How often do you think about food that you dearly loved as a kid, but even imagining it in your head would disgust you right now? If that surprises you, you’re not alone. Our tastes evolve, and so does our awareness of what goes into our meals. If you’re curious about more, we’re here to tell you about American foods that have fallen out of favor.

Processed Cheese Products

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Processed cheese slices are orange squares of nostalgia. Slapped onto burgers, grilled cheese, or eaten straight from the plastic wrap, they were hard to resist. But then we grew up and realized that they’re more chemistry experiments than dairy products. These cheese slices are only a sort of cheese—legally, they’re classified as a “cheese product.” Yikes.

Sweetened Sodas

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Once upon a time, there was nothing better than an ice-cold soda on a summer day. But you’d be shocked when you look at the sugar content. A single can of soda can have more sugar than a slice of cake. And let’s not even start on the high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and dyes that turn your drink into a science project.

Meatloaf

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Meatloaf is like a relic from a time when dinner had to be cheap and able to survive a nuclear apocalypse. Some versions can be pretty, but others resemble a dense and bland meat brick covered in a questionable layer of ketchup. It’s one of those meals that boomers reminisce about while millennials politely decline.

Twinkies

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Twinkies had their golden era—literally. The sponge cake filled with vanilla-flavored crème was a go-to lunchbox item. But that was before we found out that they’re pumped full of preservatives, artificial flavors, and enough sugar to make your dentist cry.

Sweetened Breads

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Unexpected sweetness is not something you’d want from a slice of bread. Many American breads, including sandwich loaves and buns, contain added sugars, which gives them a sweet flavor that can be surprising. This may be appealing to some, but certainly doesn’t align with everyone’s palate.

Instant Ramen Noodles

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Instant ramen is cheap, quick, and comforting. But, if we’re being honest, the broth is mostly salt, MSG, and artificial flavors. Traditional ramen, made with rich bone broth, fresh noodles, and real seasonings, makes its instant counterpart taste like a poor imitation. For people who can ignore these glaring differences, a 25-cent-pack still has its charm.

Artificial Cherry-Flavored Products

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If there’s one flavor that can disappoint you the most, it has to be ‘cherry.’ A cherry-flavored candy tastes nothing like actual cherries, and that’s because most artificial cherry flavors are based on benzaldehyde, which is a compound that gives them that signature “medicine” taste. That’s also why cherry Jolly Ranchers remind you of childhood cough syrup instead of fresh fruit.

Casseroles with Condensed Soups

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Nothing screams “Midwestern comfort food” like a casserole made with condensed cream of soup. These dishes were designed for convenience, but they’re also drowning in sodium and artificial thickeners. And we’re left with a dish that’s creamy, sure, but also leaves you chugging water for hours afterward.

Mountain Dew

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Mountain Dew has always been the wild child of sodas. But did you know it’s loaded with caffeine? This drink was originally created as a whiskey mixer, but it evolved into the go-to drink for gamers and extreme sports enthusiasts. But with a sugar content rivaling a whole bag of Skittles, many people have moved on to less radioactive-looking beverages.

Ranch Dressing

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Salads, fries, pizza, chicken wings—some people put ranch on everything. This creamy and tangy flavor has die-hard fans, but there’s a huge percent of the population that can’t stand its overpowering presence. Plus, a closer look at the ingredients reveals that it’s mostly mayo, buttermilk, and a lot of preservatives. Not exactly a health-conscious choice.

Pumpkin Spice Overload

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Every autumn, pumpkin spice invades everything, including lattes, muffins, cereal, and even dog treats. And while the original spice blend (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves) is lovely, the mass-produced version is artificial and tastes like a Yankee Candle exploded in your mouth.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

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This dish dares to ask the question: What if vegetable was basically a pie? The combination of naturally sweet potatoes with gooey marshmallows has been a permanent Thanksgiving dish for decades. But as more people enjoy the savory versions (like rosemary, garlic, and butter), the sugar-on-sugar version feels a bit… excessive.

Cincinnati Chili

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Cincinnati chili is a thin, cinnamon-spiced meat sauce served over spaghetti and topped with cheese. Locals swear by it, but outsiders are often confused (and maybe slightly horrified). Love it or hate it, it’s definitely not what most people picture when they hear “chili.”

Marshmallow Fluff

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Marshmallow Fluff is the glue that holds a Fluffernutter together. It may be fun as a kid, but as an adult, it feels like eating pure sugar paste. Its ingredients include corn syrup, sugar, and egg whites, and it’s a nostalgia trip that not everyone wants to revisit.

Circus Peanuts

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These orange, peanut-shaped marshmallow candies that taste like bananas have confused generations. Originally created in the 1800s, their spongy texture and artificial flavor make them one of the most divisive treats around. Even candy historians (yes, that’s a thing) aren’t sure why they still exist.

Dan Smith