We Ate These 20 Foods Without Question Back In The Day—Now Kids Won’t Go Near Them

Remember when dinner meant whatever was on the table and you ate it without a second thought? Times have changed. From classic casseroles to once-beloved lunchbox staples, plenty of foods that used to be completely normal are now getting the cold shoulder from today’s kids. Whether it’s changing tastes, trends, or just pickier palates, these throwback favorites don’t hit the same anymore. Take a look at the foods we grew up with that kids today simply won’t touch.

Shepherd’s Pie Kids Won’t Touch Today

A spoon full of shepherd's Pie. — The Shepherd’s Pie Everyone Used to Make. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This meat-and-potato classic once appeared on every dinner table. Modern kids often wrinkle their noses at this hearty throwback.
Get the Recipe: Classic Shepherd’S Pie Recipe With Ground Beef

Chicken and Dumplings From Back Then

Close-up of a bowl of chicken and dumplings. — The Chicken and Dumplings You Grew Up With. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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This slow-cooked comfort once meant love on a plate. Today’s kids rarely get to taste this childhood favorite.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken and Dumplings with Steamed Biscuits

The Pink Fruit Salad Nobody Eats Now

ambrosia salad in a white bowl. — That Pink Fruit Salad at Every Gathering. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This creamy ambrosia once graced every holiday table. Kids today pass it by without a second thought.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

Grandma’s Snack Tin Everyone Forgot

A basket of cheese straws next to glassesof wine. — The Snack Tin Everyone’s Grandma Had. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Crispy cheese straws once filled every tin and basket. Today, homemade versions are nearly forgotten by young eaters.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cheese Straws With Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Diner-Style Fried Apples Kids Skip

Sliced apples cooked in cinnamon sauce. — Fried Apples Like the Diner Used to Serve. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

These sweet skillet apples were once a diner staple. Now, they’re a nostalgic bite most kids avoid.
Get the Recipe: Fried Apples

The Church Casserole Kids Ignore Today

A plate of rice covered with poppy seed chicken. — The Church Casserole Everyone Remembered. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This crunchy-topped poppy seed chicken was a potluck legend. Today, it’s a forgotten comfort food among young eaters.
Get the Recipe: Southern Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

Mom’s Smothered Pork Chops Few Eat

A plate with a pork chop over rice. — Smothered Pork Chops Like Mom Made. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Rich, slow-cooked pork chops once ruled weeknight dinners. Now, kids rarely reach for this classic comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Southern Smothered Pork Chops with Boursin Gravy

Honey Pork Chops Forgotten Today

A pecan honey glazed pork chop on a plate with a fork. — Sweet Pork Chops from Another Era. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Honey-glazed pork chops were a sweet-and-savory dinner staple. Most kids today wouldn’t touch this retro flavor.
Get the Recipe: Pecan Pork Chops With Honey Gla ze

Meatloaf Kids Won’t Eat Anymore

A close-up of meatloaf slices. — The Meatloaf Everyone Ate Growing Up. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Oatmeal meatloaf was once a weekly dinner hero. Today, it rarely appears on younger generations’ plates.
Get the Recipe: A Perfectly Moist Meatloaf Made With Oatmeal

Chicken Soup From Back in the Day

The Chicken Soup Everyone Swore By. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

This slow-simmered soup once cured colds and bad days alike. Few kids today see it on the menu at home.
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Retro Mac and Cheese Kids Skip

Two plates of pimento mac and cheese. — Mac and Cheese with a Retro Twist. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Pimento-filled mac and cheese once surprised every dinner guest. Now, kids rarely choose this cheesy classic.
Get the Recipe: Southern Style Baked Mac And Cheese With Pimentos

Old-School Shrimp and Grits

A platter of shrimp and grits. — Shrimp and Grits Before It Was Trendy. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This Southern classic was home-cooked long before it hit menus. Modern kids often skip it without a second thought.
Get the Recipe: Southern Shrimp And Grits

All-Day Dumplings Kids Avoid

A bowl of hearty chicken and dumplings soup. — The Dumplings That Took All Day. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This painstaking dumpling recipe once required hours of effort. Today, it’s rarely made for young eaters.
Get the Recipe: Southern Chicken And Dumplings With Steamed Biscuits

One-Pot Dinners Kids Ignore Now

A spoon full of chicken and rice. — The One-Pot Dinner Families Relied On. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This quick casserole once rescued busy families. Now, kids rarely get to enjoy this practical classic.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Southwest Chicken And Rice Casserole

Pot Roast Weekends Kids Skip

A close-up of slow cooker pot roast with gravy. — The Pot Roast Sundays Were Built On. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This slow-cooked pot roast once anchored family Sundays. Today, kids rarely reach for this hearty classic.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pot Roast With Homemade Mushroom Gravy

Classic Buttermilk Pie Kids Skip Today

A buttermilk pie that has been cut into slices. — Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This creamy buttermilk pie was once a family staple everyone devoured. Today, it’s a nostalgic treat that modern kids often avoid.
Get the Recipe: Southern Recipe For A Buttermilk Pie

Candied Pecans You Don’t See at Parties

Roasted pecans in a skillet with the sugar and spices. — Roasted Candied Pecans. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Candied pecans were once the highlight of holiday snack trays. Nowadays, this sweet treat feels like a rare taste of childhood.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Candied Pecans

Hummingbird Cake Kids Won’t Touch Now

A frosted hummingbird cake next to a knife. — Frost and sprinkle with pecans.

This banana-pineapple cake was a fixture at birthdays and potlucks. Today, it’s a surprising blast from the past most kids skip.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese-Frosted Hummingbird Cake

Boiled Peanuts: The Snack Kids Ignore

A bowl of boiled peanuts. — Southern Boiled Peanuts In A Dutch Oven. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Boiled peanuts were a roadside favorite for generations. Now, only a few adventurous eaters still enjoy this salty classic.
Get the Recipe: Southern Boiled Peanuts In A Dutch Oven

Bourbon Baked Beans Kids Skip Today

Smoky Bourbon Baked Beans with Apples and Bacon. Photo credit: State of Dinner.

This hearty side with bacon, apples, and bourbon was an Easter staple. Today, modern kids often pass on this smoky classic.
Get the Recipe: Smoky Bourbon Baked Beans with Apples and Bacon

Remember These? 14 American Foods That Are Quietly Falling Out of Favor

A collage of four dishes—foods still alive in small town America: apple salad with raisins and walnuts, creamy mushroom noodles, a skillet casserole topped with potato chips, and roast beef with brown gravy and carrots.

From comforting classics to convenience foods that ruled past decades, these American favorites are quietly disappearing from everyday menus. Some may spark nostalgia, others curiosity—but all raise the same question: do people still eat these anymore?
Grab it here: Remember These? 14 American Foods That Are Quietly Falling Out of Favor

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