We’ve been hearing so much about millennials recently, so let’s focus our attention back to Gen X for a minute. Gen X was big — and, as a group, they’re known for being pretty adaptable. Which is important, since so many of their favorite snacks from childhood are no longer around.
Even though people have argued about when Gen X actually started, most agree that their time-span is between 1961 and 1981. So much has happened within those two decades. And, so many snacks have disappeared that used to be common staples.
There’s so much to like about that time period. Pop Tarts debuted in 1964, and as you know, are still going strong today. Shamrock Shakes, which are enjoyed at McDonald’s locations to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, came out in 1970. Pop Rocks debuted in 1975. It was a good time to be a kid.
But unfortunately, not all products that came out around that time were built to last.
That, or their popularity dwindled significantly after other products entered the scene. Funyuns came out in 1969, and even though they’re still manufactured and adored by many, there’s a good chance they’re not constantly on your grocery list.
Some were discontinued because of their dangerous packing. Others were pulled after competitors beat them out. In fact, the history behind a lot of these nostalgic snacks is sometimes more intriguing than the food itself.
Here are some of the best snacks from Generation X that will make you really miss the ’60s and ’70s.
1. Mug-O-Lunch
Created by Betty Crocker, this product was perfect for people on the go, busy moms and picky kids. Mug-O-Lunch was basically a Cup Noodles, but had different types of dehydrated foods, like spaghetti and mac ‘n cheese. Supposedly lunch was ready in “five minutes.”
Unfortunately, it didn’t last.
All you needed to create your dish was a mug, some patience, and hot water.
2. Oompas
You’re probably familiar with a bunch of Willy Wonka’s candies, both real and fictional. But only Gen X will remember Oompas. They were around between 1971 and 1983, and tasted a little bit like Reese’s Pieces.
If you see them on the shelf today, though, beware.
They won’t be the chocolatey, peanut buttery treats you remember. In 2001, Wonka brought back the name Oompas for fruit-flavored candy that is a lot like Skittles. If you’re in the UK, you can grab a pack that has flavors straight from the Roald Dahl book: jam doughnnut, snozzberry (mixed fruit), and even caterpillar (which is cucumber flavor — go figure!)
3. Koogle
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNNA-dTCSdw"]This peanut spread from Kraft was available until the mid-’70s. Unlike traditional peanut butter, Koogle came in a few varieties, like banana and cinnamon.
Even though fans have been begging Kraft to bring it back, they have no interest in reviving the product.
Fans of Koogle miss the taste of flavored peanut butter minus the whole sticking-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth bit. The extra oil in the product made it an easy treat to eat. Also, who else remembers the oddly endearing mascot with spinning eyes?
4. Whistles and Daisy’s
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk0X2zO0-JU"]These are actually two different products, but they were released along with Bugles in 1966. The big difference? The shape. Whistles had a tube-like shape to them, and Daisy’s looked like flowers.
This was one of the first times a food company promoted three identical products (again, save for the shape), and according to Beach Packaging Design, it was a deliberate strategy.
In fact, some other variations of the snack were patented but never even saw the light of day.
But Bugles were the most popular. I mean, you can at least pretend you had witch fingers with Bugles.
5. Cheese Tidbits
There’s no such thing as too many cheesy crackers. At least, in my opinion. Cheese Tidbits made their first appearance in the late ’60s and they’re a popular memory among ’70s kids.
They stuck around for a while, too.
The cheesy stick snack was still on shelves until 2002, when Nabisco officially retired the crackers. They still do make Cheese Nips, though — but what if we want our cheese crackers in stick form?
6. Dolly Madison Zingers
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9m61oMqPKY"]These are still technically around, but they’re under the Hostess name. If you don’t remember Dolly Madison, maybe their tie-in with Peanuts will help jog your memory.
This commercial came out in 1981 and is more or less a classic.
In it, Snoopy is the “Zinger Zapper,” and other Peanuts characters attempt to discover his secret identity by bribing him with the chocolately treat.
7. Doo-Dads
Doo-Dads were a lot like Chex Mix — but, they were different enough that fans are still petitioning to get them back on shelves.
