Growing up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s meant eating some pretty interesting foods that most teenagers today wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Gen X had a unique relationship with food, from canned everything to casseroles that somehow made it onto the dinner table every single week.
While today's teens are all about trendy snacks and viral recipes, Gen Xers hold tight to the comfort foods of their childhood. Get ready for a tasty trip down memory lane!
1. Liver and Onions
Ask any Gen Xer about dinner at grandma's house, and liver and onions will almost certainly come up. This iron-rich dish was a staple in many households during the 70s and 80s, praised by parents for its health benefits.
Today's teenagers, however, tend to wrinkle their noses at the strong, earthy flavor. Gen X learned to appreciate it — even enjoy it — and many still cook it at home for a serious hit of nostalgia.
2. Spam
Spam has been feeding families since 1937, and Gen X grew up eating it fried, sliced cold, or tucked into sandwiches without a second thought. It was cheap, shelf-stable, and surprisingly versatile.
Most teenagers today scroll past Spam recipes with pure confusion, but Gen Xers know the magic of a crispy Spam slice on white bread. Hawaii even made Spam musubi a cultural icon, proving this humble canned meat still has serious fans worldwide.
3. Jell-O Salad
Nothing screams 1970s potluck quite like a jiggly, fruit-filled Jell-O salad sitting proudly on a folding table. Gen X ate these at family gatherings, holiday dinners, and church socials without batting an eye.
The concept of mixing gelatin with vegetables, fruit, or even cream cheese baffles most teenagers today. But for Gen X, that wobbling mold of lime green Jell-O packed with crushed pineapple is basically a warm hug from the past.
4. Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast
Affectionately nicknamed something unprintable by soldiers, creamed chipped beef on toast was a budget-friendly meal that showed up on Gen X dinner tables with surprising regularity. It's salty, creamy, and oddly satisfying.
Teenagers today might look at a plate of this and genuinely not know what they're seeing. Gen X, though, often remembers it fondly as a Saturday morning breakfast their dad made — simple, filling, and strangely delicious in a way that's hard to explain.
5. Vienna Sausages
Tiny, pale, and packed in a little pull-tab can — Vienna sausages were a Gen X snack staple. Kids ate them straight from the can, often at lunchtime or on road trips when real cooking wasn't happening.
Today's teenagers tend to prefer artisan hot dogs or gourmet sausages, making the humble Vienna seem almost alien. Still, Gen X reaches for that familiar little can with zero shame, because sometimes the simplest snacks carry the biggest memories.
6. Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole was the weeknight hero of every Gen X household. Canned tuna, egg noodles, cream of mushroom soup, and crushed crackers on top — it was economical, easy, and somehow always hit the spot.
Teenagers raised on DoorDash and gourmet ramen aren't exactly lining up for this one. But Gen X remembers watching it bubble in the oven and feeling genuinely excited for dinner, which says everything about the power of a really good casserole.
7. Deviled Eggs
Every Gen X family had that one aunt who showed up to every gathering with a deviled egg tray, and honestly, those eggs disappeared faster than anything else on the table. They're creamy, tangy, and perfectly portable.
Younger generations sometimes skip them entirely, gravitating toward trendier appetizers instead. Gen X, however, knows that a well-made deviled egg — with just the right amount of mustard and a dusting of paprika — is basically perfection in two bites.
8. Cottage Cheese
Back in the 80s, cottage cheese was everywhere — on diet plates, paired with canned peaches, or scooped next to a sad iceberg lettuce wedge. Gen X ate it without complaint and many actually grew to love its mild, creamy texture.
Today's teenagers largely find it unappealing, preferring Greek yogurt or smoothie bowls. Funny enough, cottage cheese is actually making a quiet comeback online, which means Gen X was ahead of the curve all along.
9. Bologna Sandwiches
Before artisan deli meats were a thing, bologna was the lunchbox king. Gen X kids peeled apart those plastic-wrapped slices every single day, slapping them between two pieces of white bread with mustard and calling it a meal.
Teenagers today might opt for turkey avocado wraps or banh mi, but there's something deeply comforting about a cold bologna sandwich that Gen Xers just can't shake. It's simple, cheap, and loaded with childhood memories.
10. Pot Roast
Sunday pot roast was practically a religious experience in Gen X households. The smell of beef slow-cooking with carrots and potatoes filled the house for hours, building anticipation for a meal that felt like a reward for surviving the week.
Many teenagers today lean toward faster, trendier meals and rarely encounter a proper pot roast. Gen X, though, holds this dish close to their hearts — it represents family, patience, and the kind of cooking that takes real love to pull off.
