20 Snacks That’ll Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Updated: Dec. 06, 2023
Get ready to spend five minutes saying, "Oh, I remember that!"
Bagel Bites
Anyone else remember running around the house singing the Bagel Bites jingle? No? Just me? The pizza bites were a staple of households with middle schoolers, whether you were planning on enjoying a tray on your own or treating your kids to a snack. (Don’t feel like going to the store? Make our copycat Bagel Bites recipe.)
Fruit Roll-Ups
Fruit Roll-Ups have been childhood staples since the early ’80s, and we’ve been in love with ’em ever since. You can still buy Fruit Roll-Ups, but make sure you pick up the best flavor: strawberry.
Pop Rocks
’80s kids will recognize this one on sight—and we bet you’d recognize their sound, too. Pop Rocks were a true original! While Pop Rocks aren’t nearly as popular now as they were then, you can still find them on Amazon. (Just don’t mix them with Coca-Cola.)
Peanut Butter & Jelly
When’s the last time you made a PB&J? You ate your fair share during grade school, but once you stopped eating broccoli without complaining, you likely stopped eating PB&J, too. To make a sandwich that’s all grown up, try using homemade peanut butter.
Pocky Sticks
“I’ll just have one Pocky stick,” said no child ever. The chocolate-covered biscuit sticks make a great snack for kids, and anyone who grew up in the ’80s or ’90s will remember them. Check out more iconic foods from the 1990s.
Dunkaroos
You won’t find Dunkaroos around much anymore, which is a shame. It was a lunch box icon in the ’80s and ’90s. The packet of crackers and frosting was a child’s dream snack! You can start dunking again soon, too—Dunkaroos are coming back.
Pizza Rolls
Friends coming over? Had a rough day at school? Mom had the solution to both—a fresh, hot batch of pizza rolls waiting for you on the counter. You likely remember eating Totino’s, but if you want to make the adult version of this snack, try our recipe for homemade pizza rolls.
Cosmic Brownies
The Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie brings us back to simpler times, when our big concerns were, “What should I wear for picture day?” and “Will Ms. Hill catch me passing this note?” You can still buy a box of this childhood classic, but we recommend making copycat Cosmic Brownies at home.
Chex Mix
Chex Mix has been a staple since the ’50s. This cereal snack mix was made from a recipe published right on the box, and it was outstanding every time. If you’ve got a hankering for a big bowl of Chex Mix, you can’t go wrong with the classic formula—but we love this caramel Chex Mix, too.
Chocolate Pudding Pops
It’s hard to look at this photo and not feel melted chocolate running down your arms. This frozen pop was a dream come true on summer days if you were a kid in the ’70s or ’80s. You can make fudge pudding pops with just four ingredients, so get your freezer mold ready because now you know what you’ll be doing tonight.
Fruit Stripe Gum
This gum has been around since the 1960s. It’s not hard to remember the fruity aroma of each stick! The flavor only lasted for 30 seconds or so, but it was 30 seconds of pure bliss.
Cheez Balls
Cheez Balls are one of the foods all ’80s kids loved. The puffs came in a tin can (still do) and were served as a perfect after-school snack. Wash the cheesy goodness down with a Hi-C Ecto Cooler!
Microwave Popcorn
In middle school, there was no shame in eating an entire bag of buttery popcorn, especially if you were sitting down on Friday night to watch your shows. This snack has never gone out of style—in fact, we even did a microwave popcorn taste test.
Ants on a Log
What’s the most effective way your parents got you to eat celery? By smothering it with peanut butter and topping it with raisins. Ants on a Log is almost as classic as peanut butter and jelly, and while you can eat celery without coating it in peanut butter, it’s still a treat that should bring a smile to your face.
Lunchables
You may have a hard time finding a group of children to agree on their favorite Lunchable, but there’s one thing they’ll all acknowledge—Lunchables are amazing. Whether you preferred ham and cheese, pizza or hot dogs, there was a Lunchable for everyone.
Oatmeal Creme Pies
Little Debbie held the corner on amazing treats for kids during the ’80s and ’90s. You can look at this picture and already taste the cinnamon cookie and light cream, even if you haven’t had an Oatmeal Creme Pie in decades. We recommend our easy oatmeal cream pies for days when you’re feeling nostalgic.
Toaster Strudel
A flaky pastry coated in DIY icing? Yes, please. We ate our fair share of Toaster Strudels over the years, whether we were enjoying them for breakfast or an after-school snack. And if you’ve ever thought about making your own version of this childhood classic, try our copycat Toaster Strudel recipe, which only calls for four ingredients.
Cheese and Crackers
This classic combo had a moment in the ’80s. Whether you remember dunking crackers in a tub of cheese (yes, I’m talking about Handi-Snacks) or eating squares of cheddar with Ritz, you likely have fond childhood memories involving cheese and butter crackers.
Bologna
Kids of every decade likely remember eating a bologna sandwich on Wonder Bread for lunch. It would’ve been wrapped in wax paper, and paired with a box of raisins or handful of potato chips.
Next up: See what iconic American foods defined every decade.
Originally Published: April 15, 2020
