18 Childhood Snacks That Were Actually Terrible for You
These nostalgic favorites were fun to eat as kids — but packed with sugar, chemicals, and empty calories.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
Many of the snacks we loved as kids were colorful, tasty, and addictive, but they were not exactly healthy. Loaded with artificial dyes, excessive sugar, and barely any real nutrition, these treats were more like edible science experiments. Here are 18 childhood snacks that, in hindsight, were junk food disasters in disguise.
1. Dunkaroos
erik.altitude on Flickr
These cookie-and-frosting packs seemed like the ultimate lunchbox win, but they were essentially sugar dipped in more sugar. With barely any fiber or protein, they spiked blood sugar and crashed energy.
2. Fruit Gushers
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Marketed as fruit-based, these fruit gushers were mostly corn syrup and artificial flavoring. The gooey center burst with sweetness but had zero nutritional value.
3. Lunchables Pizza
samantha celera on Flickr
It was fun to build, but terrible for your health. These cold, DIY pizzas were high in sodium, contained processed ingredients, and lacked any real vegetables. The cheese was rubbery, and the crust was cardboard-like.
4. Capri Sun
Capri Sun on Flickr
That shiny pouch may have looked cool, but it was mostly sugar water. Many flavors contained no real juice at all. Parents thought they were a healthier alternative to soda, but they weren’t.
5. Pop-Tarts
Zoshua Colah on Unsplash
These were convenient and sweet, but far from breakfast-worthy. Loaded with refined carbs and high-fructose corn syrup, they provided little to no lasting energy.
6. Handi-Snacks
Maggie Tacheny on Flickr
This was a cracker and cheese combo that sounded simple — until you read the label. The “cheese” was a shelf-stable processed spread with mystery oils. It had more chemicals than actual dairy.
7. Cosmic Brownies
Like_the_Grand_Canyon on Flickr
These dense treats looked like brownies but tasted like sugar bricks. They were full of hydrogenated oils, preservatives, and artificial colors. Kids loved the rainbow sprinkle topping.
8. Kool-Aid Jammers
Dimmerswitch on Flickr
These were bright, sweet, and extremely artificial. These pouch drinks were just flavored sugar water with enough dye to stain your tongue for hours. The only thing “natural” about them was the thirst they caused.
9. Toaster Strudel
Mike Mozart on Flickr
These were sold as a classy alternative to Pop-Tarts, but they offered no nutritional benefits. Layers of sugary pastry and sweet icing packed a calorie punch. One serving often rivaled dessert in sugar content.
10. Yoo-hoo
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
This chocolate drink wasn’t milk — it wasn’t even close. Made with water, whey, and cocoa flavoring, it lacked any real nutritional punch. The sweetness masked its emptiness.
11. Bubble Tape
Joe Haupt on Flickr
Six feet of gum sounds fun until you look at the ingredients. Artificial sweeteners, dyes, and zero dental value made it a bad deal.
12. Zebra Cakes
Mike Mozart on Flickr
With a soft texture and sweet frosting, Zebra Cakes felt like luxury. Beneath the stripes was a mix of sugar, white flour, and trans fats.
13. Cheese Balls
leighklotz on Flickr
Bright orange and strangely addictive, these puffed snacks left your fingers coated in neon dust. The cheese was fake, and the crunch came from fried starch.
14. Twinkies
Mamiejeanjean on Wikimedia Commons
The cream-filled icon of American snacking was anything but wholesome. With a shelf life that raised eyebrows, they were more of a science project than a dessert. They were loaded with sugar and hydrogenated oils.
15. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
Jennifer Boyer on Flickr
Marketed with Ghostbusters branding, this citrus drink was a sugar-packed marketing gimmick. It offered zero nutritional value and was colored with artificial dyes.
16. Bagel Bites
Adam Kuban on Flickr
Tiny pizza bagels promised convenience but delivered loads of sodium and preservatives. The cheese and sauce were highly processed, and the crust wasn’t much better.
17. Sugar Smacks Cereal
Roland Deschain on Flickr
With a name like that, you already know it’s bad news. It was one of the most sugar-packed cereals ever sold to kids. The frog mascot couldn’t hide the fact that it was basically candy in a bowl.
18. Jell-O Pudding Pops
Chris Larkee on Flickr
This was a cool treat that was surprisingly low on actual dairy. Full of corn syrup and stabilizers, it resembled pudding in taste but not in nutrition. The creamy texture masked its processed core.