In the ’70s, food was another story — People mainly worried about convenience, not about additives, dyes, or sodium content of what they ate. If it tasted good and looked good, it was on the menu. But times have changed – so have our notions of what’s good for us. Many of the foods we grew up raving about wouldn’t be on the list today — at least not in light of our knowledge of modern health and nutrition. Let’s go back in time and check out some of those old favorites that would definitely raise a few eyebrows now.
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Aspic Salads
Do you remember those strange gelatin molds your grandma had? They’d suspend bits of meat, vegetables or fish in wobbly Jell-O. Yes, they were pretty, but they were a sodium bomb of processed ingredients. And the thought of sticky meat? That’s a hard pass now.
Tang
This powdered orange drink was famous for being “NASA-approved”. But the truth was – Tang was largely sugar, flavoring and orange dye. No actual oranges were used in this drink. Today, most people will stick to fresh juice or water.
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TV Dinners
Who doesn’t like to slide a foil tray into the oven and pull out a whole meal? The downside? These meals were loaded with unhealthy trans fat, copious amounts of salt and artificial preservatives. And that’s not counting the dubious nutrients in that brownie that cooked alongside your Salisbury steak.
Cheez Whiz
Most people had this ochre cheese spread in their refrigerator. But Cheez Whiz was more chemicals than cheese, packed with artificial colors, flavors and unhealthy fats. Put it on some crackers, and you’d have something that would almost certainly come with a health warning today.
Vienna Sausages
These small cans of sausages served as a convenience snack or side dish, yet they were full of sodium, nitrates and mystery meat parts. It was easy at the time to eat them out of the can – now it’s just a health gamble.
Kool-Aid
Kool-Aid was the ultimate kid drink, especially in the summertime. The problem? It was basically colored sugar water. As artificial colors such as Red 40 and blue have become linked to childhood behavioral problems, no wonder parents are concerned.
Spam
Ah, Spam – that can of mystery meat! Spam has fans still, but it’s packed with salt, artificial preservatives and fat slices of pork. It was a quick, cheap protein then. Nowadays, everyone eats fresh meat or plant-based alternatives.
Hostess Snack Cakes
Twinkies, Ding Dongs, & HoHos were lunchbox stars. But they were by no means healthy. Filled with trans fats, sugar and shelf-life preservatives, they were a dessert that could hardly be considered food.
Jiffy Pop Popcorn
The Jiffy Pop was half the adventure – shaking over the stove while the foil puffed up (like magic!). But that buttery flavor? Nothing but synthetic chemicals and hydrogenated oil. Popcorn that’s been air-popped, using actual butter is more the fad these days.
Shake ’n Bake Coatings
This was the lazy-cook’s paradise – rub some herbs on your meat, bake it, and voila! The catch? The packets of seasonings were full of salt, MSG and preservatives. It was good, though not exactly nutritious.
Hamburger Helper
Dinner was fast and simple with a packet of Hamburger Helper – just add ground beef! But the seasoning packets were sodium bombs, full of artificial flavors and unknown powders. And, it had hardly any vegetables or actual nutrients.
Velveeta Cheese
Casseroles, queso and mac and cheese came in the ’70s with Velveeta on their menu. But it’s not “cheese.” Far from it. It’s an industrial cheese product loaded with stabilizers, preservatives and food coloring. True cheese lovers today would not touch it.
Sugary Cereals
It was breakfast time for kids, including cereals such as Cap’n Crunch, Sugar Smacks, and Lucky Charms. The problem? They were full of sugar and colorants, and practically empty of nutrition. It was basically dessert in a bowl.
Tab Soda
Tab was a diet soda originally launched as the ultimate cooling treat. But it contained saccharin, a dangerous artificial sweetener that was also controversial. And the soda itself was just chemically flavored fizz with no redeeming attributes.
Deviled Ham Spread
This pale, salty spread was sold in a little can and used on sandwiches. It was…interesting but chock-full of preservatives, mystery meat, and a ton of salt. People today would opt for a deli slice or forgo the spread altogether.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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