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The 1990s was the era of grunge, independent films, and the dawning of the world wide web, but what was it like at the grocery store? For generations, people have commented on the rising cost of groceries, but when factoring in inflation, some items are actually cheaper today than they were in the 1990s. Food prices in 1990 were often similar to today's prices - which one would hope for, since it wasn't all that long ago - though some items have actually come down in price in the past decades.Have you ever wondered, “How much was a loaf of bread in the 1990s?” How about the price of eggs? This list will break down 1990 food prices by listing the average price back then, the 1990 price factoring in inflation - using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=0.60&amp;year1=199001&amp;year2=202003">inflation calculator</a> - and today's cost for the same items.Vote up the grocery store items that you think have the best 2020 value and vote down any food that you'd rather go back in time to purchase.

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How Much Grocery Store Items Cost In 1990 Vs. 2020

Food

Jude Newsome

Old Stuff

For generations, people have commented on the rising cost of groceries, but when factoring in inflation, some items are actually cheaper today than they were in the 1950s. Food prices in 1950 were measured in cents, but in 2020 those prices go up exponentially. That milkshake you'd be sharing with your sweetie would be almost two times as expensive thanks to what inflation did to milk prices.Have you ever wondered, “How much was a loaf of bread in the 1950s?” How about the price of eggs? This list will break down <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951d023676548&amp;view=1up&amp;seq=19">1950 food prices</a> by listing the average price back then, the 1950 price factoring in inflation - using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=0.52&amp;year1=195001&amp;year2=202003">inflation calculator</a> - and today's cost for the same items.Vote up the grocery store items that you think have the best value now and vote down anything you'd rather travel back in time to purchase.

How Much Grocery Store Items Cost In 1950 Vs. 2020

Fun facts and fascinating trivia about historical, bygone, and modern foods for people who love eating food.

Chew on This

Every <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/each-state-essential-food/melissa-sartore">state has a food</a> it is known for, and we often take pride in claiming that our home makes some of the best barbecue, seafood, or pies in the nation. Still, when Ranker asked readers which food they could eat for the rest of their lives, Chinese food, spaghetti, burritos, and sushi were some of the dishes that ranked at the very top of the list. Part of what makes these foods so appealing is that they seem special, helping us feel like we are experiencing ethnic foods without having to leave home. Are we really, though?&nbsp;It turns out that some of our very favorite “ethnic” foods actually originated right here in our own country. While a few resemble dishes from their supposed countries, others were conceptualized entirely in the United States. This list exposes the fascinating, real, and very American origins of some of our very favorite “ethnic” dishes.

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Foods Americans Think Are Ethnic But Were Actually Invented In The States, Ranked

Foods Americans Think Are Ethnic But Were Actually Invented In The States

Lauren Glen

A deep look at the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

Alcohol Through the Ages

Food History

Wise prophet&nbsp;Homer Simpson <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUVwR0rw5fk" target="_blank">famously described alcohol</a> as &quot;the cause of and solution to all of life's problems&quot; and it turns out he's kind of right.&nbsp;Alcohol isn't just a mostly overpriced social lubricant at best (and horribly destructive and addictive poison at worst);&nbsp;&nbsp;it actually played a huge role in the daily routine of almost every man, woman,&nbsp;and child in early America.&nbsp;&nbsp;The drinking habits in early America shaped the country into what it is today, for better or for worse. Take a look back in time with this list and check out all of the old laws, resourceful criminals, and fearless leaders that changed our boozy history.&nbsp;

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The True Story Behind America's History with Alcohol

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10 Fascinating Facts About Early American Booze Consumption

Rachel Souerbry

Avocado toast, goat cheese, alternative meat dishes - these are all what we'd consider <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/21st-century-food-fads-to-avoid/carly-kiel?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">21st century food trends</a>.But did you know the bases of these dishes have been around a long time? In some cases, thousands of years?&nbsp;Our ancient human ancestors were no different from us <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/elizabethan-era-food/emily-mast">in wanting tasty dishes</a>, so they created some of the staple recipes that we take for granted today. From pancakes to pot pie to popcorn, different people in various pockets of the world were responsible for creating (or stumbling upon) some of our favorite foods today.&nbsp;So which food do you think will be the oldest? Read on to find out.&nbsp;

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Dishes That Are Much Older Than We Realized

Surprisingly Ancient Meals

Emily Pogue

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Great design tickles a certain place in your brain when you see it. And unfortunately, impractical design has the opposite effect - probably annoying you far more than it should. Add hunger into the mix, and you can get some really strong emotions (and perhaps <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/whoa-food-myths/setareh-janda">mistaken beliefs</a>) tied to how food is packaged.&nbsp;Sometimes, logical <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historians-answer-questions-about-food/setareh-janda">reasons</a> exist for what seem to be frustrating package designs. (Who knew that air in chip bags served a purpose?) On the other hand, you might be disappointed to find out that some of the biggest grievances in the snacking product design world come down to a company being stuck in its ways - and not really wanting to innovate. (Here's looking at you, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/food-facts-rethink-what-we-eat/melissa-sartore">hot dog industry</a>.)&nbsp;Vote up the designs that make the most sense.

