18 Foods Boomers Grew Up Eating
After seeing so many boomer food lists floating around, I decided to go straight to the source and ask my boomer dad, who was born in the late 1950s, which foods he actually grew up eating.
Many of these dishes were driven by practicality: saving money, stretching meat to feed a family, and making the most of what was available. These concerns haven’t changed for many families today.
Some of these foods have made comebacks as retro comfort foods, some never really went away, and others are nearly forgotten. Which ones do you remember?
1. Chicken Divan
This staple family dinner combined chicken, broccoli, and a creamy sauce, topped with cheese, breadcrumbs, or sometimes crushed crackers. It was a great way to use leftover chicken while incorporating vegetables into a dish, making it a complete meal.
2. Ambrosia Salad
This sweet salad is made with marshmallows, canned pineapple, maraschino cherries, shredded coconut, mandarin oranges, and whipped cream. It was a dish my dad nostalgically remembers being served at holiday gatherings and special occasions as a side.
3. Frozen Fish Sticks
Brands like Gorton’s and Mrs. Paul’s were household names, and my dad remembers fish sticks (and fish rolls) being served every Friday at his school cafeteria.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, schools and restaurants had “fish Fridays” where they served fish to accommodate Catholics who didn’t eat meat that day. It became so widespread that you’d eat fish on Friday even if you weren’t Catholic.
4. Deviled Eggs
My dad says a tray of deviled eggs was served at almost every family gathering and special occasion. They were economical, used simple ingredients, and could easily be doubled or tripled to feed large crowds.
5. Vienna Sausage
My dad recalls eating these straight from the can, cold, or cut up with scrambled eggs. They were perfect for camping trips and quick meals when fresh meat wasn’t available.
These little canned sausages were shelf-stable, affordable, and could stretch a meal when money was tight. While some boomers may still love these today, my dad wasn’t a huge fan of these and would not eat them now.
6. Swiss Steak
This hearty, slow-cooked meal turned cheap, tougher cuts of meat into something tender and flavorful. The beef was typically braised with tomatoes, onions, and seasonings until it practically fell apart.
It was an economical way to serve meat to a family while creating a satisfying and filling dinner.
7. Clam Dip
This was another party staple my dad remembers being served with crackers or chips at most gatherings he attended as a child.
It was usually made with canned clams mixed into cream cheese or sour cream with seasoning.
8. Bologna Sandwiches
A typical lunch was bologna and mayo on white bread, sometimes with a slice of cheese. These sandwiches were lunchbox staples: cheap, filling, and easy to pack for school or work.
My dad also remembers having scrambled eggs with bologna for breakfast.
9. Scalloped Potatoes
This comfort food classic consists of thinly sliced potatoes baked in a rich cream sauce. Sometimes it was made from scratch, other times a boxed mix was used for convenience. It was an inexpensive, filling side dish that could easily feed a crowd.
10. Canned Corned Beef Hash
Canned corned beef hash served as both a breakfast and dinner option. The canned version was convenient, while homemade hash was a great way to use leftover corned beef.
It was typically served with eggs on top and provided a hearty, filling meal. The canned variety made it accessible even when you didn’t have leftovers to work with.
11. Leg of Lamb
In my dad’s household, leg of lamb was reserved for holidays and truly special occasions, and always served with mint jelly on the side.
It was a little more time-consuming for his mom to make, so it wasn’t served on busy weeknights when you wanted to make something simple and easy.
12. Pimento Cheese Spread
Both canned and homemade pimento cheese spread was served on crackers at parties. It could also be used as a sandwich filling, making it versatile for entertaining and everyday meals.
13. Spam
Spam is a budget-friendly canned meat that’s shelf-stable and could be prepared in numerous ways.
My dad mentioned Spam being chopped up and mixed with scrambled eggs for breakfast, used in salads, served as part of dinner, or eaten on camping trips.
14. Liver and Onions
Growing up, my dad’s family didn’t serve liver and onions, but he remembers some of his friends’ families would. He said if he found out his friend was having it that day and they invited him over for dinner, he’d kindly decline.
Liver was cheap and nutritious, and when cooked with plenty of onions, it made a complete meal. While not everyone’s favorite, it was an economical protein source that appeared regularly on many family dinner tables.
15. SpaghettiOs
Whether it was Franco-American SpaghettiOs (owned by Campbell’s) or similar Chef Boyardee pasta, these canned classics were kid-friendly and mom-approved, making it easy to feed a family in a pinch.
They were the ultimate convenience food and more of a special treat than an everyday meal.
16. Lil’ Smokies
These little cocktail sausages (also called party sausages) were holiday and party favorites, often served in a sweet and tangy sauce. They were easy to prepare in large quantities and always disappeared quickly.
17. Chipped Beef and Toast (SOS)
Chipped beef on toast consisted of jarred dried salted beef in a white sauce served over toast. Nicknamed “SOS,” it was a common military meal and was sometimes made with ground beef instead of dried beef.
My grandpa disliked this dish because it was served so often in the military, so my dad only ate it a few times growing up. However, many of my dad’s friends ate this regularly since it was an affordable dinner option for many families.
18. Homemade and Canned Stews
Homemade stews were an economical way to use leftover meat and vegetables, while canned stews were convenient to make. Brands like Dinty Moore were pantry staples, perfect for quick and hearty dinners.
