Gen Z Diary: We’re not calculating our protein and fibre intake like mad scientists

People love to talk about how health-conscious young folk are these days. And there’s something deeply comical about hearing that talk, and knowing what the reality is on the ground

Jane Cowan: 'Maybe I’m not moving in the right circles to hear about these things, but I think the number truly is fewer than people would have you believe.'

I sit down, funnelling electrolytes into myself like they’re going out of fashion.

One of my friends dips pancakes into a jar of Nutella, getting the most important meal of the day rolling. Another friend vapes while asking for someone to give him a tutorial on rolling your own cigarettes. Another is nonverbal and totally still, not daring to provoke her gag reflex by any sudden movement.