25 Old-School Foods People Swear By
If you think about foods your grandparents might enjoy, a few things come to mind: Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts, Cream of Wheat, oatmeal — the list goes on. All of these cereals are unquestionably "old person foods," and despite their reputations, people of all ages love 'em.
I say the term "old person foods" with no hate — I personally love Raisin Bran and can't tell you how many times my friends have poked fun at me for buying it.
I knew I wasn't the only person who loved this category of food, so I asked Tasty readers about the "old person foods" they simply can't get enough of. Hundreds of people replied with their grandparent-approved grocery staples and recipes, and I'm honestly taking notes for my next grocery run. Here are 25 responses, as told by the Tasty Community:
"Werther's Originals. I don't care that having them rolling around in my purse makes me feel like I'm 80. They are delicious."
—Karen, 34, Texas
"I love oatmeal and Cream of Wheat for breakfast, especially the more 'old person' flavors such as raisin, date, and walnut!"
"I love Ambrosia Salad. Light, fluffy, fruity, sorta sweet. It's perfect for a summer dessert when anything else feels heavy."
—Lunamyluna
"Meatloaf, Raisin Bran, and oatmeal with peanut butter in it. I'm only 43 years old, but wow, this is good stuff!"
"Oh my god, prunes! Especially the ones soaked in a little cherry juice. They're so good, but people act like I'm wild if I pull them out of my lunchbox! Nothing wrong with taking care of your gut with something tasty!"
"I hate to say it, and I hope I don't sound ridiculous, but beans. Black, pinto, navy, refried — you name it. What I love most about beans, beyond being high in protein and how cheap and easy they are, is their versatility. They make a great side dish or can be the main dish all on their own. I don't care if liking beans makes me an old fart, they're delicious and nutritious and for that I gotta give 'em love."
—Alex, 27, Arkansas
"Bourbon pecan ice cream! It's crunchy, creamy, and a classic."
"Grape nuts. I know that no one knows what they actually are, and my children say they break your teeth when you eat them, but I think they're so good! Plus, eating a bowl will keep you full for a solid six-plus hours! That's called sticking to your ribs, kids!"
"Tuna noodle casserole! I learned it in Home Ec, and I've perfected it over the years."
—Ginny Jensen
"Tapioca pudding. My 15-year-old makes fun of me for it all the time."
"Cucumber sandwich: cucumber slices with mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Yummy!"
"Every day is best when capped with a fig and Jeopardy. My grandma and I agree."
—protrout978
"Bread pudding or pistachio ice cream. My friends call me an old man every time I talk about how good those two things are."
"I always keep an Entenmann's Coffee Cake on hand just in case company shows up."
"Fig Newtons."
—Jenna, Threads
"Liver and onions. I'm 33 and absolutely love it."
"Lemon meringue pie."
"Warm cornbread with butter and molasses."
—Shawna, Instagram
"Boston Baked Beans (the candy) and burnt peanuts. My friends have made fun of my old lady candy."
"Porridge every morning, and if I have something else besides it, I actually miss not eating it."
"Butter cookies that come in tins. That stuff slaps."
—Ashley, Instagram
"Cottage cheese with Dorothy Lynch dressing."
"One of my favorite side dishes is a 'salad' made of shredded carrots, raisins, and mayonnaise. IDK, man, it's just good."
"Liverwurst! Also brown butter spätzle."
—Kyle, 36, Colorado
"Sun-brewed tea. My grandmother would put iced tea bags (and a TON of real sugar) in a large covered pitcher and set it outside in direct sunlight for a few hours. Not the fastest way to make tea, but hers was the best tea I've ever had. Unfortunately, apartment living makes it hard for me to sun-brew on my own, but I definitely dream of her sweet tea."
What are some of your favorite "old person" foods? Let us know in the comments, or fill out the anonymous form below!
If you're looking to satisfy your craving for nostalgic dishes, download the Tasty app, where you can find anything from bread pudding to meatloaf — no subscription required.
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