The 1980s were a wild ride for food. It was a decade of innovation, experimentation, and, let’s be honest, some pretty questionable food creations. If you grew up during this time, you might remember foods that seemed thrilling back then but now leave us scratching our heads.
Let’s check out some gross foods kids in the ’80s grew up eating. Some of these might make you laugh, while others might make you cringe.
Lean Cuisine
Credit: flickr
Lean Cuisine was the microwaveable meal moms swore by during their aerobics phase. While it promised low calories and convenient portions, these meals often delivered tiny servings of rubbery chicken or mushy pasta. For most kids, it wasn’t just boring—it was downright disappointing compared to the cheeseburgers and fries they really wanted.
Sizzlean
Credit: YouTube
The commercials made Sizzlean sound like bacon’s cooler, healthier cousin. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. This processed attempt at bacon left you longing for the real thing. People quickly realized that no amount of maple syrup or ketchup could fix it.
Taco Bell Burgers
Credit: flickr
Taco Bell might be synonymous with tacos and burritos today, but back in the '80s, they dabbled in burgers like the Bell Beefer. That experiment didn’t last long, and for good reason. A fast-food taco chain attempting to compete with the likes of McDonald’s wasn’t exactly a recipe for success. The burgers were forgettable, and most of us were left wondering why they bothered.
Taco Bell Enchirito
Credit: flickr
The Enchirito wasn’t necessarily a bad idea—it was essentially a burrito with lots of enchilada sauce. It was, however, messy, soggy, and required a fork to eat, which, let’s face it, took all the fun out of fast food. It was like watching your burrito drown before your eyes.
Hubba Bubba Soda
Credit: Instagram
Bubble gum is for chewing, not drinking—but apparently, no one told Hubba Bubba. This bright pink soda attempted to cash in on the gum’s popularity, but the overly sweet, artificial flavor was more than most people could handle. A few adventurous kids might’ve enjoyed it, but for the rest, it was a hard pass.
Dr Pepper Gum
Credit: flickr
Dr Pepper Gum had one selling point: a liquid center that mimicked the soda. The first chew was fun—like a soda geyser in your mouth. Then came the letdown when the flavor vanished faster than your allowance at the arcade. Kids mostly chewed it for the surprise, not the taste.
Tobacco Gum
Credit: YouTube
Big League Chew, shredded gum that looked like chewing tobacco, was a hit with kids who idolized baseball players. But looking back, it’s hard not to cringe at a product that encouraged kids to mimic a habit best left to adults. The gum itself wasn’t bad, but the concept didn’t age well.
Steak-umms
Credit: YouTube
Steak-umms were like the instant noodles of the meat world: fast, cheap, and questionable. They were thin, greasy slices of beef that you’d add to sandwiches. Unfortunately, they had the texture of wet paper towels and tasted like sadness wrapped in grease.
Easy Cheese
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Nothing screams '80s snack time like a can of Easy Cheese. This aerosol cheese spread was an invention of modern food science, but its neon-orange color and overly processed flavor were hard to ignore. Spraying cheese onto crackers or straight into your mouth was fun for a while—until you remembered what real cheese tasted like.
Yeoman Instant Mashed Potatoes
Credit: YouTube
Yeoman Instant Mashed Potatoes were advertised as the ultimate shortcut for busy parents. But for kids, they were a sad impersonation of grandma’s buttery, fluffy mashed potatoes. These powdered flakes turned into something resembling wallpaper paste, with about as much flavor.
Crystal Light
Credit: flickr
Crystal Light was supposed to make drinking water fun. Instead, it made it taste like someone accidentally spilled chemicals in your glass. While adults guzzled it down during aerobics class, kids were left wondering why anyone would choose this over Kool-Aid.
Jell-O Pudding Pops
Credit: flickr
These creamy, frozen treats were a hit in the freezer aisle, but they had their quirks, including melting too quickly and sometimes leaving a grainy aftertaste. Still, many kids remember them fondly, if only for the chocolate vanilla swirl.
Hostess Pudding Pie
Credit: flickr
Hostess Pudding Pies were indulgent, sugary, and unapologetically over-the-top. Their flaky crust and gooey filling made them a hit with kids, but they were so sweet they could practically give you a toothache just by looking at them.
Slice Soda
Credit: flickr
Slice soda came in a rainbow of fruit flavors, some even boasting real juice. But real juice or not, the overwhelming sweetness and artificial taste didn’t win over every palate. Some flavors were decent; others tasted like someone dissolved a lollipop in soda water.
Five Alive
Credit: flickr
As a blend of five different citrus flavors, Five Alive seemed like it should’ve been a hit. Instead, its tartness and vaguely artificial aftertaste didn’t sit well with everyone. Most kids drank it because it was in the fridge, not because they wanted to.
