# What's with the nasty-ass food old people eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 14, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239 "2013-10-14T18:35:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/21 "2013-10-14T22:16:34Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > In the last 20-30 years, America has made great efforts to remove fats from its food. > > …and replaced it with high-fructose corn syrup. Not really. It’s a cyclical churn between the big three. When the public howls about salt, the shelves fill with products reduced in salt; the successful ones have more fat. When fat content is on every news program, there’s an explosion of low- and non-fat products that have jacked levels of salt and sugar. When sugary foods are up on the cross, we get products with reduced sugar and elevated fat. Because people simply won’t eat most grocery-store foods unless they hit one or more of the “bliss points” of high salt, sugar, fat or a combination. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/22 "2013-10-14T22:20:36Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > In case anyone hasn’t seen the [Gallery of Regrettable Food](http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/), you should, it’s crazy. EW.EW.EW. I got as far as the Meat Fisting part and quit. Its enough to make a [breatharian](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inedia) outta me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/23 "2013-10-14T22:30:04Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > So much of their preferred fare seems to be a ranch dressing or mayonnaise based “salad” of some sort. What’s with that? Was creamed fat cheap during the depression? Hmm, is this based upon ignorance or bigotry? I’d say both. But of course your diet of super-hot Cheetoes and Mt Dew is just fine, eh? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/24 "2013-10-14T22:41:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Just keep stuffing those Taco Bell, KFC and Mickey-D products into your gaping gob and then wonder why you’re diabetic at age 40. Hey you can have my KFC when you pry it from my greasy… woops! And for the record I’ll go camping in the Klondike, eat salads, drink good whiskey and be mighty appreciative of the opportunity anytime with Mr. Geoff. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/25 "2013-10-14T22:52:33Z")
Wow. Great responses. Who would have guessed old people would be crabby? ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/26 "2013-10-14T22:54:15Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Wow. Great responses. Who would have guessed old people would be crabby? Hey! Kid! Get off my interwebz!!! [shakes fist] 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/27 "2013-10-14T22:55:18Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I’ll respect my elders, but god damn it I will _never_ respect mayonnaise. Dude, that’s so not mayonnaise. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/28 "2013-10-14T22:55:36Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > So much of their preferred fare seems to be a ranch dressing or mayonnaise based “salad” of some sort. What’s with that? Was creamed fat cheap during the depression? I thought that was the food preference of the Midwest. Add cheese and gravy and you have middle America on a platter. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/29 "2013-10-14T22:57:59Z")
It seems like most people eat the same food they ate as a kid. I grew up eating pot roast, fried chicken, baked ham, and a variety of vegetables. Still love that food. Love ranch dressing too. I want mayo on my burger. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/30 "2013-10-14T23:07:00Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Wow. Great responses. Who would have guessed old people would be crabby? Gosh, you mean we’re painting with too broad a brush? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/31 "2013-10-14T23:08:31Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Food has changed a lot over the past several decades. Pizza and chow mein were at one time the height of “exotic” fare. Nowadays you see guys in wife-beaters eating sushi and dipping their Wonder bread in extra virgin olive oil. > > One day some whipper-snapper is going to call your food “nasty-ass” simply because it doesn’t have any Soylent Green in it. yes! and the older I get, the more I think you _should_ get respect just for being old. dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/32 "2013-10-14T23:08:31Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > Before you start dissin’ old people, what about the [disgusting shit Americans eat](http://www.businessinsider.com/american-foods-foreigners-find-gross-2013-10)? :eek: 😉 All this tells me is that Old-Worlders are a bunch of Philistines. Also, I always liked aspic when my grandma would make it. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/33 "2013-10-15T00:38:19Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Gosh, you mean we’re painting with too broad a brush? :rolleyes: A basting one. With mayo. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/34 "2013-10-15T01:04:41Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Hey you can have my KFC when you pry it from my greasy… woops! > > And for the record I’ll go camping in the Klondike, eat salads, drink good whiskey and be mighty appreciative of the opportunity anytime with Mr. Geoff. Hey, you sound like my kind of, well, person. If you ever get to Phoenix, I’ll take you with me up one of my daily mountain climbs. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/35 "2013-10-15T01:30:01Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > I thought that was the food preference of the Midwest. Add cheese and gravy and you have middle America on a platter. Could be worse. You could take sushi (the rice-roll kind), drizzle cheese all over it, and sell it to New Englanders as “Hybrid Sushi.” (I’d say “I shit thee not” but just the thought of this stuff and its picture on the sign board give me the runs.) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/36 "2013-10-15T01:46:49Z")
Here in the Midwest they actually DO sell that sort of “hybrid sushi” at my local grocery store. With a sign on the counter proudly proclaiming “all our sushi full cooked!” I expect to see deep-fried maki any day now. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/37 "2013-10-15T02:22:31Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > Actually, sense of taste seems to go as you age. I now shake enough pepper on my food to make me sneeze. That’s how I know it’s enough. 😛 My hot sauce collection seems to grow exponentially with age. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/38 "2013-10-15T02:59:26Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > \*About 10 years ago, I got a free range hand raised heirloom chicken as a bonus from work. My grandmother took a bite, and tears started streaming down her face. “Gram, what’s wrong?” “This…this…this is what chicken used to taste like!” she exclaimed. It was absolutely delicious, and it was indeed more chickeny than supermarket chickens. It was also $25 for a single fat, old chicken! We raised our own turkeys for a few years - the taste and texture are quite different from storebought. If you just go with breast meat - on a store bought bird the meat is almost _fluffy_ textured, on the ones we raised the meat was dense, solid and was almost as flavorful and moist as thigh meat. You can tell the difference between the eggs our birds lay and storebought eggs as well - the yolks are deep gold, solid and dense, the white is dense and doesn’t spread out like the whites of storebought eggs and there is a definite richness in taste. We don’t use medicated feeds, and the birds range our field and eat whatever doesn’t get away along with plenty of cracked corn and mixed grains. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/39 "2013-10-15T03:01:18Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > In case anyone hasn’t seen the [Gallery of Regrettable Food](http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/), you should, it’s crazy. And its modern-day cousin, the IHOP 55+ menu. Grilled Liver! ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239/40 "2013-10-15T03:08:53Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > And its modern-day cousin, the IHOP 55+ menu. Grilled Liver! I’m only 54 and love grilled/fried liver (and actually loved it as a kid). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-with-the-nasty-ass-food-old-people-eat/671239.md?page=3)