The 1980s changed supermarket aisles and school lunchboxes. New snacks kept showing up, with diverse flavors and packaging kids had never seen before. Many of them did not last. Tastes changed, promotions ran out, and one by one they disappeared from the shelves.
If you grew up back then, you probably remember trading snacks at the lunch table. Little things like that stick with you. Here are 14 snacks from the decade that deserve a comeback.
1. Squeezit
We loved squeezing this plastic bottle of fruit drink. It came in various flavors: Cherry, Grape, Fruit Punch, among others. This General Mills drink was officially retired in the early 2000s.
2. Bonkers!
Bonkers! were popular rectangular fruit chews featuring a soft exterior and a tangy, juicy center. Produced by Nabisco, the snack is remembered for its unforgettable television commercials.
3. Cracker Jack with the Original Prize
Cracker Jack is a legendary caramel popcorn and peanut treat, famous for its iconic “Toy Surprise” inside every box. Fans look forward to bringing back the days of genuine metal and plastic trinkets, which have been replaced by paper riddles and digital QR codes.
4. Handi-Snacks Cheez’n Crackers
Handi-Snacks Cheez ‘n Crackers combined rectangular, salty crackers with processed cheese dip and the iconic red plastic spreading stick. It remains missed by fans for the ritual of spreading the cheese.
5. Fruit Stripe Gum
Remembered for its rainbow-striped flavor that disappeared after a few short seconds of chewing. It is also missed for its iconic temporary tattoos included in every single wrapper. Unfortunately, it was officially discontinued by the Ferrara Candy Company in January 2024.
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6. Bugles
These legendary horn-shaped corn snacks were crispy, salty, and undeniably iconic. People enjoyed putting them on their fingertips. This corn-based snack had a punchier flavor back then.
7. Pop Rocks
This crackling candy came in many flavors back then, turning snack time into a science experiment. This iconic candy brings back pure nostalgia with every bite.
8. Wonder Bread with the Colorful Balloon Wrapper
Wonder Bread with its colorful balloon wrapper is a nostalgic staple of the 80s. Its soft texture and iconic packaging are deeply missed. Paired with jelly, it felt like a treat every time.
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9. Garbage Pail Kids Gum
Garbage Pail Kids was a bubble gum included inside original packs of sticker trading cards during the 1980s. Because the gum rested against the stickers inside the wrapper, the oils and sugars stained the cards, ruining their condition. Due to intense complaints from collectors about card damage, it was discontinued.
10. Chocolate Yodels
Drake’s Yodels were the best lunchbox treat with their crunchy chocolate shell, soft cake, and sweet cream. A really missed delight…
11. Ecto Cooler
This bright green juice had a citrus flavor that fans still talk about even today.
12. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Nothing defined 1980s summers quite like these treats. Jell-O Pudding Pops were discontinued because they were not profitable due to high manufacturing and distribution costs.
13. Planters Cheez Balls
These neon-orange, airy spheres left cheese dust on your fingers. Even though they were retired in the early 2000s, they became a poster child for 1980s food nostalgia.
14. Keebler Tato Skins
These potato chips were created to look and taste like actual loaded potato skins. They featured a dark brown skin side and a lighter side with cheddar, sour cream, and bacon seasonings.
More related articles for you:
17 Vintage Foods That People Don’t Really Eat Anymore dives into the Jell-O salads and meat casseroles that once ruled American dinner tables. For a trip back to school, 10 School Cafeteria Foods Everyone Misses explores the pizza squares and mystery meat that defined lunchtime for generations. And if you’re curious how everyday sweets turned into flexes, 12 Iconic Desserts That Became Status Symbols breaks down how desserts like macarons and tiramisu went from local specialties to global symbols of prestige.
