The History of Food:

The History of Food:
What’s happening around us (and what tickles our taste buds)
has transformed our eating choices over the past century.
Take a peek at how we’ve been eating over the past 100 years.
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1910s
Old-world heritage vs.
newly formed unity
(aka melting pot) +
World War I rationing
Lasagna with
American cheese
Chop suey with
ground beef
How Much? A loaf
of bread cost 3¢
1920s
Prohibition meets
speakeasies; culinary
experimentation
with foreign foods
after soldiers return
from the war
Soft drinks were
gulped down like
never before
Betty Crocker Is
Born. She is created to
reply to cooking- and
baking-related questions
received from consumers.
Pineapple upsidedown
cake
A Sign of the
Times Tea sandwiches,
chafing-dish recipes
2 Betty Crocker All-Time Best Recipes
1930s
Cookbooks suggest
shortcuts for cooking,
economical recipes
and direction for wives
to “powder their
noses“ before serving
the meal
How Much? A quart
of milk cost 14¢
1936: First official
portrait of Betty Crocker
is released.
Cocktails All
the Rage Martini,
old fashioned,
Manhattan, etc.
1940s
Protein-stretching
meals, rationing and
substitutions
Mock Apple Pie
(crackers replace apples)
Eggless cakes,
sugarless cookies
Meatless meals and
casseroles to make meat
go farther
1950s
Fill-you-up meals from
prepackaged foods and
renewed interest in
foreign cuisines from
returning GIs
Betty Crocker’s
first Picture Cook Book
introduced
Backyard Symbol
of American Status
The Grill
Themed dinners
popular for entertaining
1955: Betty Crocker
or June Cleaver?
1960s
Showy French food,
soul food and anything
you can light on fire
Jacqueline
Kennedyish Betty
Crocker circa 1965
Fondue, steak Diane
and bananas Foster
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100 of
1970s
All about choices—
salad bars are big.
Tough times =
economical meals
Hamburger Helper ® ,
granola bars introduced
All Business Betty.
This 1972 Betty is
created to represent
the recent significant
contributions women
are making outside of
the home.
How Much? A candy
bar cost 15¢
The Latest Thing:
Slow cookers
1980s
Easy family meals
contrast with
complicated
party foods
Updated ‘Do.
1980 Betty keeps up
with the times.
Microwave popcorn
explodes onto the
market.
Mud pie
YEARS
1990s
Interest in healthier
foods, ready-prepared
foods, new and
unusual produce
Beer can chicken
Bread machines
popular as the latest
kitchen appliance
Carambola or
“star fruit”
1996: The current
image of Betty is a
combination of 75 reallife
women of diverse
backgrounds and ages.
of great eating
2000s
Ethnic variety as well as
familiar comfort foods
Celebrity chefs and
cooking channels
Monstrous
or Munchkin?
Super-sized or mini
versions of everything
Sushi
2010s
Simplicity, locally grown produce, global
cuisine, health-consciousness
Interest in foods/recipes for health –
gluten free, food allergies, low-sodium
Renewed interest in canning
Sliders, whoopie pies and red velvet cake
Betty Crocker’s all-new 11th edition is introduced
in September 2011.
Birthday Girl Betty Crocker turns 90!
Girl, you REALLY don’t age!
All-Time Best Recipes Betty Crocker 3
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