Children have been asking, “What’s for dinner?” for a long time, and the responses often change based on location and time period. In the past, people could only eat what they hunted or gathered. Foods from the medieval period differ from those in the 19th century, and meals that grandparents enjoyed when they were young are not the same as what kids eat today. For example, in the 1970s, people did not have the option to order food online. A discussion on Reddit about what people born before 1970 typically had for dinner revealed many common dishes that many Americans grew up eating. Some of the popular meals included meatloaf, beef stroganoff, pork chops, and chop suey. Many relied on convenience foods like Shake ‘n Bake, Hamburger Helper, and TV dinners, which became popular through Swanson in 1954. Canned fruits and vegetables were also common, as well as Jell-O.
Some individuals shared what they remembered. One person described having overcooked pork chops, minute rice, canned green beans, and canned fruit cocktail. They recalled spaghetti with ground beef using a sauce from a packet, pot roast cooked with Lipton onion soup mix, and frozen peas. They also mentioned enjoying Chef Boyardee pizza mix and LaChoy chop suey, always served with a jug of milk.
Another user noted a repeated menu at home. They recounted meals that included goulash, which was mainly ground beef with spices and tomatoes, and chicken Diane that was often overcooked. Meatloaf was a favorite, topped with ketchup, and rice was a staple, cooked in an aluminum rice cooker. They also recalled a monthly treat of Chef Boyardee pizza from a tube, which they remember fondly.
A third person shared a typical dinner layout. They often had a hamburger patty or braised steak with a green salad and canned vegetables, like peas or corn. Occasionally, they enjoyed baked potatoes, while chicken was cooked in a flour mix for oven-fried chicken every couple of weeks. They mentioned getting affordable beef from a cousin and noted their dislike for liver night, with ice milk often served for dessert.
One family provided a detailed weekly meal plan. Sundays featured spaghetti and salad; Mondays included roast chicken with a side and vegetable; Tuesdays had pork chops with similar sides; Wednesdays repeated the spaghetti and salad; Thursdays involved steak, while Fridays showcased breaded and fried fish. Saturdays often returned to steak as well, with desserts like supermarket ice cream or pie.
Others noted that common meals included stroganoff with egg noodles, pot roast, Swiss steak, chicken cacciatore, and fried chicken. These meals reflected a meat-and-potatoes background, especially for those with parents from the Midwest, and typically included a vegetable and starch.
What meals do you remember from your childhood?
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Source: Upworthy, by Annie Reneau