School lunches in the 1970s were rarely fancy, but they certainly had character. Before elaborate lunch kits and individually packaged snacks became commonplace, moms often relied on whatever was already in the refrigerator or pantry. Sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper, homemade cookies were tucked beside fruit, and a matching Thermos made even ordinary soup feel special. As the Smithsonian’s history of the lunchbox recalls, those colorful metal boxes were a big part of childhood. Here are 12 familiar foods that might bring back memories of lunchtime in the 1970s.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches on White Bread
Few lunches were easier to put together than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Moms could spread peanut butter and grape or strawberry jelly between two slices of soft white bread, wrap everything in wax paper, and call it a day. The ingredients were affordable, lasted through multiple lunches, and didn’t require much preparation. Of course, the bread sometimes turned soggy by noon. Some mothers had a clever solution: spreading peanut butter on both slices to create a barrier against the jelly.
Bologna and American Cheese Sandwiches
Before turkey wraps and elaborate deli sandwiches became everyday lunch options, bologna and American cheese made a dependable combination. A couple of round bologna slices, a square of processed cheese, and a little mustard or mayonnaise were enough to fill two slices of sandwich bread. Some moms added lettuce, while others kept things simple to avoid complaints from picky eaters. By lunchtime, the bread might be a little flattened and the cheese slightly warm. Still, it was an inexpensive lunch that didn’t require a trip to the deli counter.
Chicken Noodle Soup in a Matching Thermos
On chilly school mornings, a Thermos filled with chicken noodle soup offered a welcome change from another cold sandwich. Moms could heat a can of Campbell’s soup, pour it into the vacuum bottle, and pack a few crackers alongside it. The screw-on cup doubled as a tiny soup bowl, although getting the lid open could be a challenge for smaller hands. Sometimes the soup was still pleasantly warm at lunchtime; other times, not so much. The familiar character-themed Thermos was often half the fun.
Potato Chips Packed in a Little Plastic Bag
A sandwich felt more exciting when it came with a handful of potato chips. Rather than buying individual snack bags, budget-conscious moms could divide a larger package into smaller portions using sandwich bags. Plain or barbecue-flavored chips added a salty crunch to an otherwise ordinary lunch. Unfortunately, packing them beside a heavy Thermos or apple was practically asking for trouble. By the time the lunch bell rang, some kids opened their bags to discover little more than crumbs. Eating those crumbs straight from the bag was part of the experience.
Homemade Cookies Wrapped in Wax Paper
Finding a couple of homemade cookies in your lunchbox could turn an ordinary school day around. Chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, and sugar cookies were easy choices for moms who baked a batch over the weekend and saved some for the school week. Wrapped in wax paper or tucked into a small container, they were a simple alternative to store-bought desserts. The only downside was discovering that your cookies had broken into pieces during the morning. Then again, chocolate chip cookie crumbs still tasted pretty good.
Trending on Cheapism
Snack Pack Pudding in a Little Metal Can
Long before pudding came in familiar plastic cups, Hunt’s Snack Pack arrived in small metal containers with pull-off lids. Chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch were the kinds of flavors that could make lunchtime feel like a treat. The packaging, however, had a less charming side. Those metal lids could be difficult to remove and had sharp edges, a problem documented in patents from the 1970s. Kids had to be careful opening them, especially when pudding stuck to the underside of the lid. Convenience clearly had room for improvement.
Apples, Oranges, and Slightly Bruised Bananas
Not everything in a 1970s lunchbox came wrapped in plastic. Moms often packed whatever fruit was available at home, whether that meant an apple, an orange, or a banana. Apples were sturdy enough to survive a morning in a metal lunchbox, while bananas had a habit of emerging with brown spots and bruises. Oranges could be messy to peel, especially with only a short lunch break. And while some kids happily ate their fruit, others tried to trade it for something sweeter.
Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and Hostess CupCakes
Some days, dessert came straight from a brightly colored package instead of the family oven. Hostess Twinkies, Ding Dongs, and CupCakes were already established treats by the 1970s, making them convenient additions to school lunches. There was no baking or slicing involved, and the individually wrapped cakes traveled reasonably well. They weren’t necessarily an everyday purchase for families watching their grocery bills, which made finding one in a lunchbox feel even more exciting. A classmate might even offer to trade something for it.
Sign up for our newsletter
Carrot and Celery Sticks in a Sandwich Bag
Moms trying to balance all those cookies and snack cakes sometimes added a bag of carrot or celery sticks. They were inexpensive, easy to prepare ahead of time, and didn’t require much more than washing, peeling, and chopping. Some kids got celery filled with peanut butter or cream cheese, while others had to settle for plain vegetables. By lunchtime, the celery might have lost its crunch, and the carrots could look a little dried out. They weren’t always the first thing kids reached for.
Tiny Boxes of Sun-Maid Raisins
Those little red boxes of Sun-Maid raisins were practically made for lunchboxes. They were small, easy to store, and didn’t need the same careful packing as fresh fruit. Moms could buy several boxes and keep them in the pantry for busy school mornings. For children, however, raisins weren’t always as exciting as cookies or pudding. Some ate them one at a time to make the snack last longer, while others shook the box before opening it. At least there was little chance of finding a squashed banana inside.
Leftover Chicken Turned Into Sandwiches
When there was leftover roast chicken from dinner, moms could stretch the grocery budget by turning it into another day’s lunch. Chopped chicken mixed with celery, apples, or a little mayonnaise made a filling sandwich without requiring an entirely new meal. Recipes from the period show that homemade sandwich fillings could be more varied than the usual peanut butter or bologna. The important catch was keeping perishable ingredients properly chilled, something that wasn’t always easy with older lunchboxes. Today, an insulated bag and cold packs are the safer approach.
Milk, Kool-Aid, or Juice in a Character Thermos
A matching Thermos was often the finishing touch on a 1970s school lunch. Depending on the household, moms might fill it with milk, juice, or homemade Kool-Aid rather than send money for a drink at school. Some children carried bottles decorated with Snoopy, television characters, or colorful designs that matched their metal lunchboxes. The downside was that lids could leak, milk needed to stay cold, and poorly cleaned bottles could develop unpleasant smells. Still, having your favorite character on the bottle made an ordinary drink feel a little more special.
