It’s back to school and while children may find it fun choosing shiny new lunch boxes and school bags, their mothers are faced with the dilemma of what to pack in those new containers.

With every aspect of school life, such as curriculum and teaching methods, under close scrutiny, the focus has now shifted to healthy eating habits. These have to be inculcated while young so they form a base for a balanced lifestyle. As the problem of obesity among children gains worldwide attention, particular attention is being paid to the contents of the humble lunch box. The cookery sections of magazines publish recipes for healthy snacks.

All these developments are heartening, but I question the practicality of some suggestions. We are after all speaking of mothers on the run, trying to find the perfect balance between the home and office. So, trying to think of ways to pack appetising snacks for the children and also offer a variety is not an easy task.

Children are not going to nibble at lettuce and carrots simply because they are told to. And making healthy food look appealing or using the art of camouflage to hide the unvarnished truth calls for time and effort. These requisites aren’t always at the disposal of a harried mum. For her, the morning starts with frantic cries of “Where’s my homework” or “I can’t find my shoes”. These distress calls are interspersed with a baritone that declares a shirt hasn’t been ironed. And that’s just the beginning of her day. So, to expect her to find time amid this chaos to prepare and pack lunch boxes that would make the heart of any fitness expert sing is perhaps asking for too much.

I have read suggestions such as packing the lunch box the night before and putting it in the fridge. But the thought can be anathema for many people who believe in fresh food for each meal or those who sneer at left-overs. Of course, this would also mean mums having yet another task at the end of the day when they’re running out of energy. I am grateful for the fact that when I was in school, there were no concerns about obesity or processed foods and parents weren’t under so much pressure to conform to standards. At school, there was al fresco dining as well as a hall where you could sit at the comfort of a table if your parents were able to send you a piping hot meal each day. Most of us preferred sitting outside and chatting with friends. But sometimes my mum would send a hot meal with an attendant as a treat and that was when I had to dine indoors.

There was a matron who reigned supreme in this room. She paced the hall, on the look-out for errant elbows on the table. As soon as one was spotted, she would sneak up on the person and rap them on the funny bone which made the arm jerk with the shock. Needless to say, we all learned our lesson very soon and sat with arms stuck to our sides.

There have been reports of inspections of school canteens here, with inspectors coming down heavily on fast food and fizzy drinks. I am happy to report that in my day, we had a tuck shop which was run by a couple who produced the most heavenly treats such as sticky toffee. Since my parents didn’t believe in the concept of pocket money, the times I could treat myself to this were rare. But the sensation of that sticky toffee coming into contact with the roof of the mouth was sheer bliss. Having limited access probably kept us healthy and wanting more.

So, hurrah to the prehistoric days of no fizzy drinks, pizzas or burgers.