'70s Oods That Were on Every Dinner Table
Growing up in the 1970s meant eating whatever showed up on the table, no questions asked. If it was colorful, jiggled strangely, or came from a can with a mystery aroma, it still counted as dinner. Parents trusted every recipe in their well worn cookbooks, and kids happily ate dishes that would send today’s children running for the door. It was a decade filled with bold flavors, odd textures, and meals that felt experimental even when they were not meant to be. Looking back, it is amazing what we ate with total confidence. Today’s kids would not make it past the first bite.
Liver and Onions
If you were raised in the ‘70s, chances are you ate liver and onions at least once a month. Parents claimed it was loaded with iron, while kids did their best not to breathe. Today's kids would take one look and run the other way.
Jell-O Salads
These weren’t normal Jell-O bowls. They had shredded carrots, celery, cottage cheese, and sometimes mystery fruit floating around. It wasn’t delicious, but everyone pretended that it was.
Spam Fried Sandwiches
Spam was considered a treat in homes back then. It was crispy fried on the outside and salty enough to leave you thirsty all day. We slapped it in between two slices of white bread and called it dinner. Today's kids would spot that pink square and refuse right away.
Instant Mashed Potatoes
These came from a box, resembled flakes, and transformed into "dinner" when mixed with hot water. Children in the ‘70s consumed them without question. The texture was a bit gluey, but it worked with every weeknight meal.
Canned Ravioli
This was mushy, soft, and tasted the same no matter how long it was cooked. Parents enjoyed it, though, because it was fast and cheap. Kids ate it because there were no other options. Children today would take one whiff and question every decision that led to that moment.
Tang Drink Mix
Every seventies kid drank Tang like it was gourmet juice. It tasted like orange candy dipped in sugar, but we loved it. Parents said astronauts drank it, so that made it cool. If modern kids tried Tang, they would have asked why the "orange juice" looks neon and why it tastes absolutely nothing like fruit.
Salisbury Steak TV Meal
This was the star of many frozen dinners. It was a brown patty floating in gravy, along with peas that never got soft. While kids in the ’70s ate it happily in front of the television, today’s kids would poke it and politely pass.
Deviled Ham Spread
This came in a small can and tasted like very salty mystery meat. Parents would smear it onto crackers for a snack, and kids enjoyed it because they did not have other options. If you put this in front of a kid now, they would sniff it once and slide the plate away like it was dangerous.
Bologna Roll-Ups
Parents found uses for bologna in everything. Sometimes, it was wrapped around a slice of cheese. Other times, it was eaten straight from the fridge. It was pale, floppy, and a little too shiny, and ‘70s kids never questioned it.
Goulash
This was everyone’s budget dinner. Goulash was a pile of macaroni mixed with tomato sauce and ground beef. It tasted fine, but it was never pretty. Back then, we were just happy dinner was ready, but today’s kids would have asked what exactly it was supposed to be.
Powdered Milk
When the regular milk ran out, parents just mixed water with this chalky powder, and kids drank it because there was no other choice. It was a backup plan that lived in every kitchen cabinet, and the taste was unique. Kids today would take one sip and hand it back.
Canned Macaroni and Cheese
This was a real thing, and people actually ate it. You had to shake it onto the plate, and it came out of the can as one solid shape. Back then, we accepted it without thinking. Today’s kids would stare in horror at the texture alone.
Vienna Sausages
These small sausages were sold in small cans that were filled with brine. Children would eat the sausages straight out of the can like snacks. Give one can to a child today, and they would immediately ask why their food resembles something that escaped from a laboratory.
Chef Salad With Sardines
In the 70's, salads got bold. Some had sardines or anchovies nestled between iceberg lettuce and hard-boiled eggs. Kids ate it because it was dinner, and complaining was useless. The kids we have today would politely push the fish off their plate and try to forget the whole experience.
Beefaroni
This mix of pasta and beef in bright red sauce was a quick dinner solution. It tasted the same no matter how long it cooked, and the noodles were always a little too soft. Seventies kids gobbled it up. Today’s kids would question the color and wonder what happened to the texture.
Fish Sticks
These were a staple on weeknights. They were crispy on the outside, mushy on the inside, and usually dipped in ketchup to cover up the taste. ‘70s kids didn’t mind since they paired well with anything. Today, kids are accustomed to much fresher food, so they’ll likely race to the freezer for something else after one bite.