Created by Nabisco, they’ve been gone for roughly 20 years.
The snack mix included Cheese Tid Bit snacks, small pretzel sticks, wheat squares, and roasted peanuts. They came in two flavors — original and zesty cheese. If you are one of the folks who is still pining for this mix, you can join this Facebook group.
8. Dolly Madison Koo-Koos
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyed1YcD720"]Unsure if kids today will find the name as funny as kids back in the ’70s did. But, the cream filling was nothing to laugh over.
Like their Zinger counterparts, Koo-Koos also used the Peanuts on the packaging.
They can in a variety of flavors with different names. Razzys were a yellow cake version that had raspberry and coconut-flavored covering, and Googles were white cake cupcakes with cinnamon cake bits and cream inside. Um, bring these back, please?
9. Banana Flip
Speaking of filling, remember the banana flip? This banana-flavor snack cake was folded over and was a must-have treat for plenty of people in the ’60s and ’70s.
One complaint people had?
It was very messy–like really messy. Still, folks miss the snack and have come up with some pretty clever ways to make their own.
10. Nestle’s Triple-Decker Bar
Can’t decide what type of chocolate you want?
The Triple-Decker had you covered when you wanted to experience white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate all in one delicious bite. It was discontinued sometime in the ’70s, although the reasons are unclear as to why.
There was a hack to eating them, too.
According to fans of the discontinued candy, if you had the Triple Decker bar at the perfect temperature–a tiny bit melty, but not too much–you could peel apart the layers and eat each type of chocolate one by one.
11. Screaming Yellow Zonkers
These snacks came out in the ’60s and were more of a popcorn treat. What set it aside from the competition was the fact that it had a buttery glaze.
The boxes were also incredibly fun.
It was allegedly the first food product to feature predominantly black packaging, and it had silly copy and abstract illustrations all o ver the back. We almost want it back for this alone.
They were discontinued in 2007.
But sometimes, they are produced on a limited edition basis for Walgreens. Keep your eyes peeled next time you are there to see if they have stocked up on this nostalgic snack.
12. Hunt’s Snack Pack
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYrI4Td9QGM"]1968 was the first year of the Snack Pack. And yes, these are still around — but they’re much different. Back in the day, they used to come in aluminum containers.
These containers were dangerous, though.
Kids kept cutting their tongues licking the aluminum lids of the Snack Packs. In fact, it became such an issue that in one commercial, a friendly horse reminded kids “don’t play with it or lick it.”
It wasn’t until 1984 when they switched to plastic.
Also? These days they’re made by ConAgra.
13. Jell-O 1-2-3
Does anyone else remember this textured treat?
Jell-O introduced a “gelatin with two toppings” to America in 1969. Like Jell-O, you would make it and let it set in the fridge, but this one wasn’t just Jell-O. Instead, three distinct, textured layers emerged: a bottom gelatinous one, a middle custard one, and a final, sponge-like top.
Jell-O sales declined throughout the ’70s, and the product was discontinued.
If you are really pining for this vintage dessert, Kraft has a DIY recipe for the layered gelatin treat. Grab your favorite flavor of Jell-O and a package of Cool Whip and you’re ready to go!
14. Danish-Go-Rounds
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQuyv8UYNzs"]Danishes are great to snack on during meetings at work, but unfortunately, the “Danish-to-go” movement failed to take off. Gen X likely remembers the rise and fall of Danish-Go-Rounds, created by Kellogg’s.
They were officially discontinued in 1980, even after a rebranding effort.
Still, folks are reminiscing about the Pop Tarts-like snack. There’s even a Facebook group dedicated to the snack called Danish Go Round Memories.
15. Hawaiian Punch
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86IpU3g-S8Q"]Yes, it’s still available today. But it became a national brand in 1955, meaning that it was quite popular with Gen X. In 1975, new flavors of Hawaiian Punch came in cans.
Years later, Donny and Marie Osmond started promoting it as a great beverage option.
The wildest part? It was originally intended to be sold as a syrupy ice cream topping. When the original inventors discovered that it tasted great when you added water to the mix, they switched gears and made it into a flavorful beverage.
