14 Fancy Foods That Were Once Eaten Only By the Poor

This vegetable, traditionally used more in sweet preparations like cakes and pies, was very popular in pre-WWII times. After the war, it wasn’t so widely used anymore until the 21st century, when celebrity chefs began experimenting with it again.

Rhubarb has made a comeback and can now be spotted on the menu in fine-dining restaurants just about everywhere.

Though silver beets have been used extensively in Mediterranean cooking for a long time, only in recent times have they become so in vogue across the globe. Their bold leaves are supposed to have many health benefits and the health food industry has been making much use of then in salads, side dishes, and savoury bakes.

Flesh-poor lamb cuts were never very popular. Who would want to eat lamb shanks over other fleshy bits of meat? Shanks were the left-over cuts eaten by people who couldn’t afford the finer parts of the animal. Today, the lean nature of this meat cut has made it a mainstay for weight-watching celebrities.

It is amazing how avocados have become a superfood today when, for generations, they were shunned by celebs in particular for being too fatty. In recent times, you can barely find health food recipes, sweet and savory, that don’t use avocado. Naturally, now that they're extremely popular, they're much more expensive and have some problematic environmental implications, too.

Go back a century and the poorest of the lot were the only ones eating oats. They were a budget food that was hardly appetizing and distinctly flavorless.

Today, oats are celebrated for their superior nutritive quality: everyone knows they're low in fat and high in fiber. Everything delicious – from breads and bakes to cakes and cookies – uses oats as the core ingredient today.

The bran of any grain, be it wheat, barley, or oats, has traditionally been considered undesirable because it adds nothing flavor-wise and just makes foods too coarse. Today, though, fiber-rich bran is especially sought after to make preparations more wholesome and healthy.

Of all dry fruits, walnuts were earlier considered to be most lowly. Who would go for those brain-shaped oddities when raisins, pistachios, and cashews exist? But this healthful nut is finally having its day in the sun.

Turns out, walnuts are loaded with healthy fats that make us feel full faster, not to mention nourishing antioxidants. They're fun to crack into around the holidays and are much sought after all across North America.

A staple in homes across Asia since time immemorial, herbal teas have suddenly become fashionable everywhere. Apart from the fact that they have numerous therapeutic qualities, they are mild in taste and make for great palate cleansers. Grocery stores and cafes alike now offer the fanciest caffeine-free beverages in an overwhelming selection.

Back in the day, low-fat dairy products such as skimmed milk were consumed by those who couldn’t afford the full-cream version. However, with the fitness revolution taking the world by storm since the 1950s, the sales for these less rich versions have gone up.

Today, these low-fat varieties can cost more than the regular, despite lots of science showing the benefits of healthy fats.

Eggs have been a breakfast staple in most parts of the world for many, many centuries. And why not? They are simple and versatile to make, highly nutritious, and taste good. In recent times, they have become even more popular, with egg-whites-only preparations being celebrity favorites for cholesterol-free meals (another health statistic that's been disproven).

From brown sugar and brown rice to whole grains and their products, everything unrefined is seen as healthier than the refined versions today. Just a couple generations ago, the opposite was true – the coarser, unrefined varieties were for the less moneyed and the elite ate the exclusive, refined foods, which befit their social stature perfectly.

Flaxseed has never been as widely used in the food industry as it is today. It’s not like it wasn’t consumed before but the rationale has changed now. Its health benefits have made it a sought-after ingredient in a lot of people’s diets. Athletes and bodybuilders swear by it, as do celebs.

Ah, coconut oil! What does one say about this versatile beauty that seems to be the answer to every problem in life? Who knew, when their grandma was oiling their locks with it, that coconut oil would soon be topping the food charts, too.

So many influential folks are now talking about this oil, which has become especially popular in low-carb and keto diet cooking.

Once, pumpkin was among the most pedestrian food items available to the lower classes. Now, open any menu card at a fancy diner and you’re sure to see pumpkin popping up everywhere! From desserts to savory pies to the wildly popular PSL, pumpkin's flavor and health benefits are getting their due.