Is food even food if someone’s not around to photograph it? Back in the 1980s, there were Polaroids, but no cell phone cameras — or cell phones. But believe it or not, food existed somehow. And it wasn’t that much different than it is today.
Instead of hipsters, there were Gen-Xers who got off on eating sugary and overly processed foods to numb themselves to the hard truth that Netflix didn’t yet exist. Today’s consumers are way more health and image conscious; packaging matters as much as the taste, if not more. Back in the “Decade of Excess,” it was all about flavor and sugar dosing. What else was there to do in the 80s besides crash? Here are 15 “hipster” foods and their 1980s equivalent.
2017: Avocado Toast
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW-P_Bsg_by
1980s: Bagels And Cream Cheese
The combo was the best thing you ever ate.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVBNtFHgKYE
2017: Craft Beer
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBnqnYA1Ek
1980s: Wine Coolers
Nobody was cooler than Bartles & James.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIEtzm6A5d2
2017: Overnight Oats
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXAAFHeFGsm
1980s: Granola
And not just sprinkled atop acai bowls as a garnish. Like, and entire bowl dedicated to granola. Back then, it was considered “hippy food.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBkeirBplC
2017: Smoothie Bowl
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBnkK6ghIT
1980s: Yogurt Parfait
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW-pwi1hFjQ
2017: Vegetable Chips
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVBfn-ylcyr
1980s: Flavored Popcorn
If someone really liked you, they’d give you a sampler bucket.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BB35hoSHdEP
2017: Freeze-Dried Fruit
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxnqMVBC8E
1980s: Fruit Roll-Ups
https://www.instagram.com/p/BU7iMXXgVwL
2017: Sweet Potato Fries
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXAOpGKFDb9/
1980s: Potato Skins
“What are calories?” — 1980s.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWQGMORDQvB/
2017: Toast
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXAlzODjClF
1980s: Bran Muffins
This was the go-to to-go breakfast in the 80s mainly for its health benefits, because fiber.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW5TqjOlQXa
2017: Jackfruit
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBSVD5jQux
1980s: Steak-Umms
Unlike jackfruit, Steak-Umms were not a vegan meat substitute. But like jackfruit, the stuff couldn’t really be classified as meat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUr0Mv0lSOe
2017: Fro-Yo
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXBEFxeAzyu
1980s: Frozen Yogurt
Same thing, just more gummy bears.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSRX8qEAO1b
2017: Sriracha
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXA7nTIl2uV
1980s: Ranch Dressing
It made everything taste better.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BU29jNpAIsC
2017: Balsamic
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXA1nGYluvP
1980s: Raspberry Vinaigrette
It was on every spinach salad that was ever born in the 80s. Most of the time, those same salads already contained fruit, usually strawberries or the always classy dried cranberries.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWbqoj1lQD8/
2017: La Croix
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW2Zc5ZBgyk
1980s: New York Seltzer
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW0h9QmBZ_k
2017: Cereal Milk Ice Cream
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWnBXOZAOBs
1980s: Jell-O Pudding Pops
Back when they had a more positive connotation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BHNtPLSjjNd
2017: Pressed Juices
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxclgyAXi7
1980s: Capri Sun
The original pressed juice.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BW3Wjuel-cG
