Food and Drinks They Told Us Were Healthy in the ’80s

In 1980, the United States government issued its first-ever dietary guidelines.

We were all told that fat in food was our enemy. But instead, they made everything highly processed and packed with sugar and artificial sweeteners.

So, here are some food and drinks that they said were healthy in the ’80s.

1. Fruit juice. One cup of OJ has the same amount of sugar as FIVE oranges. 100% freshly squeezed is your healthiest option.

2. Granola bars. You can find healthy brands nowadays, but for a while, a lot of granola bars were loaded with preservatives and sugar.

3. Lean Cuisine. Remember these bad boys? Low in protein, and high in sodium. Some of them were delicious. Too delicious, in fact.

4. Diet soda. For years, diet sodas were marketed as the healthier alternative to full-sugar soda. But the aspartame in diet soda can cause weight gain and other negative side effects.

5. Cereal. Have all the cute mascots been tricking us? Cereal is ultra processed and usually high in saturated fats and sugars. The bright artificial colors should’ve been a dead giveaway.

6. Sports drinks. Gatorade and Powerade were sold as a healthy way to get hydrated. But most people aren’t sweating enough to justify it. Instead, you’re just chugging a whole lot of sugar.

7. Dairy milk. Milk commercials were a way of life in the ’80s. If you wanted strong bones, you drank a lot of milk. Now if you drink too much milk, you spend extra time on the toilet.

Also on the list was margarine . . . low-fat yogurt . . . veggie patties . . . rice cakes . . . SlimFast shakes . . . soy milk . . . and sugar-free candy.

(Tasting Table)