Gross Food We Ate in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s

Just because you can, does not mean that you should.

While the 1950s were a decade of innovative change and prosperity following years of rationing and shortages, it was the 1960’s that saw the introduction of mass production. In the late ’60s, 70’s and 80’s with new technologies available in small appliances, we see a movement in food presentation, going from simple family nutrition to avant-garde globs.

And for the love of glob, why, why didn’t they lay off the jello!

Hmmm, this is meant to be ‘ground beef’ AKA mince, stuffed in cabbage and steamed. But it’s Danish inspired so it must be on trend. Serve this bog stuffed, fart ball at your next dinner party!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Flickr

A true food innovation of the 1930’s, the canned pork Spam gained such notoriety that it has sold over 7 billion cans. And one of those cans went into artfully creating these gag worthy delicacies, Spam cupcakes – A sweet and salty delight!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via trendhuntercom

Spam and Lima  beans, ‘Ah’ inspiring. Yes it will be ‘Ah’ inspiring after your digestive system stages a gassy protest! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrp! Clear the bedroom after this bad boy!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

Spam and Peach – gay and delicious enough for a party! Fiesta! A fiesta of an entire meal out of cans!

Retrospaceorg

Salads served in jelly? Oh my glob.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via vintageamericanadvertisementsblogspotcom

Prawns served in jelly… Seriously?

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via badanduglyofretrofoodcom

WTF is jelly the main ingredient in these recipes? I bet this comes out the other end looking exactly the same!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via indochinekitchencom

Oh. My. I don’t even know what this is, but I’m going to assume its more gelatinous meat.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

And now gelatinous boiled eggs…

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via moninicom

And now more fiesta food. In jelly!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via badanduglyofretrofoodcom

Oh God there’s more…

Party Potato Salad? When a bowl is so yesterday.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

Shepherds Pie in the Shape of an Igloo… With a side of more shit in jelly.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

Ham and Banana Hollandaise… WTF are they thinking?

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum

Still more outrageously gross food next page…

Pineapple Jello Rings you can make right in the can! Probably the least vile thing on this list.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via foodcom

You can’t turn sausages into a roast dinner – or can you? And it’s Weight Watchers no less!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

Ham Salad Supreme. Yes, supremely screwed up! There is a common theme of reshaping food in a very unnatural state.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Flickr

Cheese is not what I expected to find, inside a lettuce. And how are you supposed to eat that? Like a wedge of pizza? Mmmm delicious!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Flickr

The glistening ring of horror stuffed with creamy potato salad. I think my dog once hurled up something that resembled this. And then the cat ate it.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Flickr

Dunno what this is, don’t want to know. Either way it looks like the perfect vehicle for salmonella.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

Holy shit! Since when were you ever supposed to be able to spread a burger!

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via kookychowcom

Did you know people are still hollowing out bread and stuffing it with random ingredients? Nowadays they use artisinal cob loaves.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Flickr

These foods are seriously making me WTF too much..

Oh my, another mid-century marvel.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via midcenturymenucom

If your souffle looks like this, you’re doing it wrong.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Buzzfeed

Cabbage Grapefruit Salad… and it includes the recipe! Don’t ever make it. Ever.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via Flickr

A Mustard Ring… No really.

Gross food we ate in the 50's, 60's and 70's | Stay At Home Mum
via badanduglyofretrofoodcom

Meat Chunk Salad. Note to self: Avoid anything that contains the word ‘chunk’ and looks like vomit.

Flickrrrrr

Fundamentally in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, there was a gross misuse of jelly and an unnecessary compulsion to shape food into non food shapes. Heinous crimes against food really.

Chef Gordon Ramsay wouldn’t be pleased.

What other gross food do you know of?

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Stay at Home Mum (SAHM) is Australia’s trusted resource for families who want to live smarter, save more, and enjoy simple, affordable living. Since 2011, SAHM has published thousands of practical articles, recipes, and money-saving tips that help real parents navigate everyday life. The brand’s content is guided by real-world experience, expert contributors, and a loyal community of readers.

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