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The Actual Reasons Food Is Packaged The Way It Is, Ranked By The Most Logical Packaging Style

Why Food Is Packaged A Certain Way

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Each year when holidays like Thanksgiving or Easter roll around, it's common to gather around the dinner table and eat a traditional meal. On Valentine's Day, you give or get chocolate, while Easter doesn't just mean consuming food, it means hunting it, too.There are historical and cultural reasons foods are linked to specific holidays, many of which are the complicated result of change and human interaction over time. As a result, learning about why you eat something on a holiday can be an incredibly eye-opening lesson about people, celebrations, and food all at once.

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The Actual Reasons Certain Foods Are Associated With Specific Holidays

Why People Eat Certain Foods On Different Holidays

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Marshmallows - they're sweet, delicious, sticky, and good for all kinds of foods and treats. Marshmallows are so much more than all of that. They're millennia old and were once used to treat all sorts of medical ailments.Marshmallows get their name from the plant originally used to make them. That plant isn't included in marshmallows at all in the contemporary world, but the name endures.&nbsp;Now generally made out of sugar, gelatin (derived from animal bones in most cases), water, and air, marshmallows have a unique solid yet soft consistency. They make candied yams more candy-like, hot chocolate even better, and, of course, leave you wanting s'more.&nbsp;

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How One Ancient Food Became An American Favorite

Marshmallows Have Been Around For Thousands Of Years

19th Century

The Victorian era comprised the period of Queen Victoria&#39;s reign of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901. It was a time of industrial revolution and political reform though many kitchens were stocked with common items of today. Some food staples are actually cheaper today than they were in the Victorian era probably due to the industrialization of the system.

Have you ever wondered, &ldquo;how much was a pound of butter in the Victorian era?&rdquo; How about the price of cheese? Prices in this list are noted by &pound; for pound, s for shilling, and d for pence.

This list will break down <a href="https://archive.org/details/lifeinwestlondon00sheruoft/page/n129/mode/2up/search/Tea%2C+Sugar%2C+and+Milk+" target="_blank">Victorian era food prices</a> by listing the average price back then, the Victorian era price factoring in inflation &ndash; using <a href="https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ukcompare/" target="_blank">MeasuringWorth</a>.com&#39;s inflation calculator &ndash; and today&#39;s cost for the same items.

Vote up the grocery store items that you think have the best 2020 value and vote down any food that you think is currently priced too high.

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How Much Grocery Store Items Cost In Victorian Era Vs. 2020

Alcohol

Did you know that some of the former presidents of the US were huge drinkers and recreational drug users? Huge! Granted, most people in the country were pretty hard drinkers in the 19th century. (Got a toothache? Whisky! Depressed? Gin! Starting your day? Cider!) But even in the context of their own time periods, these ex-presidents loved to party.Here is the question: which one would you most want to go on a bender with?! Think hard! This is totally serious and important. &nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bender">Urban dictionary defines a bender as</a>&nbsp;"the status of being bent for more than a day. Usually results in loss of memory, money, strange tattoos, and other things you'll have a hell of a time explaining." So, not just a couple of beers at a bar, but a full-on blackout fest. Which former president would you bring with you? WHICH ONE?!Odds are, you don't know the personal story of each <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst">former US president</a>. That's okay. Context has been provided as well as the pros and cons to consider before you make your choice. So grab a glass of whiskey to sip on, pull up a chair, and rank these ex-presies. If you're drinking already and feeling bold, rerank this list and put it in your own order.&nbsp;

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Which Ex-Presidents Would You Want to Go on a Bender With?

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Lists about real life on the wild American frontier and fictionalized versions of the Old West.

Wild, Wild West

Those who trekked across the country to begin new lives in the Wild West were known for their&nbsp;resourcefulness, and it shows in many of the foods they ate. While&nbsp;pioneer cuisine may seem strange to us today, the settlers had no choice but to use what they had to survive - and they got pretty creative.

<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/wild-west-sex-facts/jacobybancroft" target="_blank">Life in the Old West</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;harsh, journeys were long, and settlers had no&nbsp;guarantees the food they packed on a wagon train would last until their final destination. They hunted local wildlife, used replacement ingredients that traveled well (such as apple cider vinegar to make a passable&nbsp;pie), and preserved everything they could. They also used every part of the animals they ate - head cheese, anyone? Perhaps they even polished off a meal with &quot;scamper juice&quot; (one of many colorful <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/old-wild-west-slang-word-and-expressions/brent-sprecher" target="_blank">Wild West slang terms</a>).

