People Are Sharing The Worst Back To School Lunches They Can Think Of

Just in time for back to school, we have the #BadSchoolLunches tag trending on Twitter where people share what they think are the worst lunches imaginable for a kid to bring to school. Some are made up and some you might remember from your own childhood, but they're all going to be a no from us.

This is the kind of food inspiration that you're not going to see on the Food Network. These creations crawled out of a dark pit and went straight into the brown paper bag. Bring your salt and ketchup because only drowning these in condiments can save us now.

Would You Like Some Sandwich With Your Loaf Of Bread

sandwich in a loaf of bred
Photo Credit: @Joyannah73 / Twitter
Photo Credit: @Joyannah73 / Twitter

What @Joyannah73 calls "The Gluten Special" is just pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a sandwich with a name like that. This absolute unit of a meal heard about this no-gluten diet and fad and turned its back on the world. This carb doesn't quit on its values.

That's just a straight-up loaf of bread and we're confused. That's like 2 weeks worth of bread gone in one lunch break. Actually, we can't judge, they've probably been to France recently and thought the baguette and cheese meal would work over here.

ADVERTISEMENT

MRE — Meal Ready To Evil

ADVERTISEMENT
omlette looking scary
Photo Credit: @Eminem11684 / Twitter
Photo Credit: @Eminem11684 / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Anything that promises prep time of under 5 minutes is out to get you and that's a fact. Don't trust the "just add water" or the "just pop in the microwave" instructions because those aren't food, those are science experiments. Take this non-descript MRE (meal ready to eat) for example.

ADVERTISEMENT

@Eminem11684 calls this omelet an "MRE omelet" and honestly we agree. This thing looks like it says "complete nutrition" on its box without having any that you can actually pronounce. This offers a full day's serving of science goo.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Dad On Lunch Duty

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pizza and chardonnay lunch
Photo Credit: @DaLittleBigBruh / Twitter
Photo Credit: @DaLittleBigBruh / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

We love our moms and the healthy stuff they pack for us, but wouldn't you like a break from all that green stuff and see what dad has to offer? @DaLittleBigBruh gave us a look inside what their dad stepped up to the lunch plate with and it's exactly what you'd expect.

ADVERTISEMENT

@DaLittleBigBruh tweets that "Moms out of town so Dad packs ur lunch kinda lunch." Your eyes aren't kidding you — that's a Miller High Light and cold pizza. Dad just picked what he wanted to eat that day. That guy must've had a fantastic day in 6th grade.

ADVERTISEMENT

We Don't Know Much, But We Know That's Not Gravy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
scary mashed potatoes and gravy
Photo Credit: @ElyodRj / Twitter
Photo Credit: @ElyodRj / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

This one is a lunch that we'd all need a minute to process what exactly is going on before we bite into it. Honestly, you may never find the answer you're looking for because this lunch is non-descript. Better ask the oracle lunch lady what this is before facing the dungeon boss that is this wild plate.

ADVERTISEMENT

@ElyodRj captions this photo "mashed potatoes and gravy?" We're also confused by this one. Isn't gravy not supposed to be...chunky? We're not playing by peanut butter rules here, sometimes chunky isn't always funky.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bring The Can Opener For This Classic

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
can of pork and beans
Photo Credit: @ken_greg / Twitter
Photo Credit: @ken_greg / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

This lunch is for those mornings when there is absolutely nothing you want to eat in the house. Sure, you can take that 4-day old turkey in the fridge, but then you'd have to find bread and cheese to make it a sandwich and that's not possible today. We've all grabbed this from the cupboard when no hope was left.

ADVERTISEMENT

@PricklyPinecone just tweets "Pork and Beans" and yeah, we've all bean there. This was definitely a low point in your day. You can't even heat the can up in the microwave. Mmmm, cold pork and beans.

ADVERTISEMENT

This Is Just Slop And We're Sorry

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Untitled design - 2019-08-28T094552.554
Photo Credit: @rawbeancoal / Twitter
Photo Credit: @rawbeancoal / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

If a lunch person served this to you then you're probably entitled to some sort of compensation because of the emotional distress this put you through. Okay, we're being dramatic, but this looks like it's already been half-digested by someone else.

ADVERTISEMENT

This meal looks like it could feature in the Coldplay song Yellow, since it "was all yellow." This is the kind of thing that sounds good in theory but when you get it in the lunch line your appetite just goes out the window. Can someone take the Sepia filter off this plate?