11. Canned Vegetables
Fresh vegetables weren't always on the menu in Gen X homes — canned green beans, corn, and peas were the reliable backup plan. They were mushy, a little salty, and honestly not that exciting, but they got the job done.
Today's food culture celebrates farm-fresh and frozen-at-peak produce, making canned veggies seem old-fashioned. Yet many Gen Xers still keep a stash of canned corn in the pantry, partly out of habit and partly because it genuinely feels like home.
12. Fruit Cocktail from a Can
Canned fruit cocktail was the dessert that required zero effort and somehow felt fancy anyway. Those little maraschino cherry halves mixed with pears, peaches, and grapes in sweet syrup were a Gen X childhood treat that appeared at nearly every family dinner.
Teenagers today have acai bowls and fancy fruit platters, so canned fruit cocktail rarely makes the cut. But crack one open in front of a Gen Xer and watch their face light up — pure, uncomplicated joy in a can.
13. Meatloaf
Meatloaf gets a bad reputation, but Gen X will defend it passionately. A properly made meatloaf — seasoned well, topped with a sweet ketchup glaze, and served alongside mashed potatoes — is one of the most satisfying meals ever invented.
Teenagers often associate meatloaf with school cafeteria disappointment, which is completely understandable. But homemade meatloaf is a different beast entirely, and Gen X knows this truth deeply, having grown up eating it on cold weeknights when nothing else could warm you up faster.
14. Pickled Beets
Pickled beets were a staple side dish in Gen X homes, often sitting in a glass jar in the back of the fridge alongside other mysterious pickled things. They're sweet, tangy, and turn everything around them a dramatic shade of purple.
Most teenagers today give pickled beets a hard pass, but Gen X appreciates the bold flavor that pairs surprisingly well with everything from salads to sandwiches. Did you know beets were considered a luxury food in ancient Rome?
Now that's a fun dinner table fact.
15. Sardines
Sardines might be the most polarizing food on this list. Gen X watched their parents and grandparents eat them straight from the tin on crackers, and many picked up the habit themselves without much resistance.
Packed with omega-3s and protein, sardines are actually incredibly nutritious — but try convincing a teenager of that. The smell alone sends most teens running.
Gen X, unfazed by the pungent aroma, knows that a sardine on a Ritz cracker is a perfectly acceptable afternoon snack.
16. Ambrosia Salad
Ambrosia salad sounds like something from ancient mythology, and to Gen X, it practically was legendary. Mini marshmallows, coconut flakes, mandarin oranges, and Cool Whip folded together into a fluffy, sweet cloud of deliciousness — it appeared at every holiday feast.
Teenagers today might mistake it for a dessert gone wrong, but Gen X knows ambrosia occupies its own special category somewhere between salad and heaven. It's sweet, creamy, and completely unapologetic about what it is.
17. Chicken Livers
Chicken livers were a budget-friendly protein that Gen X families turned into something genuinely tasty with the right seasoning and a hot skillet. Fried crispy with onions and a little garlic, they're rich, flavorful, and filling.
Teenagers today are generally horrified by the idea of eating organ meat, which is a shame nutritionally speaking. Gen X grew up in a waste-not culture where every part of the chicken was fair game, and that practical, resourceful mindset stuck around well into adulthood.
18. Prune Juice
Prune juice has a reputation problem, mostly because it's been the butt of jokes about aging for decades. But Gen X grew up in homes where prune juice sat right next to the orange juice in the fridge, completely without irony.
Rich in potassium and fiber, it's actually a powerhouse drink that does your body real favors. Teenagers associate it exclusively with grandparents, but Gen X knows better — and more than a few quietly pour themselves a glass without mentioning it to anyone.
19. Succotash
Succotash — a hearty mix of lima beans and corn — has been an American staple since Native American communities first combined the two ingredients centuries ago. Gen X ate it as a side dish at family dinners and learned to genuinely enjoy the combination.
Lima beans alone are enough to make most teenagers shudder, so succotash doesn't stand much of a chance with younger crowds. Gen X, raised on a full vegetable spectrum without negotiation, still appreciates this colorful, satisfying dish for what it truly is.
20. Fruitcake
Fruitcake is basically the most mocked food in holiday history, yet Gen X keeps buying it every December without apology. Dense, loaded with candied fruits and nuts, and soaked in enough brandy to fuel a small engine — it's an acquired taste that Gen X acquired young.
Teenagers joke that fruitcakes are indestructible and last forever, which is actually not far from the truth. But Gen X doesn't care about the jokes.
A slice of fruitcake with a cup of coffee is a holiday tradition worth protecting at all costs.
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