16 Food Trends from the Past That Make No Sense Now
These bygone food trends range from bizarre to borderline inedible, reminding us how far culinary taste and health awareness have come.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Food trends often reflect the cultural priorities of their time — convenience, novelty, or frugality. However, many don’t age well. From gelatin-encased meats to decaf coffee that tasted like cardboard, these relics now seem odd at best and repulsive at worst. Looking back at them isn’t just funny; it’s a reminder of how food tells the story of our history, values, and changing appetites.
1. Aspic Everything (1950s-1960s)
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People once thought encasing meat, vegetables, and even eggs in gelatin was the height of sophistication. These shimmering meat jellies were centerpieces at dinner parties, even though they looked more like science experiments than food. Today, the idea of cold beef suspended in lime gelatin feels more like a dare than a delicacy.
2. Cigarette-Themed Candy (Mid-20th Century)
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Candy cigarettes were once a normal treat handed out to kids, complete with powdered sugar “smoke.” The link to real cigarettes didn’t seem to bother parents, who saw them as innocent fun. Now, giving a kid a box of candy smokes would feel more like corrupting innocence than offering a sweet.
3. Banana and Mayonnaise Sandwiches (1930s-1950s)
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This Depression-era combo was praised for being cheap and filling. It sounds like culinary chaos now — sweet, mushy banana paired with tangy mayo on white bread. The fact that this was once a household staple serves as a reminder that hard times can create unusual cravings.
4. Jell-O Salads with Vegetables (1950s-1970s)
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Lime Jell-O mixed with shredded carrots, olives, or canned tuna made regular appearances at family gatherings. It was seen as refreshing and elegant, even though the textures and flavors clashed like bad roommates. Today, Jell-O is mostly reserved for desserts — and the occasional hospital tray.
5. Weight Loss Through Cabbage Soup (1980s-1990s)
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This diet had people slurping bland cabbage soup for days on end, promising drastic weight loss. It worked mostly because people were too miserable to eat. While it might’ve been all the rage for crash dieting, now it feels more like punishment than wellness.
6. Liver and Onions as a Weekly Staple (1950s)
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Families sat down to liver and onions like it was the highlight of the week. High in iron, sure — but the taste and texture left many kids traumatized. Today, most home cooks skip this organ meat entirely unless they’re going for vintage nostalgia or culinary dares.
7. TV Dinners in Foil Trays (1950s-1960s)
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When Swanson introduced frozen dinners that mimicked airplane meals, people felt a sense of futurism. Families would eat turkey and peas in front of the TV, ignoring the rubbery textures and bland flavors. Now, we’ve traded foil trays for delivery apps and gourmet microwave meals.
8. Tang as a Health Drink (1960s-1970s)
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NASA gave Tang credibility, and suddenly, this powdered orange drink was breakfast royalty. Parents were convinced it was full of nutrients, not realizing it was mostly sugar and artificial flavoring. These days, the idea of drinking Tang for health feels as retro as dial-up internet.
9. Pineapple on Everything (1950s-1970s)
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From casseroles to ham to gelatin molds, pineapple was the golden ticket to “tropical” flair. The sweet-and-savory obsession reached uncomfortable heights, especially when combined with cheese or meatloaf. Today, pineapple still sparks debate on pizza, although thankfully, it’s no longer a topping for baked beans.
10. Everything in a Can (1940s-1960s)
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Post-war convenience meant meals made entirely from canned goods, including canned spaghetti, canned chicken, and even canned burgers. It was about speed, not taste, and the result was a mushy, sodium-packed experience. Now, fresh ingredients reign — and opening five cans to make one meal feels absurd.
11. Mock Turtle Soup (19th century to mid-20th century)
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When real turtle meat became rare, cooks invented a version using calf’s head and brains. It was once considered fine dining fare, believed to be sophisticated and deeply flavored. Today, it just sounds unsettling — and ethically murky.
12. Baked Alaska (1950s-1970s)
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This extravagant dessert, featuring ice cream baked in a meringue crust, felt like magic at the time. However, baking ice cream makes little sense in today’s era of minimalism and quick desserts. It’s a culinary contradiction: hot and cold at once, hard to master, and rarely worth the mess.
13. Sanka Decaf Coffee Craze (1970s-1980s)
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Sanka was the orange-labeled decaf coffee people proudly drank after dinner. It was marketed as sophisticated and smart, even though the taste left much to be desired. Now, decaf drinkers have better options that don’t taste like beige disappointment.
14. Mayonnaise-Based Fruit Salads (1950s-1960s)
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Ambrosia salad, Waldorf salad — these were sugar and cream concoctions oddly dressed with mayonnaise or Miracle Whip. Combining apples, grapes, and marshmallows with mayo just doesn’t compute today. It was the kind of dish you politely avoided at potlucks and now mostly exists in irony.
15. Potato Chip Casseroles (Mid-20th Century)
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Home cooks once used potato chips as a legitimate casserole topping, not as a cheat-day treat. Crushed chips added crunch, sure, but also a whole lot of grease and salt. It was comfort food before anyone thought to call it that — though now it feels more like a heart attack in a dish.
16. Grapefruit Diets (1970s)
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This fad had people eating half a grapefruit before every meal, believing it would “burn fat.” It was part diet, part ritual, and all sour. Today, we know better: no citrus alone will melt pounds, and breakfast shouldn’t feel like punishment.