The American dining landscape has changed drastically in recent decades. In fact, already in 2015, HuffPost reported that the traditional dining room may be “endangered”.
Some builders are ditching dining rooms altogether, opting for a single “flexible” space where families can cook, watch screens, do homework and manage household chores – all in one place.
Television changed the way we eat (and what we eat)
Television transformed dinnertime for many families, as meals moved from the dining room table to TV trays in the living room while their favorite shows played in the background. For some, it meant eating with siblings in front of the set while Mom and Dad enjoyed a well-deserved night out at the local bowling alley.
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Or consider the monumental change as women entered the workforce en masse. More traditional and time-consuming meals gave way to more convenient options, which could be prepared in less time and with less effort and still have a good time with the family at the table.
As eating habits evolved, so did the foods we liked to prepare. Casseroles were once fashionable, but they are no longer as common. Some dinners were so similar you could hardly tell them apart – like chicken a la king and chicken tetrazzini.
So, grab a fork and join us for a nostalgic look at the American dinner menu of yesteryear as we explore meals that seem to have disappeared.
LOOK: Popular dinners Americans don’t eat as often anymore
From classic casseroles to hearty servings of beige on beige, these beloved American dishes have fallen out of the meal rotation.
Gallery credit: Stephen Lenz
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Popular restaurants that have disappeared