School snack question

[Deleted]

DS just started preschool. It's 2 hours from the time I remove his snack from the fridge at home until he eats it at school. There is no fridge at school. Do these items need an ice pack, or can they go un-refrigerated for 2 hours safely?

-cheese stick
-babybel cheese
-individual containers of hummus or guacamole
-pepperoni slices
-yogurt

[shamrockshake]

I wouldn't worry about any of those personally, I prefer my cheese not cold actually. The yogurt is the only one that I think might be iffy and I'd probably throw an ice pack with if I could

[ECB]

Well, I'll tell you what *I* do.

I actually try to make DSs lunch the night before and put the whole thing in the fridge so that ALL of it is cold.  And this includes cheese and yogurt.  He eats it on a regular basis and I haven't had any issues.

When he was at an outdoor camp where they didn't put lunches in the fridge, I definitely put ice packs in his lunch then.  But as the lunches go to school and are inside a relatively cool building... I feel it's all good.

[origami]

I would be fine sending all of those, esp because they won't be at room temperature the full 2 hours.

[aspentosh]

I wouldn't even think twice about any except for yogurt. But I think even yogurt would be fine, if his preschool is as much of an icebox as DD's preschool

[jeaniebueller]

I am really weird about stuff and would not want to leave cheese or yogurt unrefrigerated.

[sjh722]

I would eat all of those, haha.

If you put frozen berries in with the yogurt, it will keep it cold as they defrost.

[zeewifeandmama]

I'd put those in no prob

[Ashley&Scott]

Personally I would attempt to keep it somewhat cold. I would pack the lunch the night before, with cold packs. Then keep the lunchbox in the fridge overnight.

I'm betting it would all still be cold even after being out for 2 hours. (you could do a trial run at home just to be sure)

[madringal]

I wouldn't think much about it, but my oldest will not eat cheese or yogurt that isn't really cold. As long as he eats it, I think its fine.

[dcn]

Those are all fine for two hours. I prefer to eat them
Cold so would add an ice pack but safety wise it is fine without.

[londoncalling]

What kind of packaging on the yogurt?

I'd be fine with all of that for 2 hours. If you pack in the lunch bag and store in the fridge overnight, everything, including the bag, starts out cold and buys you a little more time.

[cece]

I usually freeze a bottle of water and then throw it in with snacks/lunch. DD can drink the water if she needs it or I just freeze it again for the next day.

[lolo]

I would personally include an ice pack. Seriously, how much extra effort is it?

[redheadk]

I send cheese cubes, pretzel crackers, and a little fruit for DD's snack. It's kept separate from her lunch and needs to fit in the front pocket of her backpack so not much room for an icepack. Cheese is fine out for 2 hours, especially in a container that comes straight from the fridge (I make the night before and put it in her backpack on the way out).

I don't think I'd leave yogurt out for 2 hours but I also stick to finger foods for a snack so it hasn't come up.

[countthestars]

Am I missing something with the people saying that they would pack the lunchbox the night before? What does that have to do with anything?

[ryry]

I think they'd all be fine, but the only one I'd prefer to not eat at room temp would be the yogurt. It just gets runny and messy. If you have yogurt tubes, put those in the freezer overnight and they'll be perfect for eating by snack time.

[redheadk]

countthestars, I think some people pack the snack in the lunchbox with the lunch.

[CloudBee]

These ice packs are AMAZING.

www.amazon.com/Fit-Fresh-Coolers-Lunch-Packs/dp/B003FO2B5U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441206940&sr=8-1&keywords=ice+pack

[speckledfrog]

I would pack everything except the yogurt. DS's snack is put into a big basket with all of the other snacks, so it can't be in his lunch box and it can't have an ice pack, so that's where I'm coming from.

[kitty]

I use the ice packs that CloudBee posted but I'm kind of paranoid about food safety. I was going to mention the yogurt tubes too. My DD loves them frozen so even if it didn't thaw all the way it would be still appealing.

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2015 9:35:26 GMT -5 lolo said:

I would personally include an ice pack. Seriously, how much extra effort is it?

FWIW it's just snack, they don't eat lunch there (school is 9-12). The reason I'm asking about an ice pack is because they keep the snacks in a tiny basket. Like 12"x5" for 8 kids. A lunch bag certainly would not fit. I've been using little containers or small ziploc bags so far. I don't want to hog the snack basket with just my kid's snack if it doesn't really *need* an ice pack.

Ashley&Scott

[Deleted]

Sept 2, 2015 10:20:19 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

I would pack everything except the yogurt. DS's snack is put into a big basket with all of the other snacks, so it can't be in his lunch box and it can't have an ice pack, so that's where I'm coming from.

Yes, this is his situation also. All the snacks are put into a small basket. I can't see how it could fit an ice pack.

[thebreakfastclub]

I am bored waiting for my phone interview so I did a little research on this issue.

Someone on a blog suggests freezing the yogurt for a half hour in the morning before you go.

[laurack]

how about something like one of these snack bags

www.reuseit.com/reusable-sandwich-and-snack-bags/chicobag-chicobag-repete-adjustable-sandwich-and-snack-bags-3-pack.htm

or they also do small snack containers with ice packs that are small

I usually put an ice pack in my kids lunch because it is kept at room temp (they eat about 3 hours after leaving home). However there have been times where I've forgotten and not realized until that evening and they've never been ill or anything.

My h says cheese doesn't need refrigeration but warm cheese sticks gross me out

[chickens987]

This reminds me I forgot to put the ice pack in dd's bag this morning

[Ashley&Scott]

I incorrectly assumed their snacks would be kept in their individual backpacks or cubbies until snack time.

[Deleted]

Know how you make yogurt? You mix up some yogurt and sterilized milk, and leave it in a warm place overnight.

Yogurt is just fine sealed at room temp for a few hours.

[wavepool]

Safety wise, it's technically safe to eat for six hours after removing from refrigeration as long as it stays under 70 degrees. 4 hours if it is above 70, which means you're fine no matter what. Preferences aside, it is safe to do!

[af1212]

Sept 2, 2015 13:48:46 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

I am bored waiting for my phone interview so I did a little research on this issue.

Someone on a blog suggests freezing the yogurt for a half hour in the morning before you go.

I learned the hard way that this changes the texture of the yogurt so definitely try it out first to see if your kid will still eat it.

But to answer the question I also wouldn't refrigerate any of these things between home and snack time.