Weird Childhood Foods

[iLander]

Did you eat weird stuff as a kid? Did your mom makes weird stuff? Did you eat it, or was it a big fight?

My grandparents rarely bought snacks (I still rarely snack) into the house. So I ate dry oatmeal by the handful. Just plain. Also, macaroni with ketchup. We never had spaghetti sauce, pasta was a side dish, bare.

My grandmother was a terrible cook. Or so I thought, my uncles and dad loved her food. I guess it's because I didn't have it as a baby (thank god). She made

Rutabaga "mold". It was mashed up rutabage in a bowl. I have no idea why she called it a mold, it wasn't any particular shape, just a pile of mashed crap in a bowl, no seasoning. Big fight on that.

Rubberized eggs on top of ground beef patty. No, we never had hamburgers (with pickles, buns, mustard, etc.), just fried patties (also, we never grilled a single thing). First time my DH ate it, he actually asked her "How did you get the egg like that?" He was genuinely curious.

Spinach soup. Now, it's my understanding that this could be good when well done. Ours was frozen spinach boiled in milk, until it was all green with green floaties.

Cucumbers in vinegar and dill. It's my understanding that there is supposed to be some kind of sour cream or something in there, but it was literally half a bottle of vinegar, cut up the cucumber.

What odd foods are from your past? Do you still eat them?

BTW, when I left home I was a size zero . . .

 

[amc80]

Cheese and ketchup sandwiches, with Kraft singles. Yuck!! I loved them though.

 

[VRBeauty]

When I was little our family budget was always "on a budget" but my mother, being a nurse, also had an eye on nutrition. One year that meant we ate lots of bologna... I remember liking fried bologna sandwiches (with catsup, of course!). I guess I'm getting snobby in my old age - now I can't even imagine eating bologna in any form!

In "the old country" there was also a powdered form of black licorice that would get made into a drink... for when we had upset tummies, I think.

Oh - and there was bacon lard (semi-solid) spread on bread. Served with syrup. Those were a real treat when I was little!

 

[Okie_girl]

My mom was a really good cook, so I don't recall any weird stuff that she fixed when I was a kid. One of my best friends, though, I think his mother was not the best cook. She made "spoonburgers" which apparently consisted of alphabet soup (undiluted) and hamburger meat, I think. Now I'm going to have to find out the recipe. Not that I'm going to make it, sounds pretty disgusting to me!

 

[justginger]

I was a dreadfully picky eater as a child (and still am, despite having tried to MAKE myself like more foods). I hate most veggies. My veggie "safe to eat list" contains carrots, corn, potatoes, peas in very small amounts and usually still in their shells, green beans, and sundried tomatoes (I can tolerate regular tomatoes if they have been pulverized). Needless I say, my poor mother struggled. She asked my paeditrician if she should wait for me to eat was served or nothing at all, and was told no, as I was already a slip of a child I needed to eat something at every mealtime.

This resulted in me eating what I wanted. And I went trough phases where I would want the exact same thing every SINGLE day for weeks and weeks and weeks. There was the hotdog with no bun phase, the chicken nugget phase, the ham and cheese hot pocket phase, the heated up pizza lunchable phase, the cold pizza lunchable phase, the beef and bean burrito phase, the local Chinese hot and sour soup phase. And probably more I've forgotten.

I hope to God my kid turns out like DH, who grew up veggie, but eats meat now too. Short of mushrooms, there's not an edible item he won't inhale.

 

[JaneSmith]

I quite enjoyed making myself barbecue sauce sandwiches as a child. Just white bread with a large puddle of barbecue sauce in the middle. I also enjoyed making sandwiches with butter and sprinkles (jimmies).

 

[Missy]

I wrote about this before in another food thread- when we were little my mom used to make spaghetti and cottage cheese for us sometimes. It was delicious though I know it sounds gross. I haven't eaten it since I was a kid. Ready for the grossest part lol- I used to put a packet of sweet and low on top of the dish. Haha-that is gross!

 

[zoebartlett]

My mom used to make us cream cheese and jelly sandwiches on Wonder bread or Ritz crackers.

 

[JewelFreak]

Missy, spaghetti, cottage cheese & fake sugar?? Eeeuww! And you survived!

Mom was a good cook. Her food was good -- except the times she tried to sell us beef tongue or pickled pigs' knuckles, omg, toxins! In Nebraska during the Depression she learned to like that glop.

When I was about 6 I LOVED dog biscuits. Used to sneak 'em from our Boxer & get scolded. Also had a thing for raw barley; I ate it by the handful. Didn't last long, but I remember hiding under the kneehole of Mom's desk with a box of barley. Bizarro.

--- Laurie

 

[Missy]

Missy, spaghetti, cottage cheese & fake sugar?? Eeeuww! And you survived!