ADVERTISEMENT

And The Vegetarian Version

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
egg and pasta and corn
Photo Credit: @SaulBrightman / Twitter
Photo Credit: @SaulBrightman / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Why did this happen again? Is yellow really mellow because we're feeling really stressed out looking at this. Whoever got this meal had the yellow slop from before and decided they'd try and avoid the whole situation by getting the vegetarian option. Good try, but there's no escape.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eggs, creamed corn, and mac n cheese. We don't know if the chicken or the hardboiled eggs are worse. It's a close battle but whichever meal gives you the worst stomach pain in 4th period Geography comes out on top.

ADVERTISEMENT

There's Always Too Much Tuna

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
tuna sandwhich looking bad
Photo Credit: @AlainaMorgans / Twitter
Photo Credit: @AlainaMorgans / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone has brought a tuna sandwich to school once and that's all. All you have to do is bust it open once in kindergarten and someone will loudly yell "what's that smell?" from across the classroom before you put it away and never bring it again. Egg sandwiches have a similar fate.

ADVERTISEMENT

@Lavendermee3 tweets this iconic combo of a "tuna sandwich and leftover cooked broccoli." Despite how decent this probably tastes, you know this would be asking for trouble in elementary school. Nobody's risking a recess alone over a sandwich.

ADVERTISEMENT

It Was A Sad Day When You Brought This For Lunch

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
dip for lunch 7 layer dip
Photo Credit: @justanulph_ina_belgianforest / Twitter
Photo Credit: @justanulph_ina_belgianforest / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

@fartbagels just tweets "dip," and yeah, that's enough said. Sometimes you or your mom just weren't feeling the whole waking up early and making lunch schtick and that's where dip came in handy. A 7-layer bean dip has protein, carbs, vegetables, and dairy so it's basically a complete meal. Toss in some Tostitos and you're ready to start a food blog.

ADVERTISEMENT

This was a sad day because you weren't really full, but at least lunch was delicious. So bittersweet might be the right word. Bittersweet just like french onion dip, to be exact.

ADVERTISEMENT

Too Much Tupperware

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
tupperware party
Photo Credit: @rawbeancoal / Twitter
Photo Credit: @rawbeancoal / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

All of our parents were collectively obsessed with Tupperware. So much so that they put every lunch item they could into little Tupperware containers. Did your food taste a little plasticky? Yes. Did your lunch feel as organized as an Ikea? Oh yeah.

ADVERTISEMENT

@rawbeancoal tweets "warm sandwich, warm Tupperware-flavored milk, with snacks" and yeah, we agree. It was too much Tupperware but we'd all be lying if we said we wouldn't do the same thing to our kids. It's just so handy.

ADVERTISEMENT

We Don't Live For Last Night's Liver

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
liver and onions
Photo Credit: @bryan_odinsson / Twitter
Photo Credit: @bryan_odinsson / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

You may not live for last night's leftovers but you won't die because of them... we think. @Osirian111 tweets "leftover liver and onions" and we all agree. For whatever reason, this stuff tasted so bad the next day that it would take a strong person to stomach it. Seriously, that liver got so rubbery.

ADVERTISEMENT

It doesn't help that this dish basically always looked like dog food and you had to eat it cold if your school didn't have a microwave. Bon appetit...

ADVERTISEMENT

You Grew Up Privileged If You Didn't Have These At Least Once

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mr noodles
Photo Credit: @izzy_bella2006 / Instagram
Photo Credit: @izzy_bella2006 / Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT

There was always at least one kid in the class per day who would bring these bad boys in. @bookgirl8 tweets "uncooked ramen noodles" and we all know exactly what she's talking about.

ADVERTISEMENT

You could never make the soup because you either didn't have bowls, microwaves, or hot water. You've tried sprinkling some of the powder over the noodles but that's way too salty and messy. So it was crunchy dry noodles for you that day, and honestly, if you've never done this you grew up in the lap of luxury.

