Do You Remember These Questionable Food Trends From The 70s And 80s?
The 1970s and 1980s were bold decades for food. Convenience, color, and creativity ruled the kitchen, but not every idea stood the test of time. These trends reflected their era's fascination with novelty.
Some were fun, others puzzling. How many do you remember?
TV Dinners
Microwaves became household essentials in the 80s, and TV dinners were the ultimate convenience food. The divided trays held frozen meat, mashed potatoes, and dessert all in one.
They were convenient but often bland and heavily processed. They set the stage for today's ready-made meals, but they were seriously lacking in flavor.
Spam Everything
Spam enjoyed a major moment in mid-century cooking and carried into the 70s and 80s. It appeared in every dish you could think of—casseroles, sandwiches, and even salads.
While some people still enjoy its salty flavor, most people have moved on to fresher, less processed options.
Spray Cheese
Spray can cheese emerged in the mid-60s and grew in popularity throughout the 70s and 80s. It was intended as an easy and versatile alternative to refrigerated cheeses.
You can still purchase canned cheese today, but it's lost some of its novelty and most modern consumers opt for more flavorful cheeses.
Tuna Mousse
When you think of mousse, you probably think of classic chocolate or other dessert mousses. However, in the 1970s, a new kind of savory mousse emerged made of an unlikely ingredient: tuna.
People would often serve tuna mousse, or a version made with other seafood delicacies, at dinner parties. Thankfully, it's not a dish you see very often today.
Aspic Dishes
Aspic was the savory cousin of gelatin desserts, using meat stock instead of fruit juice. Cooks suspended meats, eggs, and vegetables inside clear, jiggly molds.
It was meant to look elegant, but often ended up odd and unappetizing. Thankfully, aspic faded as people craved fresher, simpler food.
Sloppy Joe in a Can
Manwich is a pre-made sloppy joe filling served in a can, and it was quite popular in the 70s and 80s. This was a quick, convenient dinner that busy families could put together in a flash.
Manwich is still around today, but sloppy joes aren't quite the craze that they once were.
Reminding Us of Simpler Times
The food of the 70s and 80s was creative, colorful, and occasionally confusing. These trends reflected a time when home cooks embraced convenience and presentation over simplicity.
While many of these dishes are now culinary curiosities, they remind us that food history is as much about experimentation as it is about taste.