Mom was a good cook. Her food was good -- except the times she tried to sell us beef tongue or pickled pigs' knuckles, omg, toxins! In Nebraska during the Depression she learned to like that glop.

When I was about 6 I LOVED dog biscuits. Used to sneak 'em from our Boxer & get scolded. Also had a thing for raw barley; I ate it by the handful. Didn't last long, but I remember hiding under the kneehole of Mom's desk with a box of barley. Bizarro.

--- Laurie

LOL I know-not only did I survive it I enjoyed it!

Laurie- We had a boxer dog too btw! Our first dog and our best IMO. My parents and sister have boxers still and they are such great dogs-love them! But our first boxer will always hold a very special place in my heart. Though I have to say I was never tempted to steal his biscuits haha. But I know he would have totally been fine with that. He was such an angel!

 

[kefira]

I have a very vague memory of a food from childhood (in the 80s). Maybe if I describe it, one of you will know what I'm talking about. It seems that it was some kind of spreadable meat analogue? I got a strong memory of it recently while eating some pre-flavored tofu. Something about the texture and smell brought it back, I think, so it was probably soy or nut based and, of course, salty. Does this ring a bell for anyone? My memory may be way off, and Google hasn't helped me, unfortunately. It's been bugging me the last couple of weeks, so any help is appreciated!

 

[davi_el_mejor]

Pickle juice... oh delicious pickle juice... taking drinks from the jar like you would OJ from the carton...

And uhhh... not exactly a childhood food... because I just started eating it... but onion, sweet pickle and barbecue sandwiches are DELICIOUS...

 

[justginger]

Pickle juice... oh delicious pickle juice... taking drinks from the jar like you would OJ from the carton...

And uhhh... not exactly a childhood food... because I just started eating it... but onion, sweet pickle and barbecue sandwiches are DELICIOUS...

I used to get a teaspoon and drink pickle juice, teaspoon by teaspoon. I probably consumed just as much if I had slurped directly, but somehow it felt healthier if I did it in smaller increments.

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

I have a very vague memory of a food from childhood (in the 80s). Maybe if I describe it, one of you will know what I'm talking about. It seems that it was some kind of spreadable meat analogue? I got a strong memory of it recently while eating some pre-flavored tofu. Something about the texture and smell brought it back, I think, so it was probably soy or nut based and, of course, salty. Does this ring a bell for anyone? My memory may be way off, and Google hasn't helped me, unfortunately. It's been bugging me the last couple of weeks, so any help is appreciated!

Potted ham? I totally ate potted ham on crackers or bread at my Grandparents when I was a kid in the 80's. I LOVED that stuff and the thought of it now just grosses me out lol

 

[kefira]

Stacy, I had to laugh a bit at the idea, as I was raised kosher (well, kosher-ish, which I realize is not actually kosher, but piggies were definitely out)! Thanks for the suggestion and smile, though.

I should clarify that by analogue I mean a non-meat food that sort of simulated meat. It may have come in a can (sounding better all the time, isn't it?). But my memory is so hazy, I can't really say much for sure about it. It was probably a hippie food my mother thought would be healthy.

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

Stacy, I had to laugh a bit at the idea, as I was raised kosher (well, kosher-ish, which I realize is not actually kosher, but piggies were definitely out)! Thanks for the suggestion and smile, though.

I should clarify that by analogue I mean a non-meat food that sort of simulated meat. It may have come in a can (sounding better all the time, isn't it?). But my memory is so hazy, I can't really say much for sure about it. It was probably a hippie food my mother thought would be healthy.

Ha! Well I don't eat either beef or pork now, so I totally understand that you must have been grossed out by that suggestion..I know I am!

 

[VapidLapid]

Pickle juice... oh delicious pickle juice... taking drinks from the jar like you would OJ from the carton...

And uhhh... not exactly a childhood food... because I just started eating it... but onion, sweet pickle and barbecue sandwiches are DELICIOUS...

Ah, pickle juice. Always best straight from the jar.

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

Pickle juice... oh delicious pickle juice... taking drinks from the jar like you would OJ from the carton...

And uhhh... not exactly a childhood food... because I just started eating it... but onion, sweet pickle and barbecue sandwiches are DELICIOUS...

Ah, pickle juice. Always best straight from the jar.

Is it bad that I still do this sometimes? My husband looks at me like I have two heads..um..opps!

 

[JewelFreak]

Missy, boxers are super, aren't they? So full of personality. Ours didn't mind sharing her cookies with me at all. As long as she got some too!

Pickle juice?? Mmmm....yuck! Try dog biscuits!

--- Laurie

 

[chrono]

Sardines (with sliced raw onions and lots of ketchup-y sauce) from the tin spread onto plain white bread.

