Peter Hitchener shares how lunch boxes have changed as students return to schools

With the return to school underway, parents are again pondering that age-old question…  "what shall I pack for their lunch?" My friends who have a teenage daughter admit it's a constant challenge.

They want her to eat healthy food, while making sure it's appetising.

It has been many decades since I was in the age group, so I checked out school lunch suggestions online. Things have certainly changed.

Anyone for a cheese quesadilla? A what? How about falafel and hummus in a wholemeal wrap, gyoza with a small serve of avocado maki, or coconut yoghurt and chia seeds?

Whatever the choice, it's important to make sure it's "nude food". No packaging. This is a conservation initiative, wiping out waste and reducing landfill.  Some schools are inspecting the kids' lunch boxes to make sure.

Back in the day, if your school had a kiosk or tuck shop, you probably bought a pie and tomato sauce with your pocket money, washed down with a sugary fruit drink. Not every day of course.

The rest of the time it was cheese and salad sandwiches and a piece of fruit cake.

Staying hydrated? No problem. You might remember those small bottles of milk delivered daily to the classroom.

They arrived refrigerated at the start of the day, but the milk had usually warmed up considerably by the time recess rolled around. Today's students might go for activated almond milk, lightly carbonated spring water, or a skinny soy latte.

While healthy eating is all the rage, there's fresh research suggesting children today are not quite as physically capable as their parents were at the same age.

Apparently, kids cannot jump as far as the old-timers could from a standing start.

It's not the food that is to blame though, it seems the culprit is excessive screen time and reduced exercise… yes, too much Insta, Snapchat and Facebook.

So, if you really want your children to stay fit, as well as providing good nutrition, maybe set the phone to 'do not disturb', put the laptop to sleep for an hour or so, and encourage them to have a walk, kick a footy or ride a bike instead.

Come to think of it, it's probably something we could all benefit from, whatever our age. Have a great day, see you on the walking track.