20 Retro Foods Only Boomers Still Eat

It seems unlikely now, but give it a few decades, and some Gen Alpha writer will probably be cranking out a list of foods only Gen Z still eats — all that matcha, boba, Dubai chocolate, and whatever else they’re into. That’s just how generational food fads go. It’s never really about the trends or the snacks themselves; it’s about the memories that stick with you. 

So in that spirit, here’s a list of food relics that only Boomers are still keeping alive. 

No Gen Z with self-respect would even think about trying this “salad,” especially one that’s wobbly. But when Boomers were kids, Jell-O was big — like, really big. Adding canned fruit, marshmallows, or even carrots to a Jell-O mold and watching it set in the fridge was part of the fabric of their childhoods, so it makes sense. 

Boomers grew up when dinner could come straight out of a can — canned tuna, canned soup, dried noodles, all baked together and called a casserole. They never outgrew it, and you cannot blame them for it, because it tastes better than it sounds. 

Spreading liver sausage on Ritz crackers feels like a ritual Boomers won’t give up — even if the name alone scares most guests away. 

 Your grandparents probably told you this was “good for you,” and Boomers actually listened. Even if most of us wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot fork. 

Pretty sure this was born in a TV dinner tray. Boomers still talk about it like it’s homemade, but let’s be honest — it’s basically a hamburger drowning in brown gravy.

Americans’ love for gelatin-based dishes has faded over the years, even though meat and vegetables suspended in savory jelly were once king. Show me one Gen Z who doesn’t gag at the sight of aspic, and I’ll show you three who’ll devour it before you can say “Jell-O.” 

Boomers never really moved past meatloaf. There’s something about that big, loaf-shaped hunk of seasoned meat topped with ketchup that older generations still cling to, probably because it was cheap, easy, and could feed a crowd. Plus, it gives them an excuse to make mashed potatoes, so there is that.  

There’s nothing inherently wrong with deviled eggs — they just sort of went out of fashion, like perms and carrying a Blockbuster card. But not for Boomers who will, without the blink of an eye, bring them to every given potluck. 

Boomers never broke up with Spam. It’s one of those foods that, by all means, you know has limited nutritional value, but it’s what your mom gave you for dinner with mayo and American cheese. It’s childhood.  

This, just like Spam, has way more nostalgic value than any real flavor or nutrition. Boomers still eat it because it reminds them of their Batman metal lunchbox and the Twinkie that came for dessert — and that’s just kind of cute. 

Cool Whip, marshmallows, and a fruit cocktail walk into a bowl. What to Gen Z seems like the setup to a joke, Boomers never questioned — they just kept making it. Some traditions stick, even the sticky ones. 

Fruitcake’s been the butt of every holiday joke forever — mainly because it looks like a brick, weighs about as much and could survive a nuclear apocalypse. But, call it nostalgia, call it stubbornness, call it whatever — Boomers will fight you for a big, fat slice every Christmas like it’s sacred. 

Nothing screams Boomer picnic like a tub of creamy, mayo-heavy salad grabbed straight off the grocery store deli counter. 

Here’s a peak Boomer party food. Beans, sour cream, salsa, cheese — just keep stacking until you hit seven and call it a day. 

Nothing says “dinner in five minutes flat” quite like Hamburger Helper. Boomers still make it because it’s foolproof — brown some ground beef, add the noodles and seasoning, and call it a night. It’s never going to win a cooking show, but that was never the point.

Long before anyone was arguing about gluten, Boomers were happily munching these slightly sweet, crunchy squares — and they still do. 

Excuse me while I, as a millennial, make a case for cottage cheese — because this stuff is a legit protein powerhouse and honestly tastes better than most creamy cheeses. That said, popular opinion still paints it as a Boomer food. Probably because Boomers will mix it with anything: pineapple, peaches, green peppers, you name it.

Here’s another one this millennial will gladly stand up for. I’d normally poke fun at Boomers for clinging to quiche, except it’s literally what I have for lunch. And honestly, what’s wrong with it? Was it ever really a food fad? It’s delicious and a nutritional champion and it’s got everything you need: eggs, cheese, veggies — enough to keep you going all afternoon. 

It’s the kind of breakfast Boomers cling to like they’re still waiting for Walter Cronkite to tell them what’s up. Nobody under 50 is reaching for a box of this unless they lost a bet. 

It looks like dessert caught in a rainstorm, and right now it barely stands a chance among less texture-loud sweets. But it’s still a spoonful for Boomers.