How the lunch today is different from that of the 90s | The Times of India (2024)

It’s been almost three decades since we crossed 90’s but we still can’t get over the fact that there were many things that were good at that time. Inflation was under control and as a result food prices were much lower than what they are today. While we could get a week’s vegetable in just Rs 100, today we have to shell out between Rs 500-700 for it. In this article, we will talk about the changes we have seen in the lunch boxes and the benefits they have offered if any. Take a look. (Images courtesy: Canva & iStock)

Regular lunch during the 90s used to have fresh homecooked meals which included Dal, Rice, Dosa, Sambhar, and Idli depending upon the geography of the state. The food was freshly prepared at home and there were few ingredients that were packaged. As for the kids’ lunch box, Bread Rolls and sandwiches used to be the only Continental items which included bread. Otherwise, it was mostly the food prepared at home that was packed for lunch. In the 90s, the eating out culture was very limited and most of people used to eat homemade food. Even in the offices, eating out at a restaurant was a rare occasion. Even the fruits & vegetables were limited during the 90s and people used to eat more seasonal foods. For example, cauliflower and peas were seasonable fruits that one could only get to eat in that season. Just like that, even the fruits like apples, mangoes and guavas used to come in a particular season. That’s why the choice of fruits & vegetables was also local.

It has more global varieties, more options and more packaged food. The millennial lunch can have anything from Overnight Oats, Toast sandwiches, Fried Rice and to even the regular Dal Rice, Idli Sambhar and Dosa. The eating out culture has turned upside down as compared to the 90s and people go out more often for lunch in restaurants. On every second or third day, people order food from outside. Many new items which were not there in the 90s have found their way into the lunch boxes of kids and adults both. For example, more varieties of food have come up like gouda & cheddar cheese, and different types of bread like sourdough, focaccia, multigrain, and rye bread have found their way into the lunch boxes. Even the choice of fruits has changed over the years and avocado and grapefruit are something that people love to eat in India while earlier it was just guava or jackfruit. The breakfast scenario has completely changed and people nowadays consume more oats, muesli, and cornflakes than in the 90s paratha or poha may be.

While the lunch options have become diverse in the 21st century, the consumption of packaged goods has increased which is not good for health. The motto of today’s people is what people actually used to believe in the 90s that one should include more seasonal & regional food in their diet. This puts a lot of healthy effects on the body. While some of the global options are very good and healthy, it is important to know that the food you have grown up eating is something you must follow for a healthy body. If you ask any nutritionist or dietitian, they will suggest that one should include these foods in their diet more than the other packaged foods.