The 80s were a wild time for food, especially when it came to so-called “healthy” choices. With the rise of low-fat diets, artificial sweeteners, and flashy marketing, people were convinced they were making smart food decisions. Unfortunately, many of those options were anything but healthy. Loaded with sugar, artificial ingredients, and questionable processing methods, these foods tricked an entire generation into thinking they were doing their bodies a favor. These foods seemed healthy at the time, but totally weren’t.
SnackWell’s Fat-Free Cookies
The ‘80s were obsessed with low-fat everything, and SnackWell’s capitalized on that by removing fat from their cookies. The catch? They replaced it with tons of sugar, making them just as unhealthy if not worse than regular cookies. But hey, people ate them by the box thinking they were guilt-free.
Fruit Roll-Ups
Marketed as a fun, fruity snack for kids, Fruit Roll-Ups seemed like a healthy alternative to candy. In reality, they were packed with artificial colors, preservatives, and enough sugar to rival a candy bar. But since they contained “real fruit” (in trace amounts), parents thought they were a solid choice.
Diet Soda
With names like “Diet Coke” and “Tab,” these drinks were supposed to be the smarter alternative to regular soda. The problem? Artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin weren’t exactly healthy, and some studies even questioned their long-term effects. Plus, they didn’t curb sugar cravings they just made people crave sweets even more.
Granola Bars
Granola bars had that outdoorsy, wholesome image, so people assumed they were a nutritious snack. But most were loaded with high-fructose corn syrup, chocolate chips, and a surprising amount of fat. They were basically candy bars in disguise.
Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt exploded in popularity as a “healthy” alternative to ice cream. While it had less fat, it often contained just as much sugar if not more. Topped with sprinkles, chocolate syrup, and cookie crumbles, it was hardly the nutritious treat people thought it was.
Wheat Thins
With “wheat” in the name, these crackers sounded like a nutritious alternative to chips. But in reality, they were made with refined flour, sugar, and oils, making them just as processed as other snacks. That didn’t stop people from eating them by the handful, though.
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Light Margarine
Butter was demonized in the 80s, so light margarine became the go-to alternative. Unfortunately, many varieties were filled with trans fats, which we now know are worse than saturated fats. Yet, for years, people spread it on everything, thinking they were making a smart choice.
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Cereal with Added Fiber (Like Bran Flakes)
Bran flakes and high-fiber cereals seemed like a great way to start the day. But most were packed with sugar to make them taste good, completely negating the fiber benefits. The worst offenders? Cereals that added sugary raisins or “clusters” to trick people into thinking they were gourmet.
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Low-Fat Muffins
The ‘80s obsession with low-fat diets led to muffins that cut fat but added sugar and refined carbs. The result? Giant, sugary bread disguised as a health food. And since they weren’t donuts, people felt totally justified eating them for breakfast.
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Sports Drinks
Gatorade and Powerade were marketed as essential hydration for athletes. But unless you were running marathons, you didn’t need all that sugar and artificial coloring. For the average person, it was just liquid candy with an athletic image.
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Cheese Spread
Processed cheese spread came in tubs and squeeze bottles, making it seem like a convenient, healthy snack. But with artificial ingredients and loads of sodium, it was a far cry from real cheese. Yet, many people spread it on crackers thinking they were making a smart snack choice.
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Trail Mix with Chocolate and Yogurt-Covered Raisins
Trail mix sounds healthy because it contains nuts and dried fruit, right? Not when it’s loaded with chocolate candies and yogurt-covered raisins, which were basically candy in disguise. People would snack on it thinking they were fueling up with nature’s best… while downing spoonfuls of sugar.
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The 80s were full of food myths, and many so-called “healthy” choices were anything but. Whether it was sugar-loaded yogurts, fat-free snacks, or artificially flavored drinks, we were all fooled at some point. Processed foods disguised as nutritious options filled grocery store shelves, making it harder to separate fact from marketing hype. Looking back, it’s clear that just because something seemed healthy didn’t mean it actually was.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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