Looney Tunes Meals were a set of frozen meal/TV dinner packages produced by Tyson Foods.[1][2] They were available for sale from 1990 until 1993, when Tyson stopped producing them for the market due to low sales caused in part by the economic recession of the early 1990s.[3]
The packages featured Looney Tunes characters on the front, and contained trading cards and stickers.[4] They came in a divided tray with a main course, a side dish, and a dessert.[5] They were to be heated in the microwave oven for two minutes, rotated, and heated for another one or two minutes, then allowed to stand for an additional two to three minutes, for a prep time of five to seven minutes.[3] Similar products introduced by other companies about the same time for children aged 2 to 10 included Hormel "Kid's Kitchen", ConAgra Banquet Foods brand "Kid Cuisine", and "My Own Meals".[6]
The meals were introduced with a fifteen million dollar advertising campaign. Despite Tyson Foods claiming they were "nutritious", there were concerns about their nutritional value. The butter sauce in the vegetables were criticized for excess fat and salt, while the main courses were generally unhealthy options in general.[7][8] Because of the criticism of misleading parents into thinking they were healthy and because of the the economic recession of 1993, sales began to decline and they were taken off the market indefinitely.[9]
First Wave[]
Bugs Bunny Chicken Chunks[]
Bugs Bunny Chicken Chunks is themed after Bugs Bunny. It has chicken chunks, macaroni & cheese, and carrots with butter sauce. It was first released to the markets in honor of Bugs' 50th birthday back in 1990.
- Chicken Chunks
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Carrots (with butter sauce)
Daffy Duck Spaghetti & Meatballs[]
Daffy Duck Spaghetti & Meatballs is themed after Daffy Duck. It has spaghetti & meatballs in tomato sauce, corn with butter sauce, and oatmeal cookies. It was released to celebrate the 50th birthday of Daffy's rival, Bugs.
- Spaghetti & Meatballs (with tomato sauce)
- Corn (with butter sauce)
- Oatmeal Cookies
Wile E. Coyote Hamburger Pizza[]
Wile E. Coyote Hamburger Pizza is themed after Wile E. Coyote. It has a hamburger pizza, green beans with butter sauce, and oatmeal cookies. It was one of the original Looney Tunes Meals released on Bugs' 50th birthday.
- Hamburger Pizza
- Green Beans (with butter sauce)
- Oatmeal Cookies
Sylvester Fish Sticks[]
Sylvester Fish Sticks is themed after Sylvester. It has fish sticks, tater chunks, and green beans with butter sauce. It was among those released to celebrate Bugs' 50th birthday.
- Fish Sticks
- Tater Chunks
- Green Beans (with butter sauce)
Tweety Macaroni & Cheese[]
Tweety Macaroni & Cheese is themed after Tweety. It has macaroni & cheese, green beans with butter sauce, and applesauce. It was released for Bugs' 50th birthday celebration. In the commercials, Tweety would say, "Nutritious and Delicious Too!"
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Green Beans (with butter sauce)
- Applesauce
Road Runner Chicken Sandwich[]
Road Runner Chicken Sandwich is themed after the Road Runner. It has a chicken sandwich, breaded potato wedges, and applesauce. It was released to celebrate Bugs' 50th birthday.
- Chicken Sandwich
- Potato Wedges (breaded)
- Applesauce
Yosemite Sam BBQ Glazed Chicken[]
Yosemite Sam BBQ Glazed Chicken is themed after Yosemite Sam. It has BBQ glazed chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn nuggets. It was released to celebrate the 50th birthday of Yosemite Sam's rival, Bugs.
- BBQ Glazed Chicken
- Mashed Potatoes
- Corn Nuggets
Speedy Gonzales Beef Enchiladas[]
Speedy Gonzales Beef Enchiladas is themed after Speedy Gonzales. It has beef enchiladas with enchilada sauce, Mexican style rice, and corn with butter sauce. It was released on Bugs' 50th birthday.
- Beef Enchiladas (with enchilada sauce)
- Mexican Style Rice
- Corn (with butter sauce)
Second Wave[]
Porky Pig Patty Deluxe[]
Porky Pig Patty Deluxe is themed after Porky Pig. It has a sausage sandwich, tater chunks, and cherry cobbler.
- Sausage Sandwich
- Tater Chunks
- Cherry Cobbler
Elmer Fudd Turkey & Dressing[]
Elmer Fudd Turkey & Dressing is themed after Elmer Fudd. It has turkey with dressing, green beans with butter sauce, and fudge cookies.
- Turkey (with dressing)
- Green Beans (with butter sauce)
- Fudge Cookies
Foghorn Leghorn Pepperoni Pizza[]
Foghorn Leghorn Pepperoni Pizza is themed after Foghorn Leghorn. It has a pepperoni pizza, corn with butter sauce, and a fudge brownie. It was the best selling of the three meals introduced after the original eight. It had approximately 410 calories, 13 gm fat and 660 mg sodium (about 1/3 teaspoon).[10]
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Corn (with butter sauce)
- Fudge Brownie
Henery Hawk Hot Dog[]
Henery Hawk Hot Dog is themed after Henery Hawk. It has a hot dog, French fries, and macaroni & cheese.
- Hot Dog
- French Fries
- Macaroni & Cheese
Final Wave[]
Bugs Bunny and Tasmanian Devil Pasta[]
Bugs Bunny and Tasmanian Devil Pasta is themed after [Bugs Bunny and his rival, the Tasmanian Devil. It has beef ravioli with tomato sauce. It failed to gain enough interest for people, leading to the meals getting discontinued.
- Beef Ravioli (with tomato sauce)
Foghorn Leghorn and Henery Hawk Pasta[]
Foghorn Leghorn and Henery Hawk Pasta is themed after Foghorn Leghorn and his rival, Henery Hawk. It has shaped pasta with meat sauce. It had failed to gain much interest, leading the meals getting discontinued.
- Shaped Pasta (with meat sauce)
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Yasuda, Gene, Companies See Cold Cash in Courting Young Taste Buds, Los Angeles Times, San Diego County Edition, July 17, 1990, Business section, Part D, page 2A. Retrieved February 15, 2011
- ↑ Grodner, Terri, How nutritious are TV dinners for tots?, Environmental Nutrition, October 1, 1990. Retrieved February 15, 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tipton, Tom, KIDS IN THE KITCHEN : Time-Saving Meals Children Can Make : Trends: Frozen dinners are being marketed to young children in busy households, Los Angeles Times, June 28, 1990. Retrieved February 15, 2011
- ↑ Blonz, Edward R., Ph.D., Kids' TV meals require scrutiny, The Baltimore Sun, September 25, 1991, page 1C. Template:Webarchive. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
- ↑ Petkofsky, Andy, Zap-a-meal, Richmond Times-Dispatch, July 18, 1990, page 27. Retrieved February 15, 2011[dead link]
- ↑ Webb, Densie, Eating well, The New York Times, February 14, 1990. Retrieved February 15, 2011
- ↑ Sagon, Carol, Frozen far for the crayon crowd, St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 2, 1992. Retrieved February 15, 2011[dead link]
- ↑ Youngsters often have gap between mind and mouth, The Associated Press, published in The Tuscaloosa News, January 27, 1993. Retrieved February 15, 2011
- ↑ Dyslin, John Kids meal meltdown – demand for kid's frozen meals drops, Prepared Foods, October, 1993. Retrieved February 15, 2011[dead link]
- ↑ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-03-14/entertainment/9101230579_1_kids-meals-frozen-tasting