Lunchables
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Lunchables are a line of instant children's meals manufactured by Kraft Foods, Inc. and originally invented by gymnastics studio owner Melinda Van Der Beek in the mid-80's. They are marketed under the Oscar Mayer brand in the United States and Dairylea in the United Kingdom. Many Lunchables products are produced at Kraft Foods, Inc.'s Fullerton factory in Fullerton, California, and are then distributed across the nation.[1] In late 2005 they were added to Sensible Solution's line of products and made healthier.[citation needed] March of 2012 Kraft reduced the thickness of the Lunchable meats and cheese by 60% in efforts to boost profits.
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[edit] Lunchables combinations
A typical Lunchables meal combination includes crackers, small slices of meat, and an equal number of slices of cheese. Other varieties include pizza, small hot dogs, small burgers, nachos, subs, and wraps. Overall there are 25 different kinds of Lunchables meals. "Deluxe" versions, which were originally developed for adults, included two types of meats and two types of cheeses. Deluxe versions usually also contained a sauce and a mint. A larger version of Lunchables meal combinations called “Maxed Out” (originally Mega packs) was also available with 40% more food than regular Lunchables, but the "Maxed Out" and "Deluxe" versions are now discontinued.
Certain varieties contain Capri Sun juice drinks. Some are traditional flavors while others are the "Roarin' Waters" variant. Certain varieties have bottled water with Tropical Punch flavored Kool-Aid mix. Certain varieties had cola, but were later replaced with Capri Sun juice drinks. Certain varieties have Jell-O gelatin or pudding.
Kraft began marketing Lunchables in the U.S. in 1988.[2]
[edit] Current Varieties
[edit] United States
With Water:
- Turkey + Cheddar Sub
- Ham + American Sub
- Turkey + Cheddar Cracker Combo
- Ham + American Cracker Combo
- Deep Dish Cheese Pizza
- Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza
With Capri Sun Juice:
- Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers
- Turkey and American Cracker Stackers
- Ham and American Cracker Stackers
- Bologna and American Cracker Stackers
- Lower Fat Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stackers
- Lower Fat Ham and Swiss Cracker Stackers
- Lower Fat Ham and Cheddar Cracker Stackers
- Extra Cheesy Pizza
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Chicken Shake-Ups, BBQ Flavor
- Chicken Dunks
- Nachos, Cheese Dip and Salsa (originally called Taco Bell Nachos)
Without a Drink:
- Turkey + Cheddar Sub
- Ham + American Sub
- Chicken + American Sub
- Breaded Chicken + Mozzarella Sub
- Ham & Cheddar with Crackers
- Turkey & Cheddar with Crackers
- Ham & Swiss with Crackers
- Ham & Cheddar with Crackers and Cookies
- Turkey & American with Crackers and Cookies
- Bologna & American with Crackers and Cookies
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Extra Cheesy Pizza
- Nachos, Cheese Dip & Salsa (originally called Taco Bell Nachos)
Value Twin Packs:
- Turkey, Mozzarella + Mini Ritz
- Ham, Cheddar and Mini-Ritz
- Chicken Strips
With Fruit and no drink:
- Cheese Pizza
- Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Stackers
- Ham and American Cracker Stackers
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
[edit] United Kingdom
- Ham 'n' Cheese Crackers
- Ham 'n' Cheese Subs
- Chicken 'n' Cheese Crackers
- Chicken 'n' Cheese Mini rolls
- Chicken 'n' Cheese Wraps
[edit] Discontinued Varieties
- All Star Burgers (originally had cola, but later had Capri Sun juice)
- All Star Hot Dogs (originally had cola, but later had Capri Sun juice)
- Taco Bell Tacos
- Mega Packs (later branded as "Maxed Out", some varieties originally had cola, but later had Capri Sun juice)
- Fun Snacks, smaller sized snack packs with a cookie, brownie, or crispy rice treat and frosting
- Pizza Swirls, similar to the pizza variety, but it featured a pouch of cheddar cheese sauce and chocolate frosting and M&M's
- Chicken Shake-Ups, Nacho Cheese flavor
- Fun Fuel a healthier variation with a bagel sandwich or wrap, yogurt tube, and 100% fruit juice box
- Breakfast Lunchables (pancakes, waffle sticks, and cinnamon rolls)
- Pizza Stix/Dunks
- Deluxe, adult oriented meals with two types of cheeses and spreads
- Pizza and Treatizza, a variation on the extra cheesy pizza variety with chocolate frosting and sprinkles to make a "Treatzzia"
[edit] Nutrition
In 1997, Lunchables came under fire for having high saturated fat and sodium content while being marketed as a healthy children's meal. For example, a single serving of Ham and Swiss Lunchables contained 1,780 milligrams of salt, which is 47 percent of the recommended daily allowance for an adult.[5][6]
Because of the growing concern of childhood obesity, in 2004 Lunchables in the UK eliminated Capri Sun drinks and mini Dime Bars, and replaced them with orange juice and strawberry yogurt. They also made changes to the standard Reese's cups that came in Lunchables, they began offering lower calorie candy alternatives. Capri Sun and candy are still available in US Lunchables.
As of 2007, eight varieties of Lunchables are considered Sensible Solutions products and exceptionally unhealthy items were no longer included in the packages.[7] Many Lunchables products now contain Airheads, Sour Patch Kids, crispy rice treat, fruit cups, Tropical Punch flavored Kool-Aid mix with bottled water, and Capri Sun products instead of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, cola, Nestle Crunch bars, M&Ms,and Kool-Aid Jammers.
[edit] References
- ^ Cziborr, Chris (March 3, 2001). "Kraft shifting some production to Fullerton", Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved on 24 October 2008.
- ^ "About Kraft: History (Flash). Kraft Foods. Retrieved on 24 October 2008.
- ^ Kraft Foods Brands - Lunchables Retrieved on 20 July 2010
- ^ Kraft Health Living - UK & Ireland Retrieved on 24 July 2010
- ^ "Lunchables may be munchable -- but study warns of salt". CNN (March 16, 1997). Retrieved on 24 October 2008.
- ^ "Packaged Meal's Salt Level Poses Blood Pressure Risk, Doctor Says", Los Angeles Times (March 18, 1997) pp. 21.
- ^ The Cancer Project - The Five Worst Packaged Lunchbox Meals. Retrieved on 11 February, 2012.
