18 Things People Brought to Picnics in the ’70s That Would Raise Eyebrows Today
Remember those carefree summer picnics of the 1970s? Families would pack up their station wagons and head to the park with an assortment of items that seemed perfectly normal back then.
Looking back, many of those picnic staples would cause quite a stir if they appeared on your checkered blanket today. From questionable food safety practices to now-taboo products, the ’70s picnic scene was truly a world apart from our modern gatherings.
1. Jell-O Molds with Suspended Vegetables
Vibrant, wobbly towers of gelatin containing floating carrots, celery, and olives were the pride of many picnic spreads. Savory Jell-O salads weren’t just accepted—they were expected! Aspic rings filled with tuna salad or shrimp cocktail demonstrated true culinary sophistication.
My aunt Marge was famous for her lime Jell-O with suspended cabbage and mayonnaise frosting. The family politely nibbled while secretly feeding chunks to the dog under the table.
2. Tang Instead of Fresh Juice
The space-age orange drink powder mixed with water was considered the height of modernity. Parents proudly served this artificial concoction in plastic tumblers, boasting about its vitamin C content while astronauts supposedly sipped it in orbit.
No need for heavy glass bottles of juice when you could bring a small container of Tang and mix it with water from the park fountain. The violently bright orange color was just part of the appeal!
3. Cigarettes—And Plenty of Them
Smoke-filled picnic scenes were standard in the ’70s. Adults puffed away freely, flicking ashes onto the grass without a second thought. Nobody batted an eye at pregnant women lighting up or dads blowing smoke rings for children’s entertainment.
I remember my uncle teaching me how to open his flip-top Marlboro box when I was just six. “Hold the matches steady,” he’d say as I attempted to light his cigarette, everyone around us smiling at this “adorable” interaction.
4. Miracle Whip on Absolutely Everything
The tangy, sweet sandwich spread wasn’t just for sandwiches—it was the foundation of practically every picnic dish. Slathered between bread, mixed into potato salad, or used as a dip for vegetables, Miracle Whip reigned supreme.
Families would bring entire quart jars, leaving them unrefrigerated for hours in the summer heat. Somehow, nobody questioned the food safety implications of mayo-based salads baking in the sun all afternoon.
5. Disposable Everything—Especially Styrofoam
Eco-consciousness? Not in the ’70s! Picnickers proudly brought mountains of single-use styrofoam plates, cups, and containers. The telltale squeak of styrofoam coolers being opened announced the start of many gatherings.
After the meal, everything got tossed directly into the trash—or sometimes just left behind at the park. The concept of recycling barely existed, and nobody gave a second thought to the environmental impact of their convenient picnic supplies.
6. Metal-Edged Lawn Darts
Lawn darts—essentially giant weighted darts with metal tips—were a popular picnic game. Children and adults would toss these potential weapons high into the air, aiming for plastic rings on the ground.
I still have a small scar on my foot from when my cousin Steve missed the target completely. Mom just poured some peroxide on it and told me to “walk it off” before handing me another hot dog.
Nobody seemed concerned about the obvious dangers until they were finally banned in the 1980s after causing numerous serious injuries.
7. Non-Diet Tab Soda
Before diet drinks became mainstream, Tab was the artificially-sweetened soda of choice at ’70s picnics. The saccharin-filled pink cans were especially popular with weight-conscious moms, despite the chemical’s questionable safety record at the time.
The bitter, metallic taste was considered a small price to pay for avoiding sugar calories. Nobody minded that drinking it felt like licking aluminum foil—it was fashionable! Warnings about cancer risks were printed right on the can, but conveniently ignored.
8. Spam Straight from the Can
The pink processed meat block made frequent appearances at casual outdoor gatherings. Sliced directly from the can and served at ambient temperature, Spam required minimal preparation and zero refrigeration.
Families would bring the can opener, pop the top, and slide the gelatinous meat cylinder onto a plate. The slices would glisten in the sun as people made sandwiches, seemingly unconcerned about food safety.
The salty, preserved meat was considered perfectly suitable for hours in the heat.
9. Deviled Eggs Without Refrigeration
Creamy, mayonnaise-filled egg halves would sit for hours under the summer sun. These protein bombs were displayed proudly on special plastic trays designed specifically for transporting deviled eggs to social gatherings.
The longer they sat out, the more questionable they became, yet everyone happily popped them into their mouths without concern. The telltale sulfur smell that developed by late afternoon was simply ignored as guests reached for “just one more” of these picnic favorites.