 

[gem_anemone]

I was a white bread, american cheese and ketchup kid who grew up at grandma's house. Sometimes we had bologna or salami to throw on it. My grandma would feed us leftover cold rice in milk with sugar on top. At least once a week we had meatloaf, dried out, over-broiled sirloin, slimy canned veggies (spinach), prepackaged rice/potato mixes, or spaghetti. We were fed lots and LOTS of cereal. If we mentioned to grandma that we liked a certain cereal she would buy in bulk and force us to finish the boxes before getting a new kind. Let's just say that was 20 years ago and still can't bare the thought of eating Honey Bunches of Oats. Basically we were fed easy to prep, prepackaged, discounted food. The best nights were taco night and pizza night.

Now that I am the adult I buy fresh ingredients and cook from scratch. I love spinach now, but I always use fresh. I love meatloaf now if I make it, but not usually if someone else does. Grandma was (and still is!) an awful cook. Needless to say I did not learn my way around the kitchen from her! I love her, but I don't eat dinner at her house. I bring the lasagna...

 

[Puppmom]

My mom was not concerned (seemingly) about our food being healthy. We were also on a budget so we were usually out of food other than staples several days before the next grocery trip was scheduled.

One of favorites was white bread with sugar. We would take a slice of white bread, pour some sugar in the middle then scrunch it up in a ball (like the size of a donut hole) and eat it. If we had margarine around we would spread margarine on the bread so the sugar would stick instead of pouring out at first bite.

My mom would also make us peanut butter and butter sandwiches. I never liked them but my siblings did. They were usually served with Mountain Dew. Now, that I liked!

We also ate macaroni and cheese from the box...the kind that came with the powder to make sauce. Only, we didn't make the sauce, we sprinkled the orange powder directly on the noodles.

Suprisingly, none of use were overweight. As adults, two of my siblings are...one, because she still eats that way!

 

[chrono]

Not odd or gross but you ladies reminded me of a very old favourite - spread margarine on the white bread, sprinkle sugar on it, then toast it flat in the oven. YUM!

 

[Alistra]

My dad used to make our school lunches. He would sometimes make a big batch of egg salad and then make it into sandwiches with tuna. I actually thought it tasted pretty good, but the combination of egg salad and tuna sure did stink! I always ended up sitting alone when I had that for lunch. All of the other kids thought it sounded disgusting, and smelled even worse! Looking back it sounds terrible to me too. As an adult I don't care for eggs, and I have been a vegetarian since I was 14. Just thinking about that sandwich makes me a bit sick to my stomach.

 

[StacylikesSparkles]

Not odd or gross but you ladies reminded me of a very old favorite - spread margarine on the white bread, sprinkle sugar on it, then toast it flat in the oven. YUM!

We did this, except we would toast the bread, add butter and then cinnamon and sugar..cinnamon toast

 

[MichelleCarmen]

My parents tortured me with experimental foods! They loved to try anything and everything. One of their greatest favorites was "cabbage casserole," which was stir fried cabbage mixed with ground beef and rice. They also made mousaka (eggplant) which I would have to eat... If I didn't eat, I would have to just sit there until until bedtime. We had a cookoo clock and I remember it clicking back and forth while all my gross dinners would turn ice cold!

They did have some good speciality items, though, like homemade pizza.

 

[amc80]

My dad used to make our school lunches. He would sometimes make a big batch of egg salad and then make it into sandwiches with tuna. I actually thought it tasted pretty good, but the combination of egg salad and tuna sure did stink! I always ended up sitting alone when I had that for lunch. All of the other kids thought it sounded disgusting, and smelled even worse! Looking back it sounds terrible to me too. As an adult I don't care for eggs, and I have been a vegetarian since I was 14. Just thinking about that sandwich makes me a bit sick to my stomach.

My grandma makes egg salad with tuna, it's actually really good!

 

[Alistra]

amc80, I didn't think anyone else ate this. How cool! I think my dad and brother still like it

 

[Maisie]

Melted sugar on toast. You make the toast, then sprinkle sugar on and put it under the grill till its runny and melted. When it cools down it becomes like a hard crunchy layer. We were really poor when I was little so we ate a lot of unhealthy foods.

 

[tuffyluvr]

iLander--your dry oatmeal snack reminds me of an unusual snack we would get... We never had snack foods either, so when we were hungry before dinner we got a bowl of frozen veggies to snack on. Weird, but a good trick, and good snacking habit... Keeps you busy nibbling something, and eating veggies!

On the other end of the spectrum, we also sometimes got peanut butter and bacon sandwiches in our lunches. On squishy, ultra-processed white bread. They are delicious yet soooo disgusting.