We’re all familiar with Lunchables: the miniature snack pack filled with slices of ham and crackers, or little homemade pizzas that have raved about American kids for years.
Now, Lunchables will not only be available in grocery stores across the country, but also in schools where kids can buy them outright or receive them through a free lunch program, Kraft Heinz announced Tuesday.
Starting this year, school administrators will be able to purchase two different offerings of Lunchables for the 2023-2024 school year: Turkey and Cheddar Cracker Stacker and Extra Cheesy Pizza, Kraft Heinz spokeswoman Jenna Thornton told NBC News.
As the name suggests, the turkey and cheddar lunchables include slices of turkey and cheddar cheese with crackers and the extra cheese pizza includes a mix of Kraft cheese, pizza sauce and crusts.
Thornton says the two Lunchables now meet National School Lunch Program (NSLP) guidelines and «have a specialized recipe that incorporates more protein and whole grains,» «reduced saturated fat and sodium, and a larger serving size.» .
«Lunchables not only keep kids energized throughout the day, but it fuels kids’ creativity and fun during mealtime,» Thornton said.
According kraftheinz, the turkey and cheddar option comes in a 3.5-ounce container and includes 2 ounces meat equivalent/meat alternate, 1 ounce grain equivalent, and «meets whole grain rich criteria.» The pizza option is in a 5.05-ounce container and also includes 2-ounce meat/meat alternative equivalents, 2-ounce grain equivalents, 1.8 cup red/orange vegetables, and “meets whole grain-rich criteria” .
Toppings for the turkey and cheddar lunchables include roasted turkey with added smoke flavoring as well as preservatives like sodium nitrate and tertiary butylhydroquinone, or TBHQ, while the pizza option includes sodium benzoate, a preservative that’s common in processed foods, according to National Library of Medicine.