10 Snacks From the '80s That We Are Still Eating Today

Kids born in the 1970s and early 1980s like me, fondly remember the snacks we ate during the 1980s. Some great ones are no longer available, including Jell-O Pudding Pops, Keebler Magic Middles cookies, and those massive Oreo Big Stuf cookies. Fortunately, other snacks from that era are still available, and we, along with the newer generations, continue to enjoy them.

AUTHOR: Stephanie Allen

Table of Contents

1. Lunchables (1988)
2. Cool Ranch Doritos (1986)
3. Lean Cuisine (1981)
4. Fruit Roll-Ups (1980)
5. Nerds (1983)
6. Capri Sun (1981)
7. Totino's Pizza Rolls (1985)
8. Burger King French Toast Sticks (1986)
9. Dairy Queen Blizzards (1985)
10. TCBY (1981)
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1. Lunchables (1988)

Upon their release in 1988, what made Lunchables cool was the idea of having a lunch different from the usual homemade lunches parents would pack. Even today, Lunchables — from lunch meat and crackers to pizza and hot dogs, along with included beverages and desserts — appeal to kids for their variety and to parents for their convenience and affordability.

2. Cool Ranch Doritos (1986)

In the 1980s, Doritos' original nacho cheese flavor was already one of the best snacks on the market. Frito-Lay upped their savory snack game with the 1986 launch of the Cool Ranch flavor Doritos, which offers the best of both worlds: crunchy tortilla chips and ranch flavoring. Frito-Lay has expanded the number of available Doritos flavors, but Cool Ranch is hard to top.

3. Lean Cuisine (1981)

Of all the lower-calorie frozen meal brands in grocery stores, Lean Cuisine is probably the most familiar to consumers. When the dinners first became available in 1981, they were marketed to women as a more diet-conscious alternative to Stouffer's frozen meals, with both labels owned by Nestlé. Nestlé now emphasizes that Lean Cuisine meals are a part of an overall healthier lifestyle.

4. Fruit Roll-Ups (1980)

Taking its cue from another manufacturer that produced a fruit leather snack in the 1970s, General Mills developed a similar product called Fruit Roll-Ups. The fruit-flavored snack comes in various flavors that have changed over the years. Fruit Roll-Ups are fun to eat because besides eating them unrolled, the versatile sweet treat can be shaped into a straw, wrapped around ice cream, or frozen.

5. Nerds (1983)

Nerds candy is popular among kids and adults alike and is one of the most recognizable candies on the planet. They're brightly colored, resemble miniature pebbles, and come in a box with two different flavors, one on each side. Made by the Willy Wonka Candy Factory, Nerds delight buyers with their combination of sweet and sour taste.

6. Capri Sun (1981)

The first Capri Sun drinks in the stand-up pouches were invented and sold in Germany in 1969. After they became a sensation in other parts of the world, Capri Sun entered the U.S. market in 1981. Since then, generations of kids have sipped on the fruit-flavored beverages, and parents sneak and drink them behind their kids' backs because they taste that good.

7. Totino's Pizza Rolls (1985)

Kids from the 1970s probably remember that before their name change, Totino's Pizza Rolls were known as Jeno's Pizza Rolls. Jeno Paulucci, "the king of frozen foods," was behind the original pizza rolls. In 1985, Jeno's became Totino's after Paulucci sold the company to Pillsbury. Pizza rolls were Paulucci's only invention, but this single creation is in many American freezers today.

8. Burger King French Toast Sticks (1986)

When Burger King added French toast sticks to their menu, they were a nice alternative to traditional morning fast foods that had to be eaten with a fork and knife or were handheld sandwiches. Burger King offered consumers the benefit of having French toast but on the go. The fact that they're still in demand more than three decades later is a testament to their popularity.

9. Dairy Queen Blizzards (1985)

Since Dairy Queen blessed the world with the Blizzard in 1985, customers haven't gotten enough of it. For the uninitiated, a Blizzard is a cup of Dairy Queen's soft-serve ice cream blended with sundae toppings and pieces of different sweets like cheesecake, Oreo cookies, and Snickers candy bars. Blizzards have been around for decades, but their appeal is timeless.

10. TCBY (1981)

Frozen Yogurt with Icecream — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

TCBY, which stands for "The Country's Best Yogurt," opened its first store in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1981. The health-centric frozen yogurt shop is more than just a mall staple; the franchise has more than 250 worldwide locations. In addition to their classic Super FroYo offerings, TCBY's menu includes gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free options to meet customers' dietary needs.