20 Foods Boomers Considered Treats That People Take For Granted Today
Gen Z Has No Idea What It’s Missing
Growing up in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, many Baby Boomers didn't have access to the endless variety of snacks, restaurant meals, and convenience foods that people enjoy today. Certain foods were reserved for birthdays, holidays, special occasions, or the occasional family outing, making them feel particularly exciting when they finally appeared on the table. These days, many of those same foods are available at nearly every grocery store, and younger generations might not realize how special they once were.
1. Frozen TV Dinners
They always seemed like such a great idea back in the day when they first took off here in America. During the 1950s, frozen dinners were introduced to the masses. You could just heat up a tray and eat whatever your body needed, including protein, vegetables, potatoes, and maybe some dessert.
2. Canned Fruit Cocktail
Many people had canned fruit cocktail at their family dinners, especially on holidays and other special occasions. It consisted of many different kinds of fruits that you would think wouldn't go well together. When you grew up having this, you may remember enjoying it as a kid. Today, canned fruit is an inexpensive grocery staple, but older generations might remember being genuinely excited when it appeared after dinner.
3. Steak for Dinner
If you were working class and lived in America, you didn't eat steak every night.
It was an expensive piece of beef that your parents would save for special occasions. Although grocery stores now offer countless cuts and varieties, enjoying a nice steak was once a much bigger occasion for many households.
4. Jell-O With Fruit
Everyone loved Jell-O, especially in the 1950s and 1960s. Your mom or dad would make a bunch of colors and throw some canned fruit or whipped cream on top of them. While Jell-O is still available today, younger generations might not understand how much excitement a brightly colored dessert could generate at the dinner table.
5. Fast Food Hamburgers
Many kids probably can't remember not having a burger joint around the corner. Kids were excited to go to McDonald's or any restaurant that sold burgers. Maybe they did well in school, or you were driving cross-country. With fast-food restaurants now found throughout nearly every American town, it's easy to forget that getting a hamburger and fries once felt like a proper family outing.
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6. Sugary Breakfast Cereals
There has always been cereal, but some were more exciting to children than others. Cereals such as Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, and Cap'n Crunch were particularly popular. Getting a colorful box with a cartoon character on the front could make an ordinary grocery trip particularly exciting.
7. Canned Pineapple
Fresh tropical fruit wasn't as readily available or affordable in many American households several decades ago, making canned pineapple a welcome alternative. Fresh fruit wasn't cheap or available everywhere for most people. People ate canned pineapple on special occasions or would add it to their recipes.
8. Milkshakes From the Diner
Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, milkshakes were one of the best things to have. Whether it was vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry, you could go to the local diner or soda shop and have one served to you. Some places had really weird flavors that you may not see today.
9. Frozen Orange Juice Concentrate
You didn't have to drink your orange juice straight from the can. You would mix it with water and have plenty for your kids. Having fresh orange juice was a treat for your family in the morning. Having orange juice available at home was considered a nice addition to the morning meal, particularly when families were working with tighter grocery budgets.
10. Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail was once a popular appetizer associated with restaurants, holiday dinners, and more formal family celebrations. It wasn't something you could just go buy at the market. They served you a cup full of cold shrimp, and you were ecstatic.
11. TV Commercial Candy Bars
Kids were always happy to see candy on TV because it reminded them that they didn't have any right now.
Candy bars weren't expensive, but your parents didn't buy them every day. You could choose to grab a Snickers, Milky Way, Hershey's, or 3 Musketeers. Today, candy bars are available at gas stations, checkout counters, and vending machines, but getting permission to buy one used to be a memorable little victory.
12. Fried Chicken From a Restaurant
Chicken has always been something people enjoy at home. Going to a restaurant for your family to enjoy was nice, especially when KFC came along. We all liked to have it in the house because it made the meal seem more festive. Bringing home a bucket of chicken for dinner could make an ordinary evening feel like a celebration, particularly when everyone got to choose their favorite pieces.
13. Ice Cream Sundaes
You may have had ice cream in your freezer, but you didn't have all of these toppings on top of it. Chocolate, nuts, whipped cream, cherries, and sprinkles were all available. You could go to your local shop and pick what flavor you wanted. Nowadays, you can buy all the ingredients at the supermarket, although visiting an old-fashioned ice cream shop still has its appeal.
14. Lobster
Many kids were lucky enough to eat lobster at their homes. Probably not every day or on a weekend.
When you ordered one at a restaurant, it felt very luxurious. Although lobster prices and availability vary considerably today, it remains a special meal rather than an everyday grocery purchase.
15. Chocolate Pudding Cups
Pudding cups were a hit when you brought them home from the store. They tasted just as good if you had them in a container instead of a bowl. Most kids would love to have a cup of pudding in their lunch. Having a ready-made dessert waiting in the refrigerator was a welcome surprise, especially in households where most sweets were homemade.
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16. Pizza From a Restaurant
Not all kids knew they could have pizza at home. They learned this when pizza started taking off in the U.S. Maybe on your birthday, you could order some from a restaurant. With frozen pizzas and delivery services now widely available, it's easy to forget that ordering a pizza once required a little more planning.
17. Canned Creamed Corn
Who didn't like eating creamed corn? Many kids grew up on it, and it was served at almost every meal. When you were served some, it felt like you had a real family meal in front of you. While fresh and frozen vegetables offer plenty of alternatives today, canned creamed corn remains a nostalgic favorite for many older Americans.
18. Store-Bought Cakes
Your parents didn't buy you cake every Saturday. Usually, it was on your birthday or a special occasion that they splurged. Now we have stores with cakes available anytime you want one. Today, supermarkets have entire bakery sections filled with ready-made cakes, but getting one with your name written in frosting could make a birthday feel especially important.
19. Cheese and Crackers
There are a lot of types of cheese and crackers that you can serve your guests. Maybe your family would serve some fancy ones. Cheese spread was also a big thing when you bought some. You could just pick up different flavors now. Having cheese on a board was a big event.
20. Hawaiian Pizza
When Hawaiian pizza became popular in North America during the 1960s, the combination of ham and pineapple was a relatively unusual take on a familiar meal. Its sweet and savory flavors made it a memorable restaurant option, particularly for families who enjoyed trying something different during a night out. Today, pineapple pizza is available at countless restaurants and in frozen food sections, although the debate over whether it belongs on pizza is still going strong.
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