Thanksgiving is almost here, so what better time to talk about delicious food? Sorry to burst your bubble, but today I’m not going to be talking about roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. Today, I want to dive into some of the weirdest food trends of all time (good and especially bad) which may or may not have shown up on your family’s dinner table at some point.

Jell-O Salads

Possibly the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen is a Jell-O Salad. These 50s meals usually consisted of various canned and jarred meats, vegetables, and anything else you could imagine inside of (usually) green Jell-O. The sickest part is the recipes came printed on the box, so the company itself thought this was a good idea. A word of advice for the younger generations: nothing tastes good when mixed with Jell-O.

Bacon on Everything

This itself isn’t one food item, but a food craze. In the early-to-mid 2000s, people decided that bacon belonged on everything. You might think I’m kidding, but I’m not; people didn’t just stick with savory items but crossed the line into sweet territory. Maple bacon is an iconic flavor (particularly for donuts), but other foods, such as chocolate chip cookies and ice cream embraced the bacon trend. Furthermore, clothing brands capitalized on the reign of bacon by creating t-shirts, hats, socks, and anything else you can imagine with “I Love Bacon,” or a slight variation, printed right on them. This was yet another era that makes me cringe, not just because of some spectacularly awful food pairings, but because of the bacon memorabilia.

Gold Flakes

By far one of the most confusing trends is putting gold on everyday food items. What started out as a decorative garnish for expensive desserts in Michelin-starred restaurants quickly became a regular occurrence. While I understand that eating gold makes people feel like royalty, I can’t quite understand how it wouldn’t take away from whatever I was eating. I also don’t know that my digestive system would be too keen on eating metal, so for the time being, I’ll pass.

Fondue

Before I outrage a horde of foodies, hear me out. I love fondue. It’s delicious, and it can be utilized in so many ways. However, consider the premise: melted cheese that you dip ordinary foods into. It’s not just chips or pretzels and nacho cheese, but vegetables, meats, bread, and so much more. Beyond that, the fact that you share a bowl of cheese with a group of people is more family-style than many American families are comfortable with. While this food trend is one of the good ones, I still have to marvel in wonderment at who thought of this idea.

Freakshakes

One of the most recent crazy food trends is freakshakes. For those of you who are unfamiliar, freakshakes start out as milkshakes and get weird quickly. The glasses that hold these freakshakes are often adorned with icing and toppings, while the tops of the shakes are home to cookies, brownies, numerous sauces, sprinkles, and the list goes on. If you’re in the US, you probably live within driving distance of a restaurant that serves these crazy treats, and I suggest you try one (but maybe share with a friend!).

Food trends are popular because people get tired of eating regular meals. While some are disgusting, others end up as timeless classics that we couldn’t imagine living without. 2018 is coming soon, and I’m excited to see what the new year has in store for my palate.