16. Carnation Breakfast Bars
1976 Retro Breakfast:
— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) April 6, 2015
-- Introducing Carnation Breakfast Bars pic.twitter.com/3QFlnE70V8
These breakfast bars still have a cult following, despite being discontinued for over 30 years.
While the company brought a different version of the beloved breakfast bar back, there are still some pretty die-hard fans of the granola and peanut butter breakfast bar. Some folks have even petitioned to bring the original one back.
It was even approved for space.
The bar was the official snack of the Columbia space shuttle. NASA, can you help us out and get Nestle to start making these again?
17. Space Food Sticks
What’s better than Astronaut Ice Cream? Space Foods Sticks! It was chewy, tasted like peanut butter, and was popular for its protein boost. They were marketed as being “nutritionally balanced,” and during the Space Race, people couldn’t get enough of them.
There are still two places you can get them.
They are available at both the Kennedy Space Center and the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. You can also occasionally grab them online from these museum’s websites.
18. Seven Up Bar
Are you looking for a candy bar that literally has everything? Then, the Seven Up Bar was likely one of your favorites.
It actually had seven layers, including favorites like butterscotch, cherry, and caramel.
To enjoy, all you had to do was break off a chunk and see what flavor was inside. Unfortunately, manufacturing costs were simply too high, and the treat was retired in 1979.
19. Korkers
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqB1jWfamOU"]The early ’70s brought along Korkers, a corn snack from Nabisco that didn’t seem to catch on.
At least the commercial is cute.
20. Toastettes
Finally, we have Toastettes. These were also pretty similar to Pop Tarts but didn’t stand the test of time. The did not have frosting on them, which probably made them a healthier breakfast than their sugary, glazed counterparts.
However, fans out there still believe that Toastettes tasted much better.
21. Pizza Spins
If you can’t order a pizza, you could at least cure your craving with Pizza Spins. At least, you used to be able to.
They were first introduced to the world in 1968, and reportedly discontinued in 1975.
According to the General Mills blog, they actually contained ingredients you’d find in a real pizza, including Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, pepper, and standard pizza spices. Bring them back, General Mills! Younger generations need to experience this.
22. Dippy Canoes
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbOOcg_Adgk"]In 1967, Quaker released Dippy Canoes, and they remained in supermarkets until the ’70s, according to Retroland.
They were corn chip snacks shaped liked canoes, so they were ideal for dipping.
However, Dippy Canoes relied on Native symbols to help market these chips. So in the end, it’s probably best they were removed from shelves.
23. Flings
Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries writes that this ’60s snack was “a chip that looked similar to today’s Cheese puffs, and came in 3 flavors: Chicken, Cheese, and Ham and Swiss.”
However, they were only around until the early ’70s.
We’re honestly curious to try ham and Swiss-flavored chips.
24. Reggie! Bar
This chocolate-covered, peanut and caramel-filled bar was named after Reggie Jackson, a right fielder for the Yankees.
According to Bon Appetit, it was unveiled in 1976, but met its untimely demise in 1982.
Fortunately for Reggie! Bar fans, a modified bar was released in the ’90s (with peanut butter replacing the caramel), but that ultimately didn’t last very long.
25. Peanut Butter Boppers
Released in the ’80s, General Mills’s Taste blog reports that these Nature Valley treats would essentially melt in one’s mouth.
The blog states, “According to a General Mills advertisement from 1986, Peanut Butter Boppers captured nine percent of the wholesome snack market in the first 90 days following its release.”
That’s certainly impressive — but chocolate-peanut butter is a powerful combo.
26. Sip N’ Chips
According to MeTV, Sip N’ Chips were cheese crackers that fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. They were also made to go perfectly with your favorite beverage.
Nabisco advertised that these could “radically change America’s snack habits.”
Sadly, it seems that didn’t last too long.
27. Alpine White Bars
In 1986, Food52 reports that Nestlé released its Alpine White chocolate bar, which was basically just a white chocolate bar filled with almonds.
Though the bar is nowhere to be found, there’s a Facebook campaign begging for its return.
White chocolate and almonds? We’re curious.
