New soda brands came out frequently in the 1980s.
The 1980s were distinctively different from other decades. The 1980s had its own sense of style, but since then each decade has been kind of bland, so many people look nostalgically back to the '80s. What this decade is most remembered for besides the big hair and the music is being called the decade of excess, as noted at LikeTotally80s.com. When getting food for a 1980s theme party, include specialty items that were popular in that decade as well as food that fits with the "excess" theme.
Drinks
Though the '80s was a decade of excess, it was also a decade of excessive dieting with diet sodas such as Tab and Pepsi Free served at home and at restaurants. Although Pepsi Free doesn't exist anymore, you can serve Tab or a caffeine-free diet soda. Tab was a play on words because it was supposed to be for people keeping tabs on their weight. Slurpees and seltzer soda water were popular nondiet drinks.
Appetizers
The 1980s saw a lot of new snack foods invented. Hubba Bubba bubble gum became popular for making huge bubbles. Serving bubble gum of any kind would fit with the theme. Ritz Bits were introduced and popular for their tiny size, which allowed them to be eaten in a single bite.
Main Dishes
The ultimate '80s food was the McDLT. Actor Jason Alexander did a commercial long before hitting it big on "Seinfeld," shouting the benefits of keeping the cool side of the burger separate from the hot side until was time to eat. The big Styrofoam container run foul of environmentalists, though, and it was discontinued. Create your own version: Make a burger and keep the top bun with lettuce and tomato on one side of the plate and the other bun with the burger on the other side. Steak-ums, thin stips of steak for making steak sandwhiches, also were popular in the '80s.
Desserts
Oreo Double stuffs came out in the 1980s, so named because Double Stuffs had twice the cream filling of a normal Oreo. Fruit and pudding rollups also were introduced. The rollups were dried and peeled off of a plastic strip. Actor and comedian Bill Cosby made Jell-o popular again. A favorite dessert for many kids growing up the 1980s was Rice Krispy treats, made from the recipe on the side of the Rice Krispies cereal box.
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