Lunchables
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Lunchables are Oscar Mayer/Kraft combinations of food that are packaged and aimed at children's lunches. In late 2005 they were added to Sensible Solution's line of products to make them more healthy. Many Lunchables products are produced at Kraft/Oscar Meyer's Fullerton Foods Company division in Fullerton, CA and are then distributed across the nation.
A typical Lunchables box includes crackers, small slices of meat, and an equal number of ' slices of cheese. 'Deluxe' versions, typically aimed at adults, include two types of meat and two types of cheese, sometimes with two kinds of crackers. Deluxe versions usually also contain a sauce and a mint. A larger version of Lunchables labeled as Maxed-Out are also available.
Certain varieties contain Capri Sun drinks. There have been many versions, such as Pizza, "Fun Fuel", and "Cracker Stackers".
In 1985, Brian J. Cartwright, a chef at a prominent Detroit based chain restaurant, started serving small portion ham/cheese/cracker combinations for children at area restaurants. This convenient lunch idea was presented to Kraft Foods and became known under the 'Lunchables' brand. They are still available today at those original restaurants.
In 1997, Lunchables came under fire from people 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 contains 1,780 milligrams of salt, which is 74 percent of the recommended daily dose for an adult.
Lunchables have also been considered junk food by those who prefer natural ingredients, for a long list of artificial ingredients contained in all of the meals. For example, the cheese used in Pizza Lunchables is a "pasteurized processed mozzarella cheese product".
Because of the growing worry about obesity by parents, in 2004 Lunchables in the UK got rid of the included Capri Sun and mini Dime Bars, and replaced them with orange juice and strawberry yogurt. They also got rid of the packaged Reeses cups in most Lunchable meals.
In 2005, Sensible Solution had added Lunchables products to their program to cut out most unhealty food items in their packages. So far, this has helped Lunchables branded products. For example, a pepperoni pizza package was at 690 calories, but it is now at 530 calories. Many lunchables products contain Airheads, Kool Aid, and Capri Sun products, while usually they used to contain Reeses peanut butter cups and on the higher calorie rated products have replaced Capri Sun with Kool Aid, usually Tropical Punch.
Recently, Lunchables added a new feature to their commercials, called the Lunchables Brigade, in 2005. Their first advertisement was in which a group of kids in a school cafeteria were bored with their lunches. Then the Lunchables Brigade comes and gives everyone lunchables meals. The commercial was targeted at young children.
