Things Everyone Ate in the 1980s That Wouldn't Fly Today
The 1980s were filled with neon clothing, synth-pop music, and some seriously questionable culinary choices. In fact, if nutritionists today knew what we were eating back then, they would probably break out into a bit of a sweat. Let’s take a closer look at 20 things we all ate in the '80s that would frighten nutritionists today.
Margarine
Margarine was once considered the healthy alternative to butter. However, as time went on, we came to understand that it is actually just packed full of trans fat. There aren’t any nutritional benefits to substituting butter for margarine - don’t let the packaging fool you!
Candy Cigarettes
This one doesn’t really need much explaining. Candy cigarettes were sugary sweets that promoted smoking by targeting children with cigarette-shaped candy. We have no clue how they were even a thing, in all honesty. Why would anyone think this was a good idea?!
Hostess Pudding Pies
Although these pies were delicious, they weren’t exactly the healthiest choice of snack. Filled with a creamy, sugary paste and wrapped in a shelf-stable crust, they actually seemed somewhat indestructible—which is never a good sign when it comes to nutritional benefits.
Spray Cheese
Eating an excessive amount of cheese is unhealthy. However, eating a chemically-processed form of cheese that comes out of a can takes unhealthy to a whole new level. Simply put, spray cheese contained a whole lot of additives and preservatives, making it a digestive nightmare.
Jell-O Molded Everything
For some reason, people were obsessed with Jell-O in the 80s. If something could be suspended in Jell-O, it probably was at some point. Even healthy and savory meal options, such as seafood or vegetables, were covered in gelatin.
Wine Coolers
Back in the day, wine coolers used to be popular amongst those over the age of 21. Essentially, they were sugary, neon-colored alcoholic beverages that tasted like melted popsicles. They were kind of like drinking soda, but they also contained alcohol, making them that much worse.
Chef Boyardee
Chef Boyardee was a type of canned pasta that featured a suspiciously smooth texture. In fact, many would say that it didn’t even taste like pasta at all. Overall, it contained far too much sugar and preservatives to ever be considered a healthy meal option.
Cool Whip
Cool Whip was advertised as an alternative to whipped cream. However, it actually hardly contained any dairy, which made it a processed and chemically-made nightmare. In fact, it was mostly made out of hydrogenated oils, which were particularly bad for the digestive system.
Tab
Although Tab was advertised as a diet form of Coke, it was loaded with saccharin and left a metallic aftertaste. Nutritionists today would describe Tab as a chemical cocktail in a can. There really was no health benefit to choosing it over traditional soda.
Pop Rocks
There is no denying that Pop Rocks were fun to eat. Not only did they taste like sugary goodness, but they also exploded in your mouth! However, this candy was far from natural and contained a whole bunch of chemicals that wreaked havoc on your digestive system.
Pizza Rolls
Pizza rolls were a common lunchtime snack back in the '80s. With that being said, they were far from healthy. In fact, they were simply deep-fried pockets of processed cheese and meat.
Bacon Bits
We all know that bacon is unhealthy. Not only is it processed meat, but it also contains a high level of trans fat. Bacon bits, however, took unhealthy to a whole new level. They weren’t even actual bacon! Instead, they were just crunchy, salty soy-based impostors. Overall, it was like eating straight-up sodium.
Carnation Breakfast Bars
Strangely enough, Carnation breakfast bars were marketed as a ‘healthier’ breakfast option when compared to traditional sugary cereals. To say that this was false advertising would be an understatement. These breakfast bars were basically just candy bars, as they contained high levels of sugar, chocolate, and other unhealthy ingredients.
Chicken Nuggets
We all love chicken nuggets. Not only do they taste good, but they are also a convenient lunch option. However, they are far from nutritious. In the 80s, store-bought chicken nuggets were basically just filler, fat, and some form of processed meat… We aren’t even sure what!
Bologna Sandwiches
While this one may sound healthier than some of the other questionable food choices on our list, bologna sandwiches were basically just sodium. They were made with white bread, mayonnaise, and probably one of the worst processed meats out there.
Twinkies
If you were in the mood for a tasty snack back in the '80s, chances are you bought a Twinkie. These were essentially mini cakes with a shelf life that defied science. Anything that lasts that long is packed full of chemicals and preservatives, making it a digestive nightmare.
Crinkle-Cut Fries
Back in the 80s, food companies didn’t have to abide by such strict trans fat laws. For this reason, crinkle-cut fries were usually deep fried in lard… Disgusting, we know. Nutritionists nowadays would tell you that these fries were essentially a heart attack waiting to happen.
Sugar Cereals
Cereal was the breakfast option of choice back in the '80s. However, nutritionists nowadays would categorize cereal as more of a dessert than anything else. They were packed full of sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. Definitely not the best choice for the most important meal of the day!
Fast-Food Burgers
Back in the 80s, fast-food restaurants used to supersize just about everything. This included their burgers, which were incredibly greasy and packed full of processed meat. Add in the processed cheese and lard-fried fries, and you have yourself a heart attack waiting to happen.
Tang
Tang was advertised as a fruit-based drink. In reality, though, the drink mix contained hardly any fruit. Instead, it was 90% sugar and other preservatives. Sure, it was pretty tasty, but it was also incredibly bad for you. It’s safe to say that Tang has faded out of popularity since the 80s.
