Snacks That Defined Our Childhood
Do you remember what snacks you pulled out of your lunch bag during recess? Let us guess: Dunkaroos? Fruit Roll-Ups? Maybe a Twinkie or two? Whatever they were, these treats defined our childhood, and just the mention of them brings a pang of nostalgia. Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Here are 20 childhood snacks we used to eat at recess.
1. Fruit Roll-Ups
Just the mention of fruit roll-ups should trigger a pang of nostalgia. These colorful candy strips were not only tasty to eat, but also fun to play with. Sure, they left your tongue stained afterwards, but that was just another added charm.
2. Fruit Gushers
Gummies you could bite into and they'd burst into your mouth? Yes, please! Fruit Gushers were all the rage when we were kids, because what's better than regular candy? One that promised a juicy, fruity, liquid center, of course.
3. Dunkaroos
Remember those circular graham biscuits you could dip into vanilla or chocolate frosting? It sounds like a simple snack, but Dunkaroos were the go-to recess choice for many kids—and for good reason. In fact, it was so popular that it was brought back after being discontinued for years.
:kirsch: from Raleigh, US on Wikimedia
4. YanYan
Remember YanYan? That iconic paper-cup-like snack with stick biscuits and sweet, creamy dip? Chocolate and strawberry were the two favorites, though if you weren't able to settle on just one flavor, there was a mix-and-match version, too.
5. Pocky
Similar to YanYan but without the dip, Pocky is another beloved Japanese snack that we loved as kids (and as adults, too, let's be honest). Chocolate and strawberry might have been the classics, but nowadays there are more picks to choose from, including cookies and cream, matcha, coconut, and many others.
6. Bear Paws
You might only remember these if you're Canadian, and that's because Bear Paws snacks were made by Dare, a Canadian company. Soft, tasty, and shaped like an adorable paw, this was the ultimate recess snack for the kids up north.
7. Warheads
Sure, it probably wasn't the best choice to eat candy for recess, but Warheads wasn't just any candy. Instead, it was the type to make you grimace from how sour it was. Fun fact: despite being manufactured and owned by American company Impact Confections, Warheads were actually a Taiwanese invention.
8. Bagel Bites
Pizza shaped like a bagel but bite-sized? No wonder we went crazy for this snack as kids: it was the perfect savory treat to munch on when running around on the playground. Pepperoni might have been the most well-known flavor, but there were also Three Cheese, Supreme, Sausage & Pepperoni, and others.
9. Cheestrings
Cheese sticks you can pull into tiny strips to savor them in a playful way? It might sound odd that this was such a popular childhood recess snack, but given that you could create different characters and designs with it made this dairy treat so fun to eat.
Chris Hsia from United States on Wikimedia
10. Push Pop
Push Pop was a candy you could push up, savor, then save for later. Yup—it might sound a little gross now, but any candy was good candy when we were young. Plus, other variations of Push Pop offered three flavors in one tube, so kids didn't need to pick just one.
11. Welch's
Fruit gummies didn't get better than Welch's, that's for sure. The unfortunate part? Whenever you brought these in your lunch bag and pulled them out for recess, they were gone in a blink, given how few gummies you get in each pouch and how popular they were with your friends.
12. Goldfish Crackers
Who could forget the snack that smiles back? These delicious, crunchy goldfish-shaped crackers were not only tasty but fun to eat, too. Original and Cheddar are the two main flavors we were all familiar with, but plenty of other ones existed, from Pretzel and Pizza to Jalapeno Popper and Frank's RedHot.
13. Twinkies
Sweet, spongy, and oh-so-soft, Twinkies were another all-time favorite on the recess snack list. After all, what kid could resist biting into a golden sponge cake filled with cream? Plus, it honestly doesn't get more American than this snack.
14. Rice Krispies Treats
Made by mixing together crisped rice cereal with butter (or margarine) and marshmallow, this snack might seem simple to make, but it was oh-so-delicious. Technically, you could easily whip up a batch at home, but the classic blue wrapper was our favorite as kids.
15. Chips Ahoy!
Chips Ahoy! had regular-sized cookies, but when we were kids, the one we probably remember most was the snack pouches with miniaturized Chips Ahoy! cookies. Like Rice Krispies Treats, these cookies were known best by not just their taste but also their iconic blue packaging.
Cayobo from Key West, The Conch Republic on Wikimedia
16. Mott's Fruitsations
Mott's Fruitsations were those apple-sauce-looking cups that seemed questionable at first, but quickly changed your mind after having a spoonful. Plus, with so many different flavors to pick from—from Pear to Peach Medley—you were bound to find one you loved.
17. Teddy Grahams
What was better than goldfish-shaped crackers? Teddy-shaped crackers, of course! Teddy Grahams were simultaneously the cutest and tastiest snack you could munch on for recess, and with flavors like honey, cinnamon, and chocolate chip, it's no wonder they were a major hit among kids.
18. Ring Pop
Ring Pop might sound similar to Push Pop, and it certainly was as popular, but this ring-shaped candy was iconically different. For one, you could wear it on your finger, which made it a yummy and stylish treat. A win-win.
19. Cheetos
Ah, who could forget these cheesy puff snacks that left your fingers stained orange after? As soon as you peeled open a bag of Cheetos, every kid in your class was hounding you, asking for "just one." (Spoiler: it was never just one.)
Mike Mozart from Funny YouTube, USA on Wikimedia
20. Animal Crackers
If you couldn't settle on just having one animal-shaped cracker as a kid, you probably opted for these instead. From giraffes and elephants to zebras, even though these snacks weren't cheddar or chocolate chip flavored, they were still just as delicious.
