Attention cool kids: Lunchables will soon be sold in schools. A nutritionist is torn on whether that's good or not.

• Every kid's favorite pre-packaged meal kit is coming to school cafeterias this year.
• Two types of Lunchables will soon be part of school lunch programs, a Kraft Heinz spokesperson said.
• But a child nutritionist told Insider the cons of in-school Lunchables may outweigh the pros. 

Lunchables — the American meal marker of cool kids with wealthy parents and the field trip staple dating back years — are about to become commonplace in school lunchrooms across the country.

The do-it-yourself meal kit beloved by generations of kids will soon be part of school lunch programs, a spokesperson with Kraft Heinz confirmed to Insider. 

Freight Waves was the first to report the next big step for Lunchables, which have been sold in grocery stores since 1988. The Kraft Heinz product is the first of its kind to be approved as part of the National School Lunch Program.

School administrators are currently able to purchase two "top-selling" Lunchables, which will be specifically made to meet federal nutrition standards ahead of the 2023-2024 school year, according to a Kraft Heinz statement. 

The company produces 39 different Lunchables meals for grocery stores, including hot dogs, nachos, and a variety of meat and cheese cracker choices. Each kit typically includes a main meal item, a small dessert such as a candy bar, and a drink. 

But kids grabbing a Lunchable in their school cafeteria won't have nearly as much variety. Students will have a choice between the turkey and cheddar cheese cracker kit and the extra cheesy pizza meal. 

The nutritional makeup of Lunchables served in schools will differ from their grocery store counterparts in order to meet nutritional guidelines mandated by The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which requires foods served in public schools to meet certain health standards.

Kraft Heinz has yet to release specific nutritional details about the new Lunchables, but said the products will be made with a "specialized" recipe that incorporates more protein and whole grains, offers an increased serving size, and has reduced sodium and fat. 

The Lunchables will be available in cafeterias for purchase and as part of the free school lunch program, a Kraft Heinz spokesperson said. The company did not say what the individual price per Lunchable would be, nor the cost to schools. 

A representative for Kraft Heinz did not immediately respond to Insider's question about whether the meals would be government subsidized. A spokesperson with the School Nutrition Association confirmed that schools receive federal funding for serving meals as part of the free or reimbursable lunch program under the National School Lunch Program.

The USDA, which oversees the National School Lunch Program, did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the details of the contract.

Nutritional concerns

While kids may be rejoicing at the prospect of eating a Lunchable every single day, a nutritionist told Insider she has some concerns. 

Rachel Rothman, a pediatric dietitian based in San Diego who specializes in picky eaters, said she never wants to demonize a particular food or shame parents for what they choose to feed their kids, but she's unconvinced that Lunchables' move into schools is good for children's health.

"They said they're making them more nutritious. That makes me think there is something wrong with what Lunchables are right now, that their nutrition is not up to par," Rothman told Insider. 

While the school versions may boast healthier nutritional facts than their grocery store predecessors, Rothman said Lunchables' colorful, fun packaging could spark brand recognition among kids and easily "hook" the young consumers, making them more likely to zero in on the less healthy versions at the grocery store.

Standard Lunchables, according to Rothman, are high in sodium, offer no fresh component such as a fruit or vegetable, and are made of prepared cheese product versus actual cheese — all aspects that leave much to be desired when it comes to nutrition.

Kraft Heinz said Lunchables is currently concept-testing the addition of fruits into the school versions for later this year, and the company plans to continue focusing on reducing sodium, sugar, and saturated fat.

But it's not all bad news for Lunchables lovers. Rothman said the product's "do-it-yourself" approach, which allows kids to stack their own cracker sandwiches and sauce their own mini pizzas, could be helpful in encouraging picky eaters to take an interest in mealtime.

"As a pediatric dietitian that works with kids on the more selective side, that idea of autonomy, of making it yourself is an amazing idea," she said.

A supply-chain solution 

School-approved Lunchables could also be a godsend for districts around the country, according to Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association, who said many school meal programs have been hit with supply chain issues in recent years as they struggle to secure bulk meals due to distributors' growing disinterest in stocking product they can't also sell in grocery stores.

Companies who do choose to partner with K-12 schools are thus providing a "critical service" she told Insider.

"As much as everyone would love to be doing entirely scratch cooking in school cafeterias, that is not gonna be a reality for most schools across the nation for a very long time," Pratt-Heavner said. "There's just not the equipment, the labor, the facilities to accommodate that level of scratch cooking."

And while brand recognition poses a concern to some, Pratt-Heavner said the School Nutrition Association frequently hears from parents who say they want to see the same brands they're purchasing at the grocery store included in school meal programs for consistency.

Studies have shown that American kids get their healthiest meals at school, thanks to federal requirements. So, any company willing to adjust their product and play ball with the USDA is helping to contribute to that, she said.

The Lunchables boon comes amid new proposed changes to federal school food guidelines, which would make the requirements even stricter, targeting added sugars and sodium levels.