Top 10 Snacks That Will Take You Back to the 90s
#10: Pizza Pockets [aka Pizza Pops]
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Also sold under names like Pizza Pops, the appeal behind these cheesy snacks is obvious. Inspired by the Italian calzone or panzerotti, the Pizza Pops brand was invented by a Canadian in the 1960s, although we feel the snack’s heyday was definitely the 1990s. They’re currently appreciated for more traditional flavours like pepperoni, three meat, and deluxe. McCain’s Pizza Pockets, on the other hand, went through a rebranding in 2016, and are currently known for flavours like cheese and spinach and chicken and broccoli. Whatever the exact flavour or shape, nothing beats these little pieces of Italian heaven wrapped in a tasty crust.
#9: WWF Ice Cream Bars
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Over the course of 20 wonderful years, the Good Humour company created this sweet treat, beloved by wrestling fans. There weren't many wrestling legends who didn’t appear on the ice cream--we’re talking John Cena, Andre the Giant, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and others who shared turns being featured in edible form. Although this dairy delight was discontinued in 2009, fans of the creamy dessert, including CM Punk, have since campaigned for its return. The mixed-martial artist made an impassioned plea on an episode of WWE Raw, but unfortunately, they have not yet made a comeback.
#8:Trix Yogurt
The brilliant minds at the General Mills company came up with this colourful snack. Marketed to children, fans of this dairy delight from Yoplait would remember the fruity flavours of Watermelon Burst and the especially funky Trix Swirls, which featured swirls of different fruit combinations. This variety has since been discontinued, much to the disappointment of its rabid fans (who have campaigned to have Yoplait produce it again). To be fair, the company still produces certain Trix yogurts (such as raspberry and strawberry banana), though the thrill of the Swirls may never be realized again.
#7: Shark Bites
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With their start back in 1988, nothing made you the subject of more jealousy in a 90s lunchroom than this toothy fruit snack. Inspired by Fruit Wrinkles, these shark-shaped treats came from the Betty Crocker company. Fans of Shark Bites will especially recall the tasty great white sharks, the chalky white pieces that quickly got discontinued over concerns of the use of artificial colours. Whether you remember the pieces that resembled sharks’ teeth or the fun Tiger Shark edition, you’ll be happy to know that you can still find these fruity snacks in stores, although the old-school taste is no more.
#6: Fruit Gushers
Introduced in 1991 by General Mills, this gooey, fruity treat was a big hit in school lunchrooms across the nation. Who can forget the blissful feeling of biting into one of these candies and feeling the gush of sweet syrup? Although the snack can still be found in many different flavours (ranging from kiwi to berry to lemonade and more), the brand had modest beginnings; gushers only came in two flavours, strawberry and grape. Sure, they are by no means healthy (with ingredients that include fructose, sugar and corn syrup), but popping a few at a time is a guaranteed mood-booster in our opinion.
#5: Lunchables
Ever since their national release in 1989 by the Kraft Heinz company, we’ve been in love. These convenient lunch packages for kids were created as a way for the Oscar Meyer brand to sell lunch meat, while also making it easier on busy moms who found it difficult to pack homemade lunch for their children. The result was an enduring brand that offers more than 20 lunch combinations for hungry kids. Although there were concerns initially with the high fat, sodium, and sugar content of the packages, the company responded by creating more nutritious, health conscious versions of the prepackaged meals.
#4: Cheese Strings [aka String Cheese]
Most likely invented in Wisconsin in 1976 by the company Baker Cheese, this delicious variation of cheese quickly took North America and the UK by storm. 90s kids from different areas will remember different brands of the stringy snack, although probably the most memorable was the cheese from Kerry Group and their rather strange cartoon mascot, Mr. Strings. Although Mr. Strings has experienced several changes in design over the years, and is considerably less creepy (thankfully) than he was back in the day, the cheese is just as tasty and fun to peel.
#3: Doritos 3D
The popularity of these flavor-filled chips has never died from their heyday and they are still just as desired today as when it debuted in 1964. However, we can’t say the same about the three-dimensional puffed versions of the chips that were invented in the 90s and then pulled off the market in the mid-2000s. Lovers of this version of the Dorito will fondly remember the flavors that included Nacho Cheese, Zesty Ranch, and Jalapeno Cheddar. For die-hard fans, though, there is hope; Mexico just so happens to still sell this line of Doritos, and you can find them online.
#2: Dunk-a-Roos
There could hardly be a better snack to go on this particular list. Introduced right in 1990 by the Betty Crocker company, this was the perfect blend of cookies and frosting, meant to be dipped and enjoyed. After a contest in 1996 to redesign Sydney, the Australian kangaroo and mascot, the new mascot Duncan was born. American consumers were crushed when Dunk-a-Roos was discontinued in 2012, although it sparked a campaign by General Mills called Smugglaroos, where Canadians were encouraged to hook up their southern neighbours with the sweet and crunchy snacks.
#1: Fruit Roll-Ups
Nothing got us more excited in the 90s than pulling this flat, fruit-flavoured snack out of our lunchbox and unrolling it bit by glorious bit. Although it may come as no surprise that there is very little actual fruit in these sugary snacks and that eating one has approximately the same nutritional value as a handful of gummy bears, we can’t help but love it. Whether you craved the flavours of Screamin’ Green, Sunberry Burst, or Electric Blue Raspberry, the point is that you can probably still remember the taste of this nostalgic snack. Go ahead, next time you’re at the store, throw one in your cart for old times’ sake.
