Search our database for specific lunchables products to see individual processing scores and ingredient lists.
Search Lunchables products →Lunchables vs Homemade Lunch Comparison
Lunchables are a convenience product built from processed components: cured deli meats with sodium nitrite, pasteurized process cheese, and refined flour crackers. A homemade equivalent using whole foods — sliced roast turkey, real cheddar, and whole grain crackers — provides the same lunch format at a dramatically lower processing level.
Kids & BabyQuick Answer
Lunchables (Level 4) contain processed cheese product, cured meats with nitrites and modified food starch, and crackers with 15+ ingredients. A homemade version with real cheese, unprocessed meat, and simple crackers would be Level 1-2. The processing gap is among the largest for any common kids' food.
Lunchables vs Homemade Lunch
Lunchables
Homemade Lunch
Search our database for specific homemade lunch products to see individual processing scores and ingredient lists.
Search Homemade Lunch products →Our Verdict
Lunchables (Level 4) contain processed cheese product, cured meats with nitrites and modified food starch, and crackers with 15+ ingredients. A homemade version with real cheese, unprocessed meat, and simple crackers would be Level 1-2. The processing gap is among the largest for any common kids' food.
Important Note
Processing levels can vary significantly between brands and specific products within each category. Always check the ingredient list of the specific product you are considering. Use our product search to look up exact processing scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Lunchables so processed?
Each component is individually processed for shelf stability: the meat is cured with sodium nitrite and contains modified food starch; the cheese is a pasteurized process product with emulsifiers and coloring; the crackers contain enriched flour, partially hydrogenated oils, and multiple preservatives.
What is a less processed alternative to Lunchables?
Assemble your own: sliced roast chicken or turkey breast (Level 1), real cheddar or Swiss cheese (Level 2), whole grain crackers with a short ingredient list (Level 2), and fruit. Same concept, dramatically lower processing level.
Related Food Guides
Learn more about the individual foods in this comparison.