... Something changed between that generation and mine.
Processed food and factory/chemical "food" ... HFCS and preservatives and artificial flavours ...
My grandfather's generation grew up on farms where they grew their own food and bought local produce that they didn't grow.
The interstate highway system ('60's) opened up shipping, technologies were developed to make food survive shipping, monocultures of shipping tolerant crops were developed, and the food giants like Monsanto began ...
We are lucky to be in an area with local farms growing organic crops, raising organic livestock, and so we are able to keep a lot of the chemical additives out of our diet. We pay more for it, and are happy to do so because the food tastes better.
Personally I think a lot of the obesity and increased incidence of diabetes and allergies can be traced back to the changes in the food provided by big ag and the big food companies.
/rant
Enjoy