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20 Weird 1970s Food Ads That Project A Groovier Decade

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Vintage advertisements for Libby’s Spread’n Heat Pizza spread and a child eating a plate of pasta with the text, “Sure beats a cold sandwich.”
via Canva

Food ads in the 1970s were a different, far more rad machine. Really, you can see the fascinating differences in the vibe of the times, as demonstrated through the ads of the 1970s. To say that the advertising was a bit groovier would seem to be a fair assessment.

1. Kellogg’s Product 19 (1970)

A vintage advertisement for Kellogg’s Product 19 cereal shows a red cereal box and a bowl of flakes with milk and strawberries. Text highlights the cereal’s high vitamin and iron content for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
robbjuteau / Reddit.com

2. General Mills Monster Cereals (1971)

Two cereal boxes: Count Chocula (chocolate flavor, vampire mascot) and Franken Berry (strawberry flavor, pink Frankenstein mascot) with bowls of cereal. Text promotes them as "Nutritious Monsters.
algebramclain / Reddit.com

3. McDonald’s Big Mac Value Meal (1971)

A McDonald's ad features fries, a soft drink, a Big Mac, and a smiling employee in uniform hat. The text highlights "The Big Meal" as a great deal for dinner.
Kevin_Finkel / Reddit.com

4. Campbell’s Soup on the Rocks (1972)

A hand pours Campbell’s Beef Broth from a can into a glass with ice cubes. Text below reads "Soup on the rocks." Additional text and branding appear at the bottom.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

5. Libbyland TV Dinner (1972)

A young boy in a sweater holds up an open tray of a Libbyland Safari Supper frozen dinner, showing different food sections. The ad features text describing the meals and images of three Libbyland dinner packages at the bottom.
Djf47021 / Reddit.com

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6. Stouffer’s Spinach Soufflé (1972)

A square slice of spinach soufflé sits on a white plate in the foreground, with bread rolls and fried chicken in the background. White text and the Stouffer’s logo are displayed above and below the image.
jenn_knits_again / Reddit.com

7. Chef Boyardee Complete Pizza Mix (1972)

A round pizza topped with hard-boiled egg slices, anchovies, and onions sits on a wooden board. Surrounding the pizza are eggs, onions, grated cheese, and a pizza cutter on a rustic table.
Slow-moving-sloth / Reddit.com

8. Marathon Candy Bar (1973)

Advertisement for Marathon candy bar featuring a hand holding a long, wavy chocolate bar with caramel and the text: "FREE Marathon candy bar," "Nobody eats a Marathon fast!" and "It lasts a good long time!
DiosMioMan63 / Reddit.com

9. Hamburger Helper (1973)

Six boxes of Hamburger Helper dinner mixes are displayed upright, showing different flavors including Rice Oriental, Cheeseburger Macaroni, Hash, Tomato, Potato Stroganoff, and Beef Noodle. Text appears at the bottom.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

10. Chun King Foods Frozen Dinner (1974)

An advertisement for Chun King Chinatown Style Frozen Dinners shows a dinner box and a metal tray with shrimp chow mein, pepper oriental, rice, vegetables, and egg rolls. The ad features bold text introducing the meal.
Hooverpaul / Reddit.com

11. Libby’s Spread ‘n Heat Pizza (1975)

A vintage advertisement shows a slice of bread topped with pizza-flavored spread beside an open container labeled "Spread'n Heat Pizza." A spreading knife with some of the spread rests on a yellow plate.
RobotRollCall24 / Reddit.com

12. Yule Log (1975)

A retro magazine ad features a sliced frozen yule log dessert with pineapple rings, cherries, and almonds, along with cans of Dole sliced pineapple and a jar of Miracle Whip, and the recipe text.
grsims20 / Reddit.com

13. Kraft Dinners (1975)

A plate with Kraft macaroni and cheese, a sausage, and a tomato wedge is set with a knife and fork. An open Kraft Macaroni & Cheese box sits in the lower left. Text above offers meal tips.
FNaXQ / Reddit.com

14. Seven Up Candy Bar (1975)

A vintage candy wrapper showing a chocolate bar with seven sections labeled mint, nougat, butterscotch, fudge, coconut, butter cream, and caramel. Text reads "NEW Seven Up Milk Chocolate Candy.
robbjuteau / Reddit.com

15. Heinz Spaghetti (1975)

A young child sits at a table eating spaghetti from a plate with a fork, next to a glass of milk. Behind is a floral-patterned wallpaper. Heinz spaghetti cans are shown in the corner with advertising text.
TastyCereal2 / Reddit.com

16. Pringles (1975)

A vintage Pringles ad shows a can of "Newfangled Potato Chips" with a pile of whole, stacked chips beside it. Text highlights freshness and unbroken chips. A small photo shows a woman and child enjoying chips.
AxlCobainVedder / Reddit.com

17. Burger King (1975)

A smiling family of four sits at a Burger King booth, enjoying burgers, fries, and drinks. The text below reads, "Have it your way. Burger King. It’s the only way.
susierabbit / Reddit.com

18. Betty Crocker Spoon & Bake Cookie Dough (1975)

A can of Betty Crocker Spoon & Bake Chocolate Flavor Chip cookie dough is opened, with a spoon scooping out dough. Below are images of unbaked and baked cookies, a woman eating a cookie, and four dough can varieties.
TaimSolas / Reddit.com

19. Leo’s Sandwich Meats (1976)

A family of four anthropomorphic lions enjoy a picnic on grass, eating sandwiches with Leo’s sandwich meats. Packaged deli meats are displayed on a picnic blanket. Text below describes the products.
UserDeleted / Reddit.com

20. Streets Neapolitan Log (1976)

A Streets Neapolitan Log dessert, with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream layers, is shown sliced to reveal its colorful interior. The dessert rests on a white plate with packaging visible in the corner.
Vin_du_toilette / Reddit.com

Looking for more retro food content?

Feast your eyes on 11 Dishes We Ate in the ’80s That Were Considered Extra Fancy and 15 Dishes That Defined High-Class Dining in the 1970s. Plus, be sure to check out 14 Dishes From the 1960s That Defined Sophistication.

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Matt Staff

Matt has spent over the last 8 years as both a writer and editor, working in Seattle and Brooklyn, where he is now based. He loves escaping the tirelessly fast pace of the “Mad Apple” that is NYC by taking walks and runs through parks where he’s able to catch up on the latest tea about society from the city’s ever chatty, always hungry, occasionally maniacal, pigeons. They always have a lot to say. When he’s not taking his urban nature strolls, or dutifully combing the deepest rabbit holes of the internet to find the content that’s worth sinking your mind’s teeth into, he’s likely holed up at a dark-lit dive bar with a new book and/or some friends, or just easily he could be on the hunt for the next addition to his steadily growing plant family.



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