From Cold Parathas To Curated Bento Boxes: How School Lunchboxes Evolved Over The Years

There was a time when school lunchboxes weren’t curated or posted on Instagram. They were humble and quite predictable. And yet, those tiffins now feel like the warmest part of childhood. Because let’s be honest, what’s more iconic than unboxing your metal or plastic dabba and then sneakily peeking into your friend’s box, wishing you were the one who had gotten the Maggi today? Back then, we didn’t always appreciate them. But today, just the thought of those cold, comforting bites can bring a smile to our faces. But do our nostalgic school lunchboxes compare to the fancy tiffins of today? Let’s find out!

The Bittersweet Charm of Our School Lunchboxes

If there’s one thing that can unite generations across India, it’s school tiffins. These tiffins, often carrying the same dish, are etched in our memories. While they may stir up nostalgic feelings today, they used to be the most intense discussions we had with our moms the night before.

Maggi, of course, was a luxury. And when someone in class opened their tiffin to reveal soggy but still glorious French fries or cold Maggi noodles stuck together in a perfect block, it sparked instant envy. And the pleading that followed! Teary-eyed, we made requests to our moms, hoping to get something ‘exciting’ in our lunchbox just once in a while.

Personally, I remember that French fry day came once a year, on my birthday. That was the one day my mom couldn’t say no to whatever I wanted in my lunchbox. And no matter how cold or soggy those fries got by lunch break, they still felt like the best thing in the world. Today, I catch glimpses of those days in the most unexpected moments. Like when I see my brother quietly enjoying the same jeera aloo and paratha from a lunchbox, as if he’s trying to time travel to our school days.

Core Memories Served In A Humble Lunchbox

But lunchbox nostalgia isn’t just about memories anymore. It’s evolved into something else altogether, thanks to Instagram. Moms around the world are now turning their children’s lunchboxes into mini works of art. We’re talking four-part meals with themed fruits cut into stars and hearts, bento-boxed ramen, and mini pizzas – basically the kind of meals we didn’t even dream of!

And yes, I applaud these parents for their creativity, love, and effort. But let’s be honest: the envy still lingers. Because, imagine opening your tiffin in school today and finding your favourite ramen, a cute fruit arrangement, and a bar of chocolate. Sounds like a dream, right? Apparently, for today’s generation, it’s just another school lunch.

And judging by how many of us pause to admire these reels, it’s clear that school lunch envy is alive and well.  Rachna, Managing Editor of Curly India & ME, shared a wonderfully detailed snapshot of her school days. “Growing up, last night’s dinner was mostly school lunch. Then, an occasional Maggi or noodles was to break the routine. A fruit was always part of the simple red, yellow and white three-tier circular tiffin box. I somehow remember the boxes more than their contents.”

But some days, she got lucky. “On days when there was no tiffin to be carried, I was given ₹20 to have lunch in the school canteen (which was run by my classmate). For ₹5, I could get 1 khasta and aloo ki sabzi. For ₹10, there were noodles. And they were served in a dona (pattal)… Meals were simple, but during middle school, my friends and I started communal lunch. So, we had meals from everyone’s home; then it was lavish: idlis, noodles, parathas, pav bhaji, bhajis, you name it!”

Today, when she sees the lunchbox reels flooding Instagram, she says, “a) I am happy to see that so much effort is being put into a kid’s meal, and at least they are getting good nutrition. b) Some of it looks staged to me, to be honest.”

She adds, “But what I am really interested in knowing is, are kids finishing off the whole meal? Because I remember, I never had the guts to throw away my tiffin’s contents, and if the dabba was not khaali when I got home, my mom’s brickbats would continue endlessly, and my TV time was compromised.”

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Sandwiches Of Childhood And Sushi Of Today

Green chutney sandwiches made more than one person’s school life feel special. Deeplata reminisces, “My most cherished memory of lunchboxes was green chutney sandwiches (pure joy). Just butter, thick chutney spread on bread. I was recently doomscrolling on Insta to find some kid getting kimbap and sushi in Tiffin. I mean, it’s my ‘salary aayi hai toh khudko treat dungi’ meal!” 

Sanjana echoes this sentiment: “My mom also used to pack me green chutney-butter sandwiches. So yum! I also loved her simple veg sandwiches. Just cheese slice, ketchup, butter, cucumber, olives and tomato. Sometimes, I make these sandwiches at home just to go back to those school days.”

For Tashika, childhood meals were simple. “During my school days, my mother usually gave me parathas, sandwiches, or rolls with sabzi in them. On rare occasions, she’d make Maggi or pack leftovers from last night, which was a treat in itself!” But now, she admits, “Seeing moms these days pack elaborate lunches with snacks and drinks makes me question my entire childhood. I see mini Nutella packs, fancy snacks, cutely cut fruits and whatnot on Instagram these days, and I am quite jealous of those kids!”

From Parathas To Bento Meals

Anupriya’s lunch had very specific, lovable quirks. “Back in KG, I had a fixed menu for tiffin, and I wouldn’t eat anything apart from that! The first was bread, butter, and sauce. Not toasted, just your good old tomato ketchup. And the bread later evolved into sandwiches, toasts, bread pakora… but the sauce was always there on the side.” She adds, “The other one was French fries and puri. Yes! This is one cherished meal that remained a constant throughout school, and I eat it even today. The difference today is those bento meals… they look really adorable and also make me wonder how early these moms wake up. But it’s not just the meal but the note that’s often attached to the tiffin! Growing up, this was not even something anyone could think of.”

Priyanka shares her journey across three generations of lunchboxes: “As a child, I was mostly with my grandma, who would pack the most wholesome lunches for me—polí (roti) and bhaji. She was not the best at packing, as the oil would always drip out of the tiffin, but no one can come close to the taste.”

Her mom later took over with chutney sandwiches and Maggi, but by 5th grade, it was ₹10 a day and a love affair with the school samosa began: “I don’t know whether it’s the nostalgia or just the fact that I ate it almost every day with my friends… but I never ate a better samosa in my life.”

Now, the tables have turned. “I pack tiffin for my 8-year-old every day, and it’s a task to make sure there are different 4-course meals available each day…”

So, What Did Your Lunchbox Look Like?

What unites everyone’s stories is this: our lunchboxes were never Instagram-worthy, but they were ours. They carried the love of our mothers and grandmothers, the routines of our childhoods, and sometimes even the thrill of swapping food across benches. Yes, we’re in awe of the dragon fruit, rose-cut reels and sushi bento boxes. But would we really trade them for our chutney sandwiches or that one birthday French fry box? Maybe not.

And while today’s lunchboxes may win the aesthetic game, the warmth of yesterday’s tiffin—leaking sabzi and all—wins our hearts.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva/SanyiKumar and Canva/pixelshot