The ’70s was a decade that brought on bell bottoms, disco balls, and a steady series of intriguing food trends throughout modern history. Not every culinary invention however was able to stand the test of time. I think it’s some kind of strange trip to look back at the foods that once made up a generation and now are hard to find on any a table nearby.
1. Jell-O Salad
No ’70s dinner party was complete without a wobbly, technicolor Jell-O mold packed with mystery ingredients. Veggies, fruits, and even meats were suspended in gelatin like culinary time capsules. Despite its popularity, modern appetites said goodbye to this odd combo of sweet and savory.
2. Tuna Noodle Casserole
Creamy, starchy, and topped with crushed potato chips, this dish was a go-to weeknight meal. But as healthier eating trends took over, the tuna casserole’s heavy ingredients and canned soup base fell out of favor.
3. Libbyland Dinners
These TV dinners were designed for kids, complete with cartoon mascots and psychedelic packaging. They offered quirky entrées like spaghetti with hot dog bits and chocolate pudding. Fun in theory, but their odd textures and questionable flavors sent them into extinction.
4. Tang
Marketed as the drink of astronauts, Tang exploded in popularity in the ’60s and remained strong into the ’70s. But once the novelty wore off, so did its appeal, especially as people began reading nutrition labels more closely.
5. Carnation Breakfast Bars
Before protein bars became fitness staples, Carnation introduced these crumbly, chalky bricks for on-the-go breakfasts. Kids tolerated them for the sugar hit, but no one really missed them when they disappeared.
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6. Beefaroni
A strange blend of pasta and canned beef, Beefaroni was quick, filling, and everywhere in the ’70s. But its mushy texture and salty taste didn’t age well. Now it’s mostly remembered as a punchline.
7. Aspic
Basically savory Jell-O, aspic was a gelatin mold made from meat stock and often encased cold cuts, eggs, or seafood. It was fancy in its day, but most people today would rather forget it ever existed.
8. Space Food Sticks
These chewy tubes of calories were developed for NASA but marketed to kids as futuristic snacks. They were neither tasty nor satisfying, and quickly faded from lunchboxes after the novelty wore off.
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9. Mayonnaise Cake
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Mayonnaise replaced eggs and oil in chocolate cake recipes to create a moist crumb, but the idea made most people uneasy, and modern bakers now avoid it like the plague.
10. Chicken à la King
A creamy chicken stew with peppers and mushrooms, this dish often came canned or frozen. Once seen as elegant comfort food, it became synonymous with bland, institutional dining.
11. Dippy Eggs in Toast
Also called “eggs in a basket”, this was a popular breakfast where an egg was fried inside a cut-out slice of toast. Still around in some places, but no longer the breakfast staple it once was.
12. Viennetta Ice Cream Cake
Layered with ripples of frozen cream and chocolate, Viennetta was the height of elegance for a 1970s dessert. It disappeared from shelves for years and only recently made a limited comeback.
13. Ham in a Can
This preserved pork product was a staple for large families and budget-conscious shoppers. While it was cheap and easy, the rubbery texture and salty flavor eventually turned people off.
14. Tuna Wiggle
Made with canned tuna, milk, and peas in a white sauce, then served over toast, Tuna Wiggle was a frugal meal during tight times. But its unfortunate name and bland appearance didn’t help its survival.
15. TV Dinner Turkey and Gravy
Frozen turkey dinners were high-tech convenience in the ’70s. But as microwaves advanced and tastes changed, these soupy, beige meals became culinary relics.
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