#6: TV Dinners

In the mid-20th century, TV dinners were the quintessential American meal, partly due to their reasonable price and convenience. Modern critics may bash these frozen feasts for their high sodium content, yet from the ’50s through the ’80s, they were consumed like nobody’s business!

Swanson’s TV Dinner revolutionized meal prep upon its 1953 launch, quickly becoming a household staple and selling millions. The ’60s and ’70s saw its popularity soar, and the 1980s introduced a game-changing microwavable tray from Campbell’s, further solidifying its place at the dinner table. Frozen dinners, in some form or another, remain a significant part of today’s culinary landscape.