To be slightly horrified now by what I ate as a kid in the 80s?

I grew up in the 80s too. We survived. I'm sure this generation will look back and think similar.

Oh for goodness sake 🙄

It says “slightly horrified”. Which to me reads as a bit lighthearted, as opposed to ~HORRIFIED~

Of course there are people having an awful time as the moment due to cost of living and I’m sure OP is not insensitive to that. But that’s not really the point of this post. Most people these days would probably not feed their children the same way described by OP, simply because of ways in which society has changed. A lot of schools now have healthy packed lunch policies. Breakfast cereals have changed and now contain less sugar. Nobody is suggesting OP’s parents weren’t doing their best. It was just a different time and it’s interesting to look back on.

Also, I’m sure plenty of children in the 80s did have a healthier diet than OP. And a lot of children nowadays may eat better in school, but not at home, with the rise of UPFs etc. it’s not clean cut.

You’re still here. Parents do the best they can. You could compare the diet of the last generation with the comparative reduction of physical activity (generally) in the current world. I don’t know that either outdoes the other.

It sounds exactly like my diet only I was faddy and for months only ate boil in the bag fish. That was it. No vegetables on the side. Part of me does occasionally wonder who lets a child decide they will only eat one thing and then let them do that.

I don’t dwell on it really because it did have some health implications but I will never know if they would have happened anyway.

Also, you have to look at where my parents came from..my mum was so poor. One of multiple children she barely had clothes, had to share a bed and very little meaningful education. It’s sort of amazing the different world me and my children inhabit now.

Yes, it doesn’t sound like your parents were educated about food/had the means or ability to provide healthy meals. I have friends who were similar. They don’t blame their parents but they try to be better for their own kids. There’s a lot more knowledge about it, now.

A minority are, very much a minority so totally not a "read the room" situation.

Some people are having to make difficult choices but by far not everyone so sick of this narrative, yes we all get it we all appreciate some have less than others but why such a harsh opinionated and misinformed post?!

Back then any calorie heavy food would have been offset by the freedom children had back then and playing out all day and getting far more exercise than children today.

“Horrified?”

you were fed. There is a cost of living crisis where people are currently choosing between heat, transport and food.

read the room

Not sure what your point is op. A lot of kids then and all through the ages had much less to eat never mind fake foods.

Have you suffered lasting harm? I don't see why your lunch box is relevant. I doubt if children nowadays are any better nourished on average then they were then. I suspect they're less active. I grew up before that, had similar breakfast cereals and desserts with custard too. I'm still here to tell the tale.