar jam (the type that has less added sugar and is less sweet tasting, not the type that replaces it with artificial sweeteners). I would imagine it's a lot healthier than many other lunches people routinely send.

[mlt]

Sending an uncrustable around here would get major side eye thrown my way. But I live in a super crunchy area. Lots of moms do the elaborate super-healthy bento boxes for kids lunches.

[dulcemariamar]

I would never pack it. Why cant people just make a traditional PB&J? I feel like I am missing something here.

[speckledfrog]

I'm not even the OP and I'm irritated by the smug comments in this thread. "Well, I would never use such a thing."  "Oh, I would never feed my child a sugar bomb like that."  "My child only eats free range sandwiches made from quinoa, kelp, and the breath of an angel."

OP, clearly there are people who would judge.  Thankfully the Lunch Police aren't a real thing so you can send in whatever you want.  If a box of uncrustables makes your life easier and your kid eats them, then go for it.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't do it because I think they're a total waste of money and my kid wouldn't touch them.
And I am not the health food police at all (My kid gets her share of box stuff I promise).

And like the pp..opening the package isn't any easier than making a PBJ.

As someone who works in a school and gets her share of lunch duty, I wouldn't side eye and uncrustable as long as it was packed with some other healthy stuff.

Lunchables get side eyed by the staff because all kids want is the fake juice juice box and the treat. The meat is gross to kids, the cheese is slimy by lunch so they don't want it and the crush the crackers everywhere. Kids never love them as much as they claim too.

And LOL that Bento boxes are the in thing and some new novel idea. Glorified Lunchable anyone? Ha. I do it too for my own lunch and on the farm but I'm fully aware it's not some new genius theory.

[dulcemariamar]

Sept 15, 2014 10:03:37 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

I'm not even the OP and I'm irritated by the smug comments in this thread. "Well, I would never use such a thing."  "Oh, I would never feed my child a sugar bomb like that."  "My child only eats free range sandwiches made from quinoa, kelp, and the breath of an angel."

OP, clearly there are people who would judge.  Thankfully the Lunch Police aren't a real thing so you can send in whatever you want.  If a box of uncrustables makes your life easier and your kid eats them, then go for it.

I feel like there is a big difference between free range sandwiches made from quiona and kale and thinking that uncrustables are gross. I dont get why people cant make a traditional PB&J sandwich. It takes less than five minutes and probably is healthier than the uncrustables. 

[Marmee]

I hate when people judge how people spend their time. Packing a lunch in general takes 5min but how many people rather not bother & buy their kid school lunch daily that costs more & in many cases is less healthy than a home made. I had 3 kids and a colicky baby who didn't sleep...people can shut it about how I spend my time before 7:30am unless they have been in those shoes. Not that I packed uncrustables (because I'm cheap) but people are so ridiculous.

[ilikedonuts]

Serously, guys? How is it not easier to grab this out if the freezer? It takes more then half a second to make a freaking sandwich. Some of these comments are hilarious.

My kid eats them when I need to pack a lunch for something and I'm running crazy late.

[Deleted]

Sept 15, 2014 10:07:56 GMT -5 dulcemariamar said:

Sept 15, 2014 10:03:37 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

I'm not even the OP and I'm irritated by the smug comments in this thread. "Well, I would never use such a thing."  "Oh, I would never feed my child a sugar bomb like that."  "My child only eats free range sandwiches made from quinoa, kelp, and the breath of an angel."

OP, clearly there are people who would judge.  Thankfully the Lunch Police aren't a real thing so you can send in whatever you want.  If a box of uncrustables makes your life easier and your kid eats them, then go for it.

I feel like there is a big difference between free range sandwiches made from quiona and kale and thinking that uncrustables are gross. I dont get why people cant make a traditional PB&J sandwich. It takes less than five minutes and probably is healthier than the uncrustables. 

I see what you mean but I also see what speckledfrog is getting at. It sometimes feel like the posters who jump off the bat with the "I would never...OMG" are the same ones who would never admit to throwing their kids a goldfish cracker on occassion? KWIM? Like they are feeding their kids free range kelp.