Pickled Pig’s Feet
These jars sat on the shelf of the grocery stores as if it was completely normal. Some families served them at gatherings, and ‘70s kids just went along with it. The vinegar smell alone could clear out a room.
Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast
This was a staple in many homes. Thin strips of salty dried beef swimming in a creamy sauce and poured over toast. This would be a hard pass for kids today.
Tater Tot Casserole
This dish was a mixture of ground beef, canned soup, and topped off with crispy tater tots. Every family prepared it in their own way. It was served warm, and it was filling, even if it looked questionable.
Chicken in a Can
In the ‘70s, we had a whole chicken in a can. You opened it, and a pale, squishy bird slid out with a splash. Parents then insisted it was convenient, and kids didn’t have a choice but to eat it.
Cottage Cheese With Pineapple
You would always find this combo on lunch tables everywhere. It was basically sweet chunks of pineapple mixed with lumpy cottage cheese. Today's children would undoubtedly question why dessert and dairy are hanging out together in the same bowl.
Canned Beef Stew
Canned Beef Stew was thick and salty. It was also brimming with vegetables that barely tasted like vegetables. Kids didn’t complain back then because it filled the bowl, but kids today would wonder why the beef has the texture of a wet sponge.
Marshmallow Salad
This "salad" was a combination of marshmallows, canned fruit, whipped topping, and sometimes nuts. It was more sugar than anything else. Still, kids in the '70s loved it. Today's kids would probably all enjoy the sweetness but still wonder why it’s called a salad when it’s clearly a dessert.
Canned Clam Chowder
Canned Clam Chowder was creamy, chunky, and sometimes had clams the size of gummy bears. Families kept it in the pantry for easy dinners back then, but today, kids would gag over it.
Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper was the hero of busy weeknights. Everything went in one pan, and before you knew it, you had a cheesy, beefy pasta dish. Today's kids might find it bland or too processed, given all the fresh options they're accustomed to.
Fruit Cocktail Cups
These little cups had syrupy fruit pieces, including that one lonely cherry everyone fought over. Kids ate them constantly, even though most of the fruit tasted the same. Today’s kids would politely decline.
TV Dinners
Those metal trays were the pinnacle of convenience. You got soggy vegetables, questionable meat, and a tiny dessert that was always molten lava. It felt special because they were compartmentalized. Although everything tasted the same, it still felt like a treat on TV nights.
Peanut Butter and Marshmallow Sandwiches
This was the sugar bomb of the decade. Peanut butter on one side, marshmallow fluff on the other. Today's kids would take that first bite and immediately feel the whole thing stick to the roof of their mouth. They'd avoid it after that.
Meatloaf With Ketchup Glaze
This was a staple at dinner tables. It looked like a brick, with a shiny layer of ketchup baked on top. Today, kids would be cringing as they looked at their plate.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
This dish mixed tuna, noodles, peas, and a creamy sauce, then topped it with crushed chips. It was a budget favorite for families. Kids back then thought it was normal comfort food, but kids today might struggle with the smell alone.
Boiled Hot Dogs
Most families just tossed hot dogs into boiling water. No grilling, no fancy toppings, just wet hot dogs on a bun. ‘70s kids didn’t complain because it was fast, but today’s kids would have a lot of questions.
Fruitcake
This dessert haunted holidays everywhere. Dense, heavy, and packed with neon fruit chunks, it was passed around more than it was eaten. Many kids accepted a slice out of politeness back then.
Canned Peas
These peas were mushy, dull green, and carried a flavor no kid truly loved, but we still ate them. They showed up with almost every meal. Today’s kids, who are used to fresh or frozen veggies, would take one bite and quietly push the plate aside.
Corned Beef Hash
This mix of chopped corned beef and potatoes came straight from a can and was fried into a crispy pile. It was salty, filling, and oddly addictive. Kids in the ‘70s never questioned it, but today’s kids would.
All-Bran Cereal
Parents insisted this was “good for you,” so kids ate it before school. It tasted like crunchy cardboard and softened instantly in milk. ‘70s kids powered through. Today’s kids would take one bite and demand something with color, sugar, or at least a little personality.
