These Ridiculous Diet and Food Ads From the 80s and 90s Will Actually Shock You
These Ridiculous Diet and Food Ads From the 80s and 90s Will Actually Shock You
Nutrition guidelines get an update every five years because new research emerges about certain diets, the health benefits of different foods, and the role of eating habits. And the more we learn, the more info we have to make healthy food choices. So when you think back over the past few decades, you might remember how fast food seemed like the ultimate convenience (and menus lacked smaller, better-for-you options).
A jog down memory lane will also remind you of a time when fat-free and sugar-free snacks and desserts were all the craze, and when sodas and other sugary drinks stocked most families’ refrigerators over water and milk. To show you just how far we’ve come with nutrition science and today’s healthy eating guidelines, we rounded up the most ridiculous food commercials from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, so you can see what types of foods came into the scene and the trends we’re so glad we put on ice.
Slice
The 80s were all about jingles, and this one will definitely have you bopping to the beat. But it’s for a soft drink that touts having 10 percent fruit juice…10 percent! While that number is incredibly low to begin with (what else is in there?!), we also know that fruit juice isn’t really our go-to drink for staying hydrated or reaping the benefits of disease-fighting antioxidants and fiber. Nice try, though, Slice.
McDonald’s
Remember when you could supersize your whole meal at McDonald’s? Apparently, it was even better in the summertime, according to this ad. It’s even crazier to think that many of the super-sized meals of the 80s and 90s is exactly what you’ll find in the regular McDonald’s menu today. We all know the downfalls of that extra-large portion-size plan. Anything with “quarter,” “double,” and “super” are red flags for calorie landmines.
Tab
You might recall Tab, a soft drink that tastes a lot like a Coke, except it had only calorie per drink, thanks to its use of artificial sweeteners. But now we know that “sugar-free” doesn’t necessarily mean healthy and that sugar substitutes can cause gastrointestinal distress. We do love the shout out to pull-ups and bike riding in this ad, though.
Pringles
Caffeine-Free 7 Up
7 Up’s commercials have fun jingles and songs you’d want to sing along to, but this ad particularly focuses on the zero caffeine content of 7 Up. While you want to monitor your caffeine intake, we’ve learned that coffee has many benefits and can boost physical and mental performance. Bottom line: Caffeine-free isn’t always the “healthier” option when it comes to choosing the best drink.
Wendy’s
Here’s a classic commercial that some people probably still remember. The ladies in the ad are talking about the size of the patty when they ask “where’s the beef?,” but these days, people also question where the beef actually comes from and the quality of the beef in the burgers served at fast food restaurants. The best option? Grass-fed beef you buy from a local shop to make your own burgers at home.
Heinz Salad Cream
This commercial comes from the UK, but it’s too silly not to share. You already know that certain salad dressings can pile on calories and fat—and one with the word “cream” in it doesn’t necessarily denote a low-calorie option.
Sugar-free Jell-O
While the 90s started the fat-free craze, the 80s loved anything sugar-free. Take this Jell-O ad, for example. Jell-O is a treat that’s meant to serve your sweet tooth, except it doesn’t actually have any sugar in it. Sugar substitutes have zero calories, but they can deepen your cravings for more sweets instead of trying to tame them. Some experts argue it’s best to go for the real thing and in this case, we say opt for some fruit instead.
Josta
We have to admit that this commercial is quite clever, but it’s for an energy drink by PepsiCo, one of the first on the food scene. While energy drinks still take up space on shelves, we also know they should be sipped with care, considering some people have gone to the hospital for consuming this type of beverage. There are also more natural energy drinks out there that rely on healthier ingredients, like tea.
Crystal Pepsi
Let’s be honest, this video is pretty epic. The song, the messages—it’s definitely attention-grabbing. But considering one of the captions reads, “right now someone just got a taste of the future,” and the fact that Crystal Pepsi only had a short stint on the market, we’d say they got it wrong on this one.
Spam Lite
The 90s called and they want their fat back because we now understand how important the macronutrient is for a healthy, satisfying diet. Everything was made “lighter” back in the day, meaning food companies cut down on fat for many products—including Hormel’s canned spam. Here’s your diet ad to prove it.
Snickers
In the mid-90s, Snickers used most of their ads to show that the sweet treat could cure hunger and give you energy throughout the day. While it’s A-OK to occasionally enjoy a Snickers bar for dessert or a special treat, we recommend having a slice of toast with natural peanut butter (or better yet, celery with peanut butter) as a better way to boost your energy than a candy bar.
Entenmann’s Fat-Free Cakes
Another ad riding the fat-free-everything wave, this commercial says it’s OK to eat this cake because it has no fat and cholesterol, and comes in at under 100 calories per serving. But a full-fat version is much more filling and will keep you satisfied for hours.
Kraft Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Fat definitely got a bad rap in the 90s, hence why you'll see hundreds of food and diet ads of products made without the essential macronutrient. This Kraft commercial for fat-free salad dressings says it still tastes great, but it’s probably best to just go for a naturally lighter dressing that you can make at home, like a balsamic vinegar or olive oil with fresh lemon juice.
Diet Pills
Whether it’s the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, you’ll always find diet and weight-loss pills on the market. And the ads will likely look similar to these two for Dextrim and Control supplements, meant to squash your appetite. All we can say: Skip the pills and go for whole foods, not many of which you’ll find on this list of diet ads.
We rounded up the most shocking food and diet ads from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, so you can see what food trends we’re so glad we put on ice.