If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.
The Snacks That Raised Us
Let’s be real for a minute, the 1980s were a golden era of snacking. Before we worried about sugar content, preservatives, or how many grams of saturated fat could fit into one microwaveable pouch, we just ate. If it came in a crinkly foil wrapper or was neon orange it was probably in your pantry, and let's be honest, you probably loved it.
Whether you were sneaking snacks into your backpack or trading them at the lunch table like they were a precious, precious currency, these were the MVPs of the era. Let’s take a highly nostalgic look back at the snacks that defined our childhoods.
Table of contents
Lunchroom Legands
These were the power players at the cafeteria table. Each of these were brag-worthy snacks that made you the envy of your class.
Handi-Snacks
History:
Introduced by Kraft in the early 80s, these were designed to be kid-proof, mess-free cheese delivery systems.
Why They Ruled:
It gave kids the power to construct their own snack like tiny cheese engineers.
Doritos
Doritos are still a staple but there was something about having a bag of Doritos in your bag growing up that just hit different.
History:
First launched in 1966, Doritos didn’t go full legend status until Nacho Cheese hit shelves in 1972. By the 80s, they were everywhere.
Fun Fact:
The name “Doritos” is derived from the Spanish word doradito, meaning “little golden things.”
Why They Ruled:
They turned your fingers neon orange, made your breath questionable, and were still totally worth it.
PB Max
History:
Launched in 1989 by Mars, PB Max combined cookie, peanut butter, and chocolate into one near-perfect bar.
Fun Fact:
It was discontinued—not due to poor sales—but because Mars execs reportedly “didn’t like peanut butter.” Rude.
Why They Ruled:
It was crunchy, salty, sweet, and utterly irreplaceable.
Peanut Butter Boppers
History:
General Mills dropped these in the mid-80s as a “healthier” alternative to candy bars.
Fun Fact:
They came in flavors like Honey Crisp and Fudge Chip, wrapped in shiny foil like snack gold.
Why They Ruled:
You felt grown-up eating one, even though it was basically a sugary peanut butter bar.
E.L. Fudge Cookies
History:
These Keebler cookies debuted in 1986, shaped like cheerful elf dudes and stuffed with fudge.
Fun Fact:
"E.L." allegedly stands for “Everybody Loves.” Which tracks.
Why They Ruled:
Biting the heads off tiny elves was a wholesome childhood activity.
After-School All-Stars
You got home, dropped your backpack, and made a beeline to the kitchen for one of these classics.
Hot Pockets
History:
Created by two Iranian-American brothers in 1983, originally called “Tastywiches.”
Fun Fact:
The microwave revolution of the 80s basically launched these into orbit.
Why They Ruled:
Nothing said freedom like burning your mouth on molten cheese without adult supervision.
Planters Cheez Balls
History:
Planters launched these in the 80s, packaged in an iconic blue canister.
Fun Fact:
After being discontinued, fans demanded a comeback—and Planters delivered (briefly).
Why They Ruled:
They were crunchy, cheesy air and the container made a satisfying “pop” when you opened it.
Pudding Pops
History:
A Jell-O brand freezer treat from the early 80s, famously endorsed by Bill Cosby (awkward now, but the pops were solid).
Fun Fact:
Discontinued in the early 2000s, but nostalgia has fueled thousands of copycat recipes online.
Why They Ruled:
Creamy, cold, and rich, like frozen pudding you could eat with one hand.
Bagel Bites
History:
Invented in 1985 by two dudes in Florida using a family recipe, then sold to Heinz.
Fun Fact:
The jingle,“When pizza’s on a bagel…” is still stuck in our heads.
Why They Ruled:
Pizza always rules. Especially when it's a bite-sized after-school snack.
Bon-Bons
History:
While bon-bons have been around for centuries, the frozen ice cream kind hit their peak in the 80s.
Fun Fact:
The phrase “sitting around eating bon-bons” became cultural shorthand for lazy indulgence... probably because of these.
Why They Ruled:
Chocolate-coated ice cream? Yes, please.
From the Keebler Hollow Tree
All of these 80s snack food favorites were created in a magical tree... by elves. Do not question the logic.
Tato Skins
History:
Launched in the 80s by Keebler, these chips claimed to be made from real potato skins.
Fun Fact:
That “real potato skins” thing made us all feel weirdly healthy.
Why They Ruled:
Bold, salty, slightly greasy, and perfect with a root beer.
O’Boisies
History:
Keebler launched O’Boisies in the mid-80s as part of their push into the snack chip world, competing with the big names but keeping that Keebler flair.
Fun Fact:
The name was inspired by the word boisterous. A great description of the Keebler elves. O'Boisies were bubbly, crackly, and o'boisterous!
Why They Ruled:
Puffier than chips, crunchier than crackers, and so incredibly loud while you'd munch.
Pizzarias
History:
Released in 1991 (we know, close enough), these chips were made with real pizza dough.
Fun Fact:
Came in triangle shapes to look like tiny slices of pizza.
Why They Ruled:
Real pizza ingredients in chip form? What a time to be alive.
Pantry Staples of the 80s
They weren’t flashy, they weren’t neon-colored, and they didn’t melt your face off with flavor. But they were always there. These are the snacks your mom bought in bulk and you absentmindedly munched while watching cartoons in your pajamas.
Fig Newtons
History:
Fig Newtons date back to 1891, but they were aggressively marketed in the 80s as a healthful snack.
Fun Fact:
Named after Newton, Massachusetts — not the scientist.
Why They Ruled:
Soft, chewy, and you could convince your parents you were just having a healthy snack.
Okay, these pantry staples deserved some love, too. While they weren't as flashy they were, and still are, reliable snacks that have filled lunchboxes and fuel study sessions for decades.
Nilla Wafers
Simple, sweet, and eternally shelf-stable. These vanilla cookies were either eaten by the handful or used in banana pudding your mom insisted you try.
Ritz Crackers
Flaky, buttery, and used for everything—cheese, peanut butter, Lunchables knockoffs, or just straight out of the sleeve.
Apple Chips or Fruit Leather
Before Fruit Roll-Ups went full rainbow rave, there were these more “natural” options your mom thought were healthy. They were...fine.
Cheez-It Crackers
Not quite as messy as Doritos, but just as addictive. These kind of had an “I’m a grown-up snack” energy...until you realized you’d eaten an entire box.
Graham Crackers
Another sneaky classic that doubled as both snack and ingredient (hello, s’mores). Sometimes cinnamon sugar-coated, sometimes just…crunchy cardboard. But always available.
Whether you were a pudding pop purist, a peanut butter fanatic, or a die-hard Doritos devotee, the 80s gave us a snack for every craving... and then cruelly took half of them away. RIP, PB Max.
So what did we miss? Which 80s snacks ruled your childhood and still haunts your dreams?
Drop your favorites in the comments so we can add them to the list!