13 After-School Snacks That Were Anything but Healthy
These childhood favorites were packed with sugar, salt, and artificial flavors, but we could not get enough of them after school.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
After school in the ’80s and ’90s, most of us were grabbing snacks that had more chemicals than nutrients. We did not care if the label said “artificially flavored” — it just had to taste good. Here are 13 snacks we loved as kids, even though they were anything but healthy.
1. Fruit Roll-Ups That Were Basically Candy
Saifunny on Wikimedia Commons
They looked like fruit, but these sticky sheets were more sugar than anything else. The wild colors and peel-and-play shapes made them fun but definitely not healthy. Still, unrolling one after school felt like opening a sweet little gift.
2. Dunkaroos Drenched in Frosting
:kirsch: from Raleigh, US on Wikimedia Commons
Crackers plus a whole tub of frosting was the formula for this sugar-loaded favorite. No one cared that it was more dessert than snack. It felt like the coolest treat in your lunchbox lineup.
3. Lunchables Pizza That Needed No Oven
Jake Przespo on Wikimedia Commons
Who needed nutrition when you had a cold pizza you built yourself? These weren’t exactly gourmet, but the DIY vibe made them exciting. The sodium levels were sky-high, but it felt like edible independence.
4. Capri Sun Pouches Full of Mystery Juice
Capri Sun Group on Wikimedia Commons
You never really knew what “Pacific Cooler” was, but it sure tasted sweet. Poking the straw into that silver pouch was a rite of passage. The sugar rush hit fast, and so did the energy.
5. Bagel Bites That Burned Your Mouth
Sturmen on Wikimedia Commons
These mini pizzas were either frozen or lava-hot — no in-between. They were loaded with cheese, pepperoni, and a lot of preservatives. However, once you nailed the microwave timing, it was the best part of the afternoon.
6. Pop-Tarts Straight Out of the Foil
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Most kids never even bothered to toast them. These sugary pastries were eaten cold and somehow still delicious. The frosting and filling combo made them feel like dessert disguised as breakfast.
7. Gushers That Exploded in Your Mouth
Thomson200 on Wikimedia Commons
These gummies had a juicy burst in the center that made them feel like high-tech candy. They were fruity in theory but mostly just sweet and sticky. You could trade these for almost anything on the playground.
8. Hot Pockets That Promised “Real Meat”
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
They came out of the microwave sizzling, even if the filling was a mystery. These molten snacks were packed with sodium, cheese, and flavor. You probably burnt your tongue, but went back for more anyway.
9. Easy Cheese Sprayed on Crackers
Fishepat000 on Wikimedia Commons
This was cheese in name only, but it made you feel like a snack artist. One squirt and you had your masterpiece. Looking back, it was more novelty than nutrition.
10. Toaster Strudels You Never Iced Evenly
houdoken on Wikimedia Commons
These were the fancier cousins of Pop-Tarts, complete with icing packets you could never quite master. They were loaded with sugar and always worth the mess. Bonus points if you tried drawing shapes.
11. Kool-Aid Bursts in Plastic Bottles
MRGuy01 on Wikimedia Commons
Twist off the top and brace for the sugar hit. These colorful drinks were barely juice, but totally addictive. You probably drank three without realizing it.
12. Cheez Balls That Left Orange Dust Everywhere
Willis Lam on Wikimedia Commons
The moment you popped the lid, there was no going back. These neon orange balls were crunchy, salty, and left a mess behind. However, licking your fingers afterward was half the fun.
13. Cosmic Brownies That Were Dense and Glorious
Willis Lam on Wikimedia Commons
These fudgey bricks were topped with rainbow chips and packed with sugar. They barely resembled actual brownies, but they hit the spot after a long school day. No one was checking labels — we just wanted that chocolate fix.