The 1980s were a breeding ground for bold ideas. It gave us neon fashion, big hair, and some of the strangest food trends in history. These trends were often fueled by the rise of processed foods, microwave dinners, and questionable “health” trends.
Here are some weird ‘80s food trends that still leave us scratching our heads.
McDonald’s McPizza
Fast food is all about speed, but McDonald’s somehow missed that memo with the McPizza. This dish was meant to compete with sit-down pizza chains. The only problem was that it took over 10 minutes to cook and made drive-thru customers impatient. By the mid-‘90s, McDonald’s ditched the idea.
Jell-O Salads
If you ever saw a Jell-O mold wobbling on the dinner table in the ‘80s, you knew things were about to get weird. People mixed gelatin with shredded carrots, olives, tuna, and even mayonnaise. Thankfully, these concoctions weren’t carried forward.
Spray Cheese
Was it convenient? Yes! Was it strange? Absolutely! The ‘80s loved the convenience, and nothing screamed “instant snack” like cheese in an aerosol can. Just press the nozzle, and a processed cheese ribbon landed on crackers—or straight into your mouth. Though it had a devoted fan base, real cheese lovers were horrified by its unnatural texture and neon color.
Jolt Cola
Before energy drinks took over, there was Jolt Cola, which had twice the caffeine of regular cola. Its slogan, “All the sugar and twice the caffeine,” made it a hit with students and night owls. But with sugar crashes and jittery side effects, it was more of an ‘80s adrenaline rush than a daily drink.
The Beverly Hills Diet
This diet involved eating only pineapple for breakfast, mango for lunch, and papaya for dinner. Beverly Hills Diet promised rapid weight loss by claiming that the enzymes in fruit would “melt fat.” In reality, it left people starving, lightheaded, and desperate for a cheeseburger. Doctors quickly warned against this nonsense.
Crystal Light
Crystal Light was the go-to drink mix of the ‘80s if you wanted something sweet without the sugar. It was marketed as a guilt-free alternative to soda and was loaded with artificial sweeteners and flavors. While it became popular with diet-conscious people, some people couldn’t get past its odd aftertaste.
Fast Food Buffets
Fast food buffets were the ticket to unlimited regret. Pizza Hut and other chains attempted a fast food buffet revolution in the ‘80s by offering unlimited pizza, salad, and dessert. The catch was that the food’s quality and freshness took a huge hit. Leftover slices sat under heat lamps, and salad bars became questionable. Most buffets didn’t survive the ‘90s.
Lean Cuisine
Frozen TV dinners weren’t new, but Lean Cuisine capitalized on the ‘80s diet craze. They promised guilt-free indulgence with low-calorie meals like chicken Alfredo and lasagna. These meals had tiny portions, sky-high sodium, and a cardboard-like texture. They were popular but not exactly satisfying.
Jell-O Pudding Pops
Jell-O Pudding Pops were a freezer aisle favorite in the ’80s. These creamy pudding pops were available in chocolate and vanilla flavors to suit different preferences. They were so thick that if eaten too fast, they’d stick to the roof of your mouth. Despite their popularity, they were discontinued in the early 2000s.
Taco Bell’s Bell Beefer
Taco Bell briefly tried selling a sloppy joe-style burger called the Bell Beefer. It was just taco filling on a bun, which left customers wondering… why not just order a taco? Predictably, it failed, and Taco Bell went back to sticking with what they do best.
Margarine
During the 80s, brands pushed margarine as a healthier alternative to butter. But science exposed the dangerous trans fats hiding in margarine. In this war, butter was the real winner. For years, people had suffered through waxier toast for nothing.
Sizzlean
Sizzlean claimed to be a healthier, leaner version of bacon, but it never truly captured bacon’s magic. It fried up fast, but the texture was questionable. As bacon made a huge comeback in later decades, Sizzlean quietly disappeared.
Steak-umms
Steak-umms were paper-thin frozen beef sheets that cooked in minutes. But these greasy, overly processed, and oddly chewy steaks didn’t work for people who preferred quality and good ingredients. Still, they developed a loyal fan base due to the convenience they offered.
Pepsi AM
Pepsi AM hit the market in 1989 and was created for people who preferred soda over coffee. It contained extra caffeine, but consumers weren’t convinced that soda belonged at the breakfast table. It vanished within a year.
Viennetta
Viennetta was an elegant-looking layered ice cream cake with delicate waves of chocolate and vanilla. It looked luxurious but tasted just like regular ice cream. While still available in some countries, it eventually faded from the U.S. market.