Boomers grew up eating many classic meals that are now considered outdated. Nowadays, young people are passionate about natural, healthy foods, whereas boomers grew up with the processed foods that dominated post-war society. With that in mind, here are 18 classic foods from boomers’ childhoods that Gen Z refuses to try.
Meatloaf
Meatloaf is a classic food that boomers regularly ate with their families when they were young, and they still make it now. But Gen Z isn’t as enthusiastic about the ground texture of meatloaf, especially because many people overcook it until it’s dry and tasteless. But, boomers still love it.
Jell-O Salad
It looks disgusting and has an off-putting texture, so why are boomers so obsessed with Jell-O? According to Serious Eats, Jell-O was a culinary icon of the 20th century, so many boomers grew up with sweet and savory Jell-O salads. However, these wobbly pot-luck staples don’t appeal to young people nowadays.
Spam
Everybody knows Spam. The concept of processed canned meat repulses most people, but not boomers. Spam has been around since the 1930s when it was supplied to the army as an alternative to fresh meat. Boomers regard it nostalgically, but Gen Z doesn’t see the appeal at all!
Creamed Spinach
Spinach is amazing for your health, but creamed spinach doesn’t look very appetizing. Boomers love the added flavors of white sauce, garlic, and cheese because they grew up with it as a popular side dish. Gen Z isn’t as wild about vegetables, especially green ones with sloppy textures.
Sardines
Canned or fresh, sardines are a fish that divides opinion! Gen Z famously enjoys salmon, but they don’t want to try sardines. Boomers grew up eating them because they were a household staple that didn’t cost much. Sardines are also a fantastic source of vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium, so boomers continue to enjoy them despite Gen Z’s disgust.
Fruit Cake
All boomers agree that there’s nothing quite like a fruit cake at Christmas or any other time of the year! After all, there’s a reason we associate fruit cake with our grandparents. Gen Z is rejecting it in favor of more popular cakes, like vanilla or chocolate, and many are getting rid of it as their wedding cake too.
Tuna Casserole
Gen Z isn’t making casseroles like boomers before them, and they definitely aren’t trying tuna casserole! In the 1960s, tuna casserole was an affordable dish that could feed the whole family, so most boomers came to love it. Nowadays, Gen Z calls it ‘dated’ and ‘disgusting’, but boomers refuse to let it go.
Brussels Sprouts
Perhaps the most controversial vegetable is Brussels sprouts, the nemesis of every Gen Z child growing up! The Guardian reports that Gen Z has pretty much canceled Brussels sprouts by shunning them from roast dinners. However, boomers aren’t squeamish about greens, so they don’t mind eating sprouts.
Grits
Many young people refuse to eat porridge due to its texture, so they’d never try grits. Nowadays, grits are mainly eaten by boomers. They’re made from ground corn and usually flavored with milk and butter. To Gen Z, they’re repulsively mushy; to boomers, they’re a reminder of warm childhood breakfasts.
Liver and Onions
The thought of eating liver sounds disgusting, but boomers say it’s delicious, especially when paired with onions. It’s made with sautéed onions and sliced beef, pork, or chicken liver and typically served with mashed potatoes. Gen Z prefers dishes with more sauce and flavor, whereas boomers appreciate the simplicity of liver and onions.
Prunes
Prunes don’t have a great reputation in popular culture. Older people are sometimes derogatorily likened to them due to their wrinkled skin, and they’re also associated with bowel movements. As a result, Gen Z isn’t rushing to try them, but boomers remember them from years past and still enjoy them.
Rice Pudding
Rice pudding is a childhood comfort food for many boomers. Served hot or cold, it was popular when boomers were young because it was so cheap and filling. They regularly added nutmeg for more flavor. However, Gen Z didn’t grow up eating it, so its thick texture instantly puts them off.
TV Dinners
Despite the popularity of frozen meals, TV dinners are something young people nowadays associate with old people. Smithsonian Magazine tracks them back to the ’50s when they transformed the idea of a convenient dinner and sold ten million trays in their first year. Gen Z doesn’t appreciate how revolutionary they were for young boomers.
Juice Concentrate
Juice concentrate is easily confused with regular juice, but there’s one key difference. Juice is mainly water, whereas juice concentrate has had most of that water removed, leaving mostly fruit. Concentrates with 100% fruit are actually much healthier than regular juices, so even though Gen Z prefers ‘real’ juice, boomers are making the healthier choice.
Bran Cereal
Though the popular (and unhealthy!) cereal Lucky Charms was created in 1964, boomers mostly grew up eating bran cereal for breakfast. Gen Z is more used to sugar cereals like Lucky Charms and Coco Pops, so they don’t want to try bran cereal. But boomers know it’s healthier, so they stick with it.
Meat and Potatoes
Like liver and onions, meat and potatoes are an easy meal that boomers often ate growing up. Gen Z often jokes about older people enjoying boring, plain meals, but boomers usually season their meat and potatoes. Sometimes, they even turn them into a stew, another classic meal Gen Z doesn’t want to eat.
Bud Light
Gen Z drink all types of beer, but they’re baffled that boomers enjoy Bud Light, a ‘healthy’ beer with a lower alcohol content. But boomers love it. The Atlantic reports that Bud Light took off in the ’80s and quickly became the top-selling light lager in the U.S. Boomers have been drinking it ever since.
Vienna Sausage
Vienna sausages may look like classic frankfurters, but they’re actually made of beef and pork and encased in sheep’s intestines! They’re canned, so they were a great option for boomers’ parents to bulk buy for low prices. Gen Z refuses to try them, even as their grandparents continue to enjoy them as snacks.
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