10. Aluminum Sun Reflectors
Foil-covered cardboard reflectors were essential for achieving that perfect ’70s tan. Picnickers would unfold these shiny panels and position them under their chins to maximize sun exposure.
Nobody worried about skin cancer or premature aging—the goal was to return from the picnic several shades darker. Sunscreen, if used at all, was SPF 4 or 8, practically cooking oil with a hint of protection.
My mother would meticulously reposition her reflector every 20 minutes for “even color,” her skin turning an alarming shade of crimson by day’s end.
11. Baby Oil for Tanning
Slathering pure mineral oil on skin was the preferred method for achieving that deep ’70s tan. Picnickers would arrive with bottles of baby oil, sometimes mixed with iodine for that extra “bronzing” effect.
Parents would coat their children in this reflective substance before sending them out to play. The resulting burns were considered a necessary step toward the perfect tan.
I remember my sister mixing baby oil with Coca-Cola, convinced this secret formula would turn her into Farrah Fawcett by sunset.
12. Unwrapped Homemade Sandwiches
Sandwiches made hours before the picnic would be transported without any wrapping whatsoever. Stacked on plates and covered loosely with a tea towel, these mayonnaise-laden creations somehow survived the journey.
By serving time, the bread edges had curled upward from drying out, while the centers had become soggy from the fillings. Nobody thought twice about eating room-temperature tuna salad that had been sitting out since morning.
Flies were simply shooed away—their brief landings on the food considered inconsequential.
13. Thermos Bottles of Warm Milk
Families would fill metal and glass Thermos bottles with milk for the children, which inevitably warmed throughout the day. By lunchtime, kids would be drinking room-temperature milk that had been sloshing around for hours.
The distinctive metallic taste that developed was simply part of the picnic experience. My cousin once left her Thermos in the car during a particularly hot July picnic. The resulting chunky substance didn’t stop her from offering everyone a sip of her “special milkshake.”
14. Unfiltered Cigarette Ashtrays on Food Tables
Heavy glass ashtrays were standard picnic table centerpieces, often placed right next to the potato salad. Nobody thought twice about ashes potentially floating into the food or the smell of smoke mingling with the meal.
These ashtrays would gradually fill throughout the day, overflowing with butts and ash that sometimes blew across the table. Children would be tasked with emptying them when full, handling the cigarette remnants directly before returning to eat their sandwiches with the same unwashed hands.
15. Canned Fruit Cocktail in Heavy Syrup
Those little plastic cups of syrup-drenched fruit pieces were picnic royalty. Each cup contained exactly one cherry—the coveted prize that siblings would fight over.
The metallic taste from the can somehow enhanced the experience. Nobody questioned why the pears were neon green or the grapes unnaturally firm. The sticky syrup would inevitably spill on clothing, creating permanent stains that became badges of picnic participation.
My mother would bring an entire can, serving it warm directly from the trunk of our Oldsmobile.
16. Loose Pills in Unmarked Containers
Parents casually brought medications in unmarked containers or loose in purse pockets. Need an aspirin? Just reach into Mom’s bag for one of those mysterious white tablets mixed with loose change and lint.
Prescription medications were freely shared between adults. Nobody thought twice about popping unidentified pills or leaving them within reach of curious children.
Child-resistant caps were considered optional, much like childproofing in general.
17. Station Wagon Tailgates as Baby Changing Tables
The lowered tailgate of a wood-paneled station wagon served as the perfect changing station for babies. Parents would change diapers in full view of picnickers, often while others were eating nearby.
No changing pads or sanitizing wipes—just the hot metal surface that had been collecting road dust for miles. Used cloth diapers would be tossed into a plastic bag to ferment until returning home, sometimes sitting in the sun for hours.
The concept of privacy or hygiene concerns simply didn’t register in the ’70s picnic mindset.
18. Warm Beer in Styrofoam Coolers
The flimsy styrofoam coolers of the era were notoriously ineffective. By mid-afternoon, the ice had melted, leaving cans of Schlitz or Pabst Blue Ribbon floating in lukewarm water.
Nobody seemed bothered by drinking beer that had reached bath water temperature. The cooler itself would often begin disintegrating, leaving tiny bits of styrofoam floating among the cans.
I remember my dad fishing out a beer, wiping off the white foam particles, and declaring it “still cold enough” despite being able to feel the warmth through the aluminum.