A Smorgasbord!

 

 

 

One of the collecting goals I set for myself last year was to get some zeal back for the hobby; to find what types of cards bring back the nostalgia for me. The first way I've decided to do that here in 2024 is by exploring the kooky, quirky little corner of the hobby known as "food-issue".

 

Not just the typical Hostess and Kellogg's stuff. No, food-issue goes a lot deeper than that. And wider. (That was my attempt at a snack food/weight-gain pun.)

 

Anyway, the first thing I had to do was find all the food-issue cards I already had in my collection. Even though they were spread out across a few different boxes and binders, I was able to find and organize them fairly quickly—thanks in large part to the records I entered a few years ago on Trading Card Database. And you know what? I didn't realize the variety of food-issue cards I already had! So with a little bit of mojo going, I excitedly did some research to see what else might be out there. 

 

And wow. They sure crammed trading cards into a lot of food products over the years. 

 

This seems especially true for the 1980s and early 1990s, which happens to line up perfectly with my childhood collecting time. The card designs, as well as the star players of the era, really resonate with me. So what have I been doing since?

 

Adding more examples to my collection, that's what!

As you can see from the photo above, things are going pretty well on that front so far. It's been fun to gradually reclaim some of those little morsels of nostalgia—especially because many food-issue cards don't come anywhere close to breaking the bank. Win-win.

 

So now I want to start sharing these cards with you.

 

Keep in mind, however, that the food options won't exactly be healthy, what with various snack cakes, chips, sodas, hot dogs, chocolates, and boxed mac 'n cheese on the menu. But hey, if you're getting your exercise and eating right most of the time, it's okay to treat yourself every once in a while, right?

Right.

Besides, we'll have a few nutritious items on the menu as well, like bread and milk.

 

So here's how this "Smorgasbord" series will work: Each post will focus on one type of food-issue card (e.g., 1984 Ralston Purina, 1986 Jiffy Pop, 1988 Chef Boyardee). Along with the specific card(s) that I feature, I'll also try to include a brief history of the food brand, and other little touches like that.

 

So get your TV tray and favorite drinking glass ready. It's going to be a fun ride!