30 Long Lost Lunches That America Forgot!

30 Long Lost Lunches That America Forgot!

## 30 Long Lost Lunches That America Forgot: A Culinary Time Capsule

Lunch. It's a midday ritual, a brief respite from the daily grind. But what America considered a satisfying lunch decades ago is vastly different from today's grab-and-go culture. Let's journey back in time and rediscover 30 long-lost lunches that have faded from our national consciousness, offering a fascinating glimpse into our culinary past.

**The Golden Age of Gelatin & Griddles:**

1. **Jell-O Salads (with everything but fruit):** Forget sugary snacks, Jell-O was a blank canvas. Imagine savory creations featuring shredded carrots, celery, olives, and even hard-boiled eggs suspended in wobbly gelatin. Surprisingly popular, but thankfully (for some) retired.

2. **Liverwurst Sandwiches on White:** A staple of deli counters for generations, liverwurst (or Braunschweiger) on white bread with mustard was a protein powerhouse. While still available, it's a far cry from its heyday.

3. **Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast (SOS):** A military classic turned home comfort food, this dish involved dried beef simmered in a creamy white sauce and served over toast. Hearty and budget-friendly, it’s largely disappeared from restaurant menus.

4. **The Hot Brown:** Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, this open-faced sandwich piled turkey, bacon, and Mornay sauce on Texas toast before being broiled until golden brown. A decadent treat that's often forgotten outside its home state.

5. **Aspic Molded Lunches:** The sophisticated cousin of Jell-O salads, aspic used clarified meat broth to suspend everything from seafood to vegetables. A time-consuming endeavor that reflected a bygone era of culinary artistry.

**The Cafeteria Classics:**

6. **Tuna Noodle Casserole:** A perennial favorite, this cheesy, creamy comfort food, often featuring canned tuna, egg noodles, and potato chips topping, was a staple in school cafeterias and family dinners alike.

7. **Sloppy Joes on a Soft Roll:** A messy, meaty masterpiece, Sloppy Joes are still around, but the nostalgic charm of a simple, saucy ground beef sandwich on a squishy white roll is hard to replicate.

8. **SpaghettiOs with Meatballs:** A symbol of childhood lunchboxes, SpaghettiOs represented convenience and kid-friendly flavors. The nostalgia remains, but the frequency of its appearance in adult lunches has drastically declined.

9. **Pizza Burgers:** A hybrid of two American favorites, the pizza burger featured a ground beef patty topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and occasionally pepperoni. A quirky creation that never quite reached mainstream status.

10. **Chicken Pot Pie (From a Can):** Convenient and comforting, canned chicken pot pie was a quick and easy lunch option. While pre-made pot pies still exist, the specific flavor and texture of the canned version evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for a simpler time.

**Roadside Delights & Diner Staples:**

11. **The Monte Cristo Sandwich:** A deep-fried or pan-fried ham and cheese sandwich dipped in egg batter, often dusted with powdered sugar. This sweet and savory delight was a popular diner choice.

12. **Deviled Egg Salad Sandwiches:** A simple, creamy, and tangy sandwich filling that was a picnic and potluck staple. While deviled eggs themselves are still around, the sandwich version seems to have faded in popularity.

13. **The Patty Melt (Properly Made):** Forget a simple burger with cheese. A patty melt was a specifically constructed delight, featuring a ground beef patty, Swiss cheese, and caramelized onions grilled between slices of rye bread.

14. **Chopped Liver on Rye:** A traditional Jewish deli staple, chopped liver was a rich and savory spread served on rye bread with onions. While still available in some areas, its prominence has dwindled.

15. **The BLT with Extra Mayonnaise:** While the BLT endures, the generous slathering of mayonnaise, almost to the point of overflowing, seems to have been toned down in modern interpretations.

**The Lunchbox Heroes:**

16. **Baloney and Cheese Sandwiches on White:** A classic childhood staple, often paired with a juice box and a bag of chips. Its simplicity and affordability made it a go-to lunchbox option.

17. **Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches:** A healthy and satisfying combination that provided sustained energy throughout the afternoon. Still popular, but often replaced with more elaborate snacks.

18. **Thermos Full of Tomato Soup:** A comforting and warming lunch option, especially during colder months. Carrying a thermos of homemade tomato soup was a sign of parental love and preparation.

19. **Tangerines in a Brown Paper Bag:** A healthy and refreshing addition to any lunchbox, tangerines offered a burst of citrusy sweetness. Simpler and less processed than many of today's snack options.

20. **Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies:** A sweet treat that satisfied cravings and provided a sugar rush. These individually wrapped cakes were a lunchbox staple for many children.

**Forgotten Fancies & Regional Rarities:**

21. **Waldorf Salad (with or without the nuts):** This classic salad featuring apples, celery, grapes, and mayonnaise was once a sophisticated lunch option.

22. **Shoepeg Corn Salad:** A uniquely textured salad featuring small, white kernels of shoepeg corn, often combined with mayonnaise, celery, and other vegetables.

23. **Dandelion Greens Salad:** A foraged delicacy popular in rural areas, dandelion greens offered a slightly bitter and nutritious alternative to traditional salads.

24. **Pickled Beets and Eggs:** A colorful and tangy combination that was a popular appetizer and side dish. Often served as a light lunch in some households.

25. **Creamed Herring on Crackers:** A Scandinavian-inspired dish that was popular in areas with large immigrant populations. Herring in a creamy sauce served on crackers was a simple and satisfying lunch.

**The Pre-Fast Food Era:**

26. **Sliced Ham and Swiss Cheese on Pretzel Rolls:** A simple yet satisfying lunch option that highlighted the flavor of the salty pretzel roll.

27. **Chicken Salad Sandwiches on Croissants:** A more upscale version of the classic chicken salad sandwich, served on a flaky and buttery croissant.

28. **Pimento Cheese Sandwiches (on anything!):** This Southern staple, a creamy blend of cheddar cheese, pimentos, and mayonnaise, was a versatile and delicious lunch option.

29. **Hard-Boiled Eggs with Salt and Pepper:** A simple and nutritious lunch option that provided a protein boost.

30. **Leftover Meatloaf Sandwiches:** A classic way to repurpose leftover meatloaf, often served cold on white bread with ketchup or mustard.

These 30 long-lost lunches offer a fascinating glimpse into America's culinary past. They reflect changing tastes, economic realities, and evolving lifestyles. While some may never make a comeback, they remind us of a time when lunch was often a more deliberate and less hurried affair. So, next time you're looking for a new lunch idea, consider taking inspiration from these forgotten classics – you might just rediscover a hidden gem.