How did you feel about these? Did You Eat TV Dinners When You Were a Kid?

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Garuda34@reddit

I loved them. I remember for a short time in the early 70's (when I was seven or eight), there was a pirate-themed TV dinner that I loved.

A quick Google says they were "Libbyland Pirate Picnic Kids Dinners."

Yep, this is the one.

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SavoirFaire2Middling@reddit

"Libby the Kid" was their mascot, who featured in the TV commercials with a tag line that went something like, "Libby the Kid is Billy the Kid . . . spelled sideways."

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Garuda34@reddit

I have a verrrrry vague recollection of the phrase "Libby the Kid,", but that's about it.

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Libbyland dinners were my absolute favourite! We only had them on rare occasion, as my mother always cooked, but they were such a fun treat when we did get them. I also loved the commercials that they had on tv, and that made me want them even more!

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Garuda34@reddit

Same. I only remember having them a few times, but I always enjoyed them when I did.

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

I don't remember this box. If I saw that in the store, I'd have begged for it.

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Garuda34@reddit

It might have been a regional thing. I was in Ohio.

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

That makes sense.

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Princessferfs@reddit

We got them as a treat. But eating out of a metal tray using a metal fork makes my teeth hurt and I just can’t do it anymore.

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tchrbrian@reddit

Speaking of treats, Happy Cake day !!

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Tampadarlyn@reddit

My boys loved the Salisbury steak so much I learned to make it from scratch. It was cheaper than buying 5 trays, and I made it in the crockpot, so it was ready when I got home from work.

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The-interrobang@reddit

This was a topic on Steve and Larson recently. Are you a fan of, or is it just a coincidence?

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

I don't know Steve and Larson.

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The-interrobang@reddit

Podcast. Tv dinners must be in the public consciousness at the moment

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fridayimatwork@reddit

Constant rotation

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219_Infinity@reddit

I only liked the roll and the dessert

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Komaisnotsalty@reddit

The only time those showed up was when my mom was going on one of her 'there she goes again' religious ladies retreats for church.

Dad couldn't cook to save his life and I could but I wasn't home often, so Salisbury steak TV dinners would show up.

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tuatrodrastafarian@reddit

Salisbury steak - the only place physics allows cardboard to exist in 3 states of matter simultaneously.

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whatiftheyrewrong@reddit

Only fried chicken.

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wordstogetherrandom@reddit

it was a treat. My mom is a terrible cook, bless her heart.

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Aggravating_Piece232@reddit

Those were the best. My favorite bits were the crispy-at-the edges mashed potatoes and the brownie/cake for dessert.

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Jolly_Werewolf_7356@reddit

I felt sick to my stomach

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elcad@reddit

Always wanted them. But we couldn't afford them. Closest we got was a box a Banquet chicken.

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rochvegas5@reddit

we got them for parent/teacher night. Before microwaves, it was tinfoil trays and took 45 minutes to cook

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Sufficient_Stop8381@reddit

I actually never ate one until I was on my own. By then they were microwaved. Dinner at home was always homemade even if it was just beans, which it often was.

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Sassybeagle@reddit

Hell yeah. You’d get some bonus corn niblets in the dessert if you opened the plastic too quickly.

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formercotsachick@reddit

We did, but only for nights when my mom and dad were both working.

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Chibi-Skyler@reddit

They were an occasional thing growing up. I remember they came in foil trays and they went in the oven (no microwaves back then). I usually got the Salisbury Steak-corn-mashed potatoes-brownie one.

I haven't bought a TV dinner for myself in 10+ years. I love to cook, so these would be a big waste of money (and calories).

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

That's how I remember them as well.

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Md693@reddit

No my mother cooked too good and we didn’t have tv dinner money

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Available_Wolf1059@reddit

https://youtu.be/C-6mI708yWc?si=QXv_SXHSktbbBo1S

TV Dinners… There’s nothing else to eat.

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draggar@reddit

Came here for this.

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Atomic_Priesthood@reddit

Yep.

Does anyone remember a brand with a pirate? Early 70's

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ConclusionAlarmed882@reddit

If you mean Libbyland, yes. I loved those. That rubbery ring around the hot chocolate pudding, scraping up the corn to reveal the embossed pirate. Magical.

