Ahh, the 1980's. Big hair. Big obnoxious sweaters. Big governmental spending. Big cocaine habit. Tiny, itsy-bitsy portions of diet food. Everyone started jogging and eating "right" in the 80's. Everyone's grandma suddenly had a exercise bike in her living room. And the cooking often reflected tasteless, air puffed times. Alas, there were very few decent chefs who also knew how to cut fat and calories. But the photography at least improved...

These photos are from circa 1987-88 Cooking Light Magazine

Just what I'd love to eat after a long day of jamming to Poison and teasing my hair. A hearty green loaf of pureed basil and broccoli.

As Amber pondered Nancy Reagan's War on Drugs, she nibbled at her yogurt bathed fish slab that had only 5 grams of fat.  Then she purged... Then she teased her hair! Mmmm. curry powder dipped cucumber wedges...

For dessert, Trina treated herself to a grapefruit frosted oatcake, served on a cafeteria tray. She later felt guilty as she tried unsuccessfully to squeeze into her Guess jeans before her date with Craig...

 

Let us not forget that the 80's gave rise to another culinary disaster... microwave cooking.  This cookbook "Microwave Cooking Made Easy" (1981), lied to every American housewife and promised fluffy, moist cakes, perfectly medium rare prime ribs, and scrumptious perfectly cooked seafood. 

Just look at the mouth watering foods your state of the art, 500 pound, cumbersome counter space-hogging new microwave can make!  Free meat probe with purchase.

Some sorry individual somewhere threw 2 perfectly good lobster tails (or a 5 lb prime rib) down the drain back in 1981, I just know it...  "Meat is done when it's tender>"  Yeah, that's helpful.

 

My Favorite 1980's Cook: A Tribute

1980's Junk Food Hall of Fame