ADVERTISEMENT

We Had To Add This Hated Classic

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
meatloaf dinner
Photo Credit: @captainsopabox / Instagram
Photo Credit: @captainsopabox / Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT

"Meatloaf" @Edwardespinoza tweets and his voice rings across the canyon of the internet and we all nod our heads. Meatloaf is probably the most infamous dish on this list since literally everyone has eaten it at one point. No offense mom, but this loaf is dreaded by everyone.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cold meatloaf for lunch was just absolutely no fun. Bonus points if you didn't even put condiments on it just so you could get it over with quicker. Extra bonus points if your mom ever made you salmon loaf with pickles in it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Just A Boy And His Bottle Of Mustard

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
frenchs yellow mustard
Photo Credit: @singermarla / Twitter
Photo Credit: @singermarla / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Mustard is great on a lot of things. Hotdogs, hamburgers, and any fancy hipster dish that calls for a splash of dijon. But eating mustard on its own is a feat that few should attempt unless they want to burn their insides.

ADVERTISEMENT

"When I took the bet that during lunch I couldn't eat an entire jar of mustard so I showed them I could," @carllamy tweets. Honestly, this would be impressive to witness but definitely up there on the list of the worst school lunches. Just think about the awful heartburn you'd have during 5th period.

ADVERTISEMENT

This TV Dinner Classic

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
peas and carrots photo
Photo Credit: @wigsbybyron / Instagram
Photo Credit: @wigsbybyron / Instagram
ADVERTISEMENT

@quickbear just tweeted "peas and carrots" and we couldn't agree more. This was a staple if you grew up eating TV dinners or frozen vegetables from a bag. They may have tasted so good the night before while you were watching Sabrina The Teenage Witch but somehow they lost all their flavor and goodness by the time you got to school.

ADVERTISEMENT

If your cafeteria served these they never got eaten up completely. People would sooner reach for the potatoes and corn than the peas and carrots. You always wondered if they just heated them up again...

ADVERTISEMENT

Nachos With A Side Of Asbestos Please

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
asbestos doritos
Photo Credit: @yomomma8888 / Twitter
Photo Credit: @yomomma8888 / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

These nachos don't look... great. Actually, they look like a home improvement project abandoned before completion. This is the kind of dish that your cafeteria serves you and you immediately regret ordering it. Next time just get the chicken burger like always.

ADVERTISEMENT

@yomomma8888 tweets that these nachos are "Asbestoritos" and honestly, that's the best way to describe them. They would pass health code in the 50s but definitely not now, just like their HGTV namesake.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fresh Fish Who?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
expired sushi yuck
Photo Credit: @DanielAsheley13 / Twitter
Photo Credit: @DanielAsheley13 / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Some best before dates are just a suggestion. When it comes to any canned food you can pretty much guess they're going to last you the century, and the powdered stuff lasts even longer. But you shouldn't be taking your chances on sushi... especially when it looks like this.

ADVERTISEMENT

We're not sure what school cafeteria served this 4-day old fish to its students, but it's safe to say nobody ate it. When the fish is so old it starts talking about the "good old days" maybe leave it off your plate.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mmm Corn And Butter Flavored Oil

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
whirl aritfical butter
Photo Credit: @ProperlyPisces / Twitter
Photo Credit: @ProperlyPisces / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

We can't believe it's not butter and we can't believe that this product exists. Whether or not someone has actually been served this in a school cafeteria is up for debate, but when @ProperlyPisces tweeted "niblets + Whirl(r) Butter-Flavored Oil" a shiver ran down our spines.

ADVERTISEMENT

We're not exactly sure what the "hassles of real butter" are, but we're glad that Whirl doesn't have them. This is one school lunch combo we'd like to pray we've never eaten.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hansel And Gretel's School Fish Fry

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
fish fry weirdness
Photo Credit: @hgmackinnon / Twitter
Photo Credit: @hgmackinnon / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

This is a case of a misspelling that will get the police to come to your school's fish fry. No, not as guests either. We're pretty shocked that this creepy typo made its way past the newspaper's editors and into print, but hey, sometimes we forget to put our glasses on.

ADVERTISEMENT

This is quite the menu selection otherwise. They've got everything from steak, to applesauce, to fish, and potatoes. The only thing we're missing though is a nice roasted chicken.

ADVERTISEMENT

Just Becuase You Can BBQ Doesn't Mean You Should

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
cursed bbq
Photo Credit: @Darth_Pingu / Twitter
Photo Credit: @Darth_Pingu / Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

This is another cursed cookout because the only thing better than one is two. Unfortunately, this BBQ happened because people didn't think about how bad of a combo it was with the place it was being held in. Just like gelatin and meat cakes, it's a combo that shouldn't exist but does.

ADVERTISEMENT

So... maybe next time change the venue before booking it there. Or, have a fish fry like the last place. Just remember this time to actually bring chicken.