20 80s Snacks We Still Talk About

From the candy stores to the lunchbox, the 1980s brought a variety of remarkable delicacies that were as iconic as the popular culture around them. While some of these old treats have been redesigned, others have stayed in our minds and set off a flood of happy emotions and yearning for the simplicity of a crunchy, sugary delight.

Tricia Quitales
December 4, 2024
6 min read

20 80s Snacks We Still Talk About — Scott Ehardt on Wikimedia Commons

For snack culture, the 1980s were a turning point, distinguished by imaginative marketing and potent fresh flavors that appealed to a generation. Usually related to cartoons, commercials, and even certain historical events, these snacks pleased our tastes and became cultural icons. Even if many of these sweets vanished from our memory, their influence on our taste receptors is still strong. From the colorful colors of candy to the crunchy inventiveness of chips, the 1980s served as a launching pad for the snack business as it exists now.

1. Nerds

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Double-flavored boxes containing colorful, little, sour candies and nerds provide a crunchy and sweet pleasure. Children all during the 1980s loved their whimsical, diminutive size as a snack.

2. Deviled Eggs

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Deviled eggs are a classic favorite. They consist of hard-boiled eggs sliced and stuffed with a creamy, seasoned yolk-mayo-mustard filling. Because of its simplicity and adaptability, this snack became a mainstay at potlucks and parties in the 1980s.

3. Hi-C Ecto Cooler

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Tied to the Ghostbusters series, Hi-C’s Ecto Cooler was the 1980s juice box kids couldn’t get enough of. Its vivid green hue and orange-lime taste seemed both reviving and somewhat enigmatic. The drink’s connection to the popular movie series improved its reputation, and when it was briefly re-released in the 2000s, it created waves.

4. Planters Cheese Balls

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Throughout the 1980s, these cheesy, puffy, orange bits were a favorite party food. Kids and adults alike couldn’t resist their airy texture and cheesy taste as they were a hypnotic snack. Planters Cheese Balls, so famous for their traditional, vivid orange dust, still have a devoted following and were even revived in recent years.

5. Pop Rocks

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Pop Rocks, the candy that exploded in your mouth, astonished children everywhere with its small, fizzy taste explosions. Eating candy with such a loud noise was both exciting and strange. Pop Rocks were a legendary component of ’80s snack culture, and rumors of them causing everything from stomach explosions to weird side effects abound.

6. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets

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Though they first appeared in the 1980s, chicken McNuggets soon became a mainstay of the fast-food menu. Kids loved them because of their crunchy covering and soft inside; the dipping sauces brought variety and entertainment. McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets are still a comfort food emblem even decades later, so they are a classic snack from the 1980s.

7. Jello Pudding Pops

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Jello Pudding Pops were frozen delicacies that combined ice cream’s cold, refreshing taste with the rich, creamy pudding flavor. Bill Cosby’s support in the 1980s helped the pops gain popularity and evolved into a snack connected with summer enjoyment. Though they stopped in the 1990s, many people still remember them as a nostalgic treat.

8. Fruit Roll-Ups

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Fruit Roll-Ups were the snack that blended fruit’s portability with the thrill of candy. Their vibrant, sticky feel made them a lunchbox favorite, and the designs sometimes had perforated bits for simple tearing. Kids adored displaying their fruity tattoos and experimenting with the rolls; thus, the 1980s represented the height of their popularity.

9. Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries

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The sugary cereal Cap’n Crunch Berries combines traditional Cap’n Crunch flakes with vivid, multicolored berry-flavored bits. Breakfast, or any other time, really, was ideal for the vivid colors and strong taste. Any cereal enthusiast became a must-have for the Crunch Berries variation since it made the morning ritual more exciting and joyful.

10. Cheez-It Crackers

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Their significant impact in the 1980s brought a crunchy, cheesy snack ideal for every occasion. Whether eaten directly from the box or combined with a sandwich, these tempting squares became pillars of the snack scene. Their ideal mix of cheese and salt keeps them a popular snack even now.

11. Slim Jim

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Jim’s fiery, meaty snack sticks were a protein-packed substitute for the typical candies and chips. Among 80s children, they had a robust, savory taste that quickly attracted a devoted following. The hot, sour snack grew to represent tough-guy culture, and its simple portability made it popular for school lunches and after-school munchies.

12. Cinnamon Toast Crunch

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Originally debuted in the late 1980s, Cinnamon Toast Crunch was a cereal redefining breakfast time. Children soon came to love the sweet, cinnamon-coated squares because of their addicting taste, which fit munching at any time. Those who grew up with the cereal still find echoes in their brains under the tagline, “Part of this complete breakfast.”

13. Big League Chew

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With shredded bubble gum in a pouch, Big League Chew aimed to replicate the chewing tobacco that baseball players used. Among other gum brands, its unusual taste and packaging set it apart. Children liked the entertaining, sloppy gum-chews and the nostalgic picture of baseball players that encouraged many to chew like their favorites.

14. M&Ms in the 80s

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M&M’s became a household name in the 1980s with vibrant candy-coated chocolates of various tastes. M&Ms were either consumed in handfuls for a rapid sugar rush or used in baking. The 80s also brought new flavors, including peanut M&Ms, confirming its reputation as one of the most famous treats of the decade.

15. Twix

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Twix bars, a perfect mix of chocolate, caramel, and biscuit, were popular in the 1980s. Having two bars in one packaging just enhanced their attractiveness since children could share or munch twice as much. Marketed as a delicacy that would “take you to another dimension,” Twix also promised taste and satisfaction.

16. Sweetarts

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Sweetarts combined the finest of sour and sweet worlds. Candy aficionados loved their chewy, tangy taste, which had a zingy kick balanced by saccharine sweetener. Sweetarts became a standard snack in the 1980s, and for those looking for a sour taste, they remain a classic.

17. Rice Krispies Treats

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Although Rice Krispies Treats have been around for decades, their popularity exploded in the 1980s primarily as a quick homemade snack. Made from butter, marshmallows, and crispy rice cereal, they were both simple to prepare and quite good. With their gooey, chewy texture, they were a typical after-school snack and a schoolyard favorite.

18. Squeezit

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In a squeezable plastic bottle, Squeezit was a vibrantly colored, fruit-flavored beverage that was simple and exciting to drink. Kids started to enjoy it for its unusual form and quirky, amusing branding.

19. Pudding Cups

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Many people in the 1980s loved snack-sized pudding cups, as their sweet taste and creamy texture made them perfect for dessert. The individual servings were rather handy for school lunches and after-school munchies. For many, pudding cups became their preferred comfort snack, providing a basic but gratifying treat.

20. Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts

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During the 1980s, Pop-Tarts transformed quick breakfast foods. These sweet pastries, which come in great flavors, might be straight from the bag or toasted for an additional crispy treat. Children and working parents equally loved Pop-Tarts because of their simple portability and rapid pleasure.