Much of what cowboys&nbsp;ate was out of necessity rather than preference, but&nbsp;maybe a&nbsp;cup of calf&#39;s foot jelly or a plate of roasted squirrel was a real treat.&nbsp;

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Here's What Early Pioneers Ate To Survive The Old West

What Early Pioneers Ate To Survive The Old West

Then & Now

In the last decade, we've seen some <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unusual-food-experiences/melissa-sartore">pretty wild variations of food</a> emerge as people feel more comfortable sharing their experiments with friends and the world on social media.&nbsp;But have you ever thought about what the original versions of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-delicious-foods-in-the-world">popular dishes</a> tasted like? Was chocolate always so sweet? Did ancient people enjoy a crisp pot pie as much as we do? Did sushi use to be way saltier? (Spoiler: yes.)So which of these dishes would you have indulged in their original form? Which would you prefer to eat today's version of?

What The Original Versions Of 12 Popular Dishes Actually Tasted Like

Original Popular Dishes

Part of the fun of traveling is stuffing your face with the cuisines and treats of the locals. These lists rank the most delicious, must-try foods wherever you'll be.

Food Around the World

Some foods trigger <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-food-that-makes-the-rest-of-the-world-gag/will-morgan-1">unequivocal American pride</a> - the hot dog, hamburger, macaroni and cheese, apple pie. So you might be surprised that these and other “American” foods were, in fact, created elsewhere. Sometimes they were even popular in other countries, but the US eventually seemed to take credit for the culinary invention. Serving as a melting pot of cultures, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ethnic-foods-invented-in-america/lauren-glen">United States has long taken traditional foods</a> from other countries and put its own spin on them.Although these foods are not any less tasty because they're not American-bred, you might hesitate the next time a friend asks if you want to get some “American” grub. &nbsp;

Foods We Thought Were American But Were Actually Invented Somewhere Else

'American' Foods That Were Invented Elsewhere

World Cuisine

Food is an essential part of culture. As communities, states, and nations form their identities, food becomes part of how they see&nbsp;themselves and shapes the perceptions of others. Dining at an Italian restaurant, for example, means pasta, pizza, and the like, while the names of some foods even attest to national origins.

But what if someone&nbsp;told you a food as prolific as french fries are Belgian? That tempura is Portuguese? Would the origins of these dishes, so commonly - and incorrectly - associated with one part of the world, change anything?&nbsp;

The origins of some so-called &quot;national&quot; dishes may surprise you more than others. If nothing else, you may never view a restaurant menu the same way again.&nbsp;

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Essential 'National' Food Dishes Whose Origins We Were Totally Wrong About

Essential 'National' Dishes With Origins We Were Wrong About

People who grew up in the 1990s may feel some nostalgia when thinking about Surge, Shark Bites, or other <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/the-greatest-discontinued-1990s-foods-and-beverages/brian-gilmore">discontinued foods from the '90s</a>&nbsp;- and those of a certain age will remember Zima. The clear malt beverage was a huge hit when it debuted in 1993, but it wasn't long before Zima&nbsp;became&nbsp;a pop-culture punchline. Using an extreme marketing campaign directed toward&nbsp;young American men, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/coors-brewing-company-beer/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Coors Brewing Company</a> took advantage of the craze for clear products to target consumers who wanted alternatives to beer, wine coolers, and hard liquor. The company believed these people would enjoy the citrusy&nbsp;beverage.Zima was among the first mainstream "malternatives," paving the way for other notable bottled drinks, including Smirnoff Ice and Mike's Hard Lemonade. Coors spent millions on advertising in its attempt to attract young men toward&nbsp;the product. However, not many liked the taste, and many men didn't consider it manly enough to give their approval. Coors tried to rebrand Zima several times, but American consumers were largely uninterested, and it was discontinued in the US in 2008. Nostalgia kept it in many consumers' minds, however, and re-releases proved people would buy it, even if they joked about drinking it at the same time. So why do people still remember Zima? The drink may not have won over consumers with its taste, but its influence on both alcohol and internet marketing is still seen today.

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For A Brief Moment In The '90s, Zima Was Popular - Until People Tasted It

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Ah, the '70s. The decade of bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye, free love, and, perhaps most importantly, reasonably priced grocery store items. Or so we like to imagine. While the fare at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-70s-dinner-party-tweets/mrennie">1970s dinner parties</a> might have been questionable at best, we also don't envy the era's cost of standard items like bread and milk. In fact, their prices feel really familiar to life in 2020.Using a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=0.09&amp;year1=197001&amp;year2=201912">Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator</a> on the average price of basic grocery item proves that the era of Vietnam and the great Stagflation isn't too dissimilar from the present. After all, doesn't history love repeating itself?

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How Much Grocery Store Items Cost In 1970 Vs. Today

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Food History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for lists and rankings in all categories

Food History lists on Ranker

Food History lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of Food History lists and rankings.