Every generation has its strengths and weaknesses, but when it comes to health, boomers may have gotten a few things right without even realizing it.
They weren’t following cutting-edge wellness trends or tracking steps on their phones. They were simply living in a time that encouraged habits science now confirms were protective.
Looking back, many of the lifestyle choices boomers made—often out of necessity—set them up for stronger health than the generations who came after them. Here’s what research has to say about those choices and why they matter today.
1. Cooking most meals at home
For boomers, restaurants were a treat, not a routine. Growing up, most families cooked at home using fresh or minimally processed ingredients. That meant fewer preservatives, less sodium, and more whole foods.
Research today backs up the benefits of this habit. Studies show that people who frequently cook at home consume fewer calories, less sugar, and less fat than those who eat out regularly.
Cooking also gives you control over portion sizes and ingredients, something processed meals and takeout often strip away.
I still remember my mother’s kitchen—a constant buzz of clattering pots and the smell of simmering stews. She wasn’t thinking about macros or superfoods. She was feeding a family with what she had, and it worked.
That steady diet of home-cooked meals laid the groundwork for a healthier baseline compared to today’s fast-food-heavy world.
2. Walking as a default form of transport
How often do you walk somewhere just because it’s the simplest option?
For many boomers, this wasn’t a choice—it was the norm. Kids walked to school, parents walked to the corner store, and neighbors stopped for chats on the sidewalk.
Science confirms what those steps were doing all along. Regular walking improves cardiovascular health, supports weight management, and lowers the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. It also reduces stress and improves mood by increasing endorphins.
When I walk my grandkids to the park now, I think about how natural it felt for us as kids to rely on our own two feet. Cars weren’t always in the picture for every trip, and our bodies reaped the rewards of that everyday movement.
3. Less screen time, more outdoor play
Before smartphones, tablets, and endless streaming, free time usually meant being outside.
Boomers grew up riding bikes, climbing trees, and playing pickup games in the street until the porch lights came on.
Child development experts continue to emphasize the benefits of unstructured outdoor play.
According to the American Psychological Association, time spent in nature reduces stress, boosts attention span, and improves mood.
Physically, outdoor play builds coordination, stamina, and strength—advantages kids glued to screens are more likely to miss.
That culture of movement didn’t stop in childhood either. Adults were less sedentary because there wasn’t a constant pull toward screens.
Their evenings often ended with social visits, hobbies, or household chores instead of hours lost in front of a TV or phone.
4. Smaller portion sizes and fewer sugary drinks
Here’s a striking difference: the portions boomers grew up with look tiny compared to what’s standard today.
Fast-food combos didn’t come with a 32-ounce soda, and sugary drinks weren’t an everyday staple.
Science is clear on the impact. Research links larger portion sizes to overeating and obesity. Sugary drinks, meanwhile, are strongly associated with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and weight gain.
By simply having less exposure to oversized servings and soda-loaded diets, boomers dodged some of the risks younger generations face.
Whenever I visit a diner now, I’m floored by how much food lands on a single plate. In the ’70s, a “regular” burger and fries was something you could finish without needing to loosen your belt. That difference has had real health consequences.
5. Stronger sleep routines
What kept most boomers awake at night? A good book, maybe. Without smartphones buzzing or Netflix asking if you’re still watching, evenings ended earlier and sleep came more naturally.
Modern research shows just how crucial this was. According to the Sleep Foundation, adults who get 7–9 hours of consistent sleep enjoy better immune function, improved memory, and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Conversely, chronic sleep deprivation is linked to weight gain, anxiety, and weakened decision-making.
Of course, insomnia wasn’t unheard of back then, but the culture at least supported healthier rhythms. Work ended when you left the office, TVs went off at midnight, and there wasn’t a constant digital pull keeping people awake into the early hours.
That stability benefited both body and mind.
6. More face-to-face community connection
One of the most underappreciated health choices boomers had built right into their lives was social connection. They met neighbors at community clubs, gathered for family dinners, and showed up for in-person conversations.
Psychology research shows strong social ties are as vital to health as diet and exercise. A landmark study from Brigham Young University found that people with strong social relationships have a 50% increased likelihood of survival compared to those with weaker ties.
Isolation, by contrast, is linked to depression, cognitive decline, and early mortality.
I think of my father’s weekly card games with his friends—same night, same group, for decades. He didn’t see it as a “health strategy,” but those friendships protected his well-being in ways younger generations are often missing today.
7. Less reliance on highly processed snacks
Convenience foods existed in the boomer era, but the shelves weren’t crammed with ultra-processed snacks like they are now.
Most meals were cooked, and “snacks” were often fruit, nuts, or simple homemade treats.
Science now draws clear connections between ultra-processed foods and poor health outcomes.
A study in BMJ found that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.
By default, boomers had less exposure to these foods, and their diets were closer to whole and minimally processed ingredients.
Think about how different grocery stores looked back then. My grandmother’s pantry had bread, canned goods, and flour for baking, not an entire aisle of packaged cookies, chips, and sodas. That natural limitation offered long-term benefits for health.
Closing thoughts
Boomers weren’t perfect, and they did have their share of unhealthy habits too. But many of the choices they made—often because of the time and culture they lived in—lined up with what science now confirms supports better health.
Looking at their example, it’s worth asking how much of our modern “progress” has come at the expense of well-being.
While we can’t rewind the clock, we can choose to integrate some of those practices into our own lives: more home cooking, more movement, better sleep, stronger communities.
At the end of the day, health isn’t just shaped by medical breakthroughs or fitness trends. Sometimes, it’s the simple, consistent habits—passed down from a generation before us—that make the biggest difference.