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Atomic_Priesthood@reddit

LIBBYLAND!!!!!

That's it. I was trying to remember that for a long time.

Commercial

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Fluid_Anywhere_7015@reddit

I LOVED these...primarily because it meant that I didn't have to do the damn dishes, other than washing the silverware.

Also the apple-based desserts were the best. I hated those tart cherry/cranberry things. And salisbury steak was tops, as was the turkey and dressing.

And I don't consider anything not in a tin-foil packaged to be a "real" TV dinner. You had to cook it in the oven for 45 minutes.

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

I never thought about not having to do the dishes. I definitely hated doing the dishes more than I hated these.

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Embarrassed-Cause250@reddit

Felt like I won the lottery! I loved the chicken best, but it only cane with apple pie, so I would choose the one with chocolate cake, Salisbury Steak, I think it was. Not nearly as good as the chicken, but I was determined to get as much chocolate cake as I could.

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ChrystineDreams@reddit

My family couldn't afford these. First time I had a tv dinner was at a friend's house and that was because her parents were out and she could microwave them. it was the most disgusting slop I had ever eaten. pulpy mashed potatoes, weird tasting carrots, and a couple of chicken (wings?) that had maybe 2 oz of meat on them and were weirdly crispy.

Hey, on a similar note I tried that Factor Meals service a couple of years ago and my aversion to pre-trayed dinners is the same. I would rather cook my own.

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viewering@reddit

oh i love 'em !

i did a food choice test once

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life-is-thunder@reddit

We got TV dinners or frozen pot pies every Friday when our parents went bowling. I was a fan of the fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

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yanknga@reddit

Yes especially if a babysitter was coming over soon. Our (3 sons) TV dinners were typically pirate themed.

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lazygerm@reddit

I was a Swanson's, Mortons and Banquet kid.

Also, Chef Boyardee, Dinty Moore, Buitoni and Franco American as well.

Mom did not cook.

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EnjoyingTheRide-0606@reddit

They were (and most still are) disgusting.

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phred_666@reddit

I had them every now and then as a kid. My mother tended to cook almost everything from scratch so it wasn’t very often. A lot of times it was my choice (which mom would easily go along with if she was extremely busy).

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

My mom did cook quite a bit. She wasn't great at it. My dad loved steak. I think this was her trying to give him steak. Lol

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chimpyjnuts@reddit

My dad would have murdered my mom if she ever handed him one of those, so we only got them when he was away for business. Interestingly, my little sister claimed to like them more than 'real' food. And my mom was good cook. I think due them being 'dad's away' special meals.

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ONROSREPUS@reddit

No, I have never had one. I have been tempted to try but I know it will just be a disappointment.

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

Don't do it

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ONROSREPUS@reddit

That is what everybody tells me. For me that is what makes me want to try it. Like don't cut the tag off your mattress type of thing.

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kermitsfrogbog@reddit

I liked them. They were a treat. Especially when they included a dessert.

I went away for a weekend by myself a few years ago and wanted to save money by stocking up on easy meals rather than eating at restaurants. I was disappointed when Walmart near the hotel didn't have any Hungry Man dinners.

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BDamage707@reddit

They were a treat for me too. My mom didn’t like to buy them so I very rarely got any

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

My father seemed to like them. I did like the chicken pot pies. But, not these.

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airckarc@reddit

Only had them when my parents went out and I had a babysitter. Gina (my first love) and I would sit down to a romantic dinner for two. Turkey and gravy for her and fried chicken for me. I’m sure I held my pinky out when picking up a leg and she was probably super impressed.

My parents almost never went out and were fine leaving me alone at eight, so Gina never really had a chance with me.

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

Definitely Gina's loss. I mean, the pinky thing. Who could resist?

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Carrollz@reddit

Big salad, fresh fruit, and a slice of crunchy crusty bread - that's always been my jam, so no, never been a fan of the TV dinner. I'd eat the peas and corn if there were any but even though I did love mashed potatoes those never came out right from frozen.

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Ghost_of_Syd@reddit

Not by choice.

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ascaffo@reddit (OP)

Exactly

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steve-eldridge@reddit

Peas, corn, and carrots, that metallic taste will haunt me forever.

And don't let the peas get into the pie/dessert segment.