The 1980s: A Surprisingly Healthier Era of Eating?
New York,NY – June 14,2025 – Forget the neon adn big hair! A growing movement suggests the 1980s weren’t just a decade of excess in fashion,but a surprisingly healthier time for the American diet.While today’s food landscape is dominated by fast food and oversized portions, experts are looking back at the ’80s with a newfound thankfulness.
A Return to “Vintage” Nutrition
Health journalist Jodi Velazquez, author of a recent book on diabetes and overweight management, has been studying dietary shifts over the past 40 years. She argues for a return to the nutritional habits of 1985, a time when family dinners were the norm and fast food was a rare treat .Key Differences: Than vs. Now
Velazquez points out a stark contrast between the eating habits of those born before 1990 and those born after, noting that the latter group entered a world saturated with fast food and enormous portion sizes. Specifically, the 1980s featured:
Less frequent Dining Out, Better Quality: People ate out less often, and when they did, the food was generally of higher quality.
Controlled Portions & simple Recipes: Meals were simpler, portions were smaller, and food was often locally sourced.
Limited Sugar Intake: Sugar wasn’t as pervasive in snacks, drinks, and processed foods.
Structured Meal Times: The day revolved around three substantial meals, rather than constant snacking.
This contrasts sharply with today’s habitat where food is everywhere, leading to a constant state of eating and preventing the body from properly resting .
The 80s & the Rise of Health Consciousness (and Fad Diets)
The 1980s did see a growing focus on health and nutrition [[1]]. however, this also coincided with the rise of numerous fad diets, including the Atkins diet, the Grapefruit diet, and the Cabbage Soup Diet
