Growing up in the 1950s and ’60s, our snacks and treats were a whole different world compared to what kids eat today. Some of these foods have disappeared entirely, while others have changed so much they’re barely recognizable. Let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the flavors of our childhood – treats that today’s kids might find hard to believe ever existed.
Table of Contents
1. Space Food Sticks
These chewy, chocolate-flavored snacks were developed for NASA astronauts and marketed to kids as “space age food.” We felt like real astronauts eating these dense, slightly chalky sticks that came individually wrapped in foil. Pillsbury discontinued them in the 1980s, though they briefly returned in Australia before disappearing again.
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2. Marathon Bar
This braided caramel and chocolate bar was eight inches long and came with a ruler printed on the back of the wrapper. Mars discontinued it in 1981, though it lives on in the UK as “Curly Wurly.” The distinctive braided shape and satisfying chew made it a favorite at movie theaters and corner stores.
3. Hydrox Cookies
The original sandwich cookie, predating Oreos by four years, had a distinctly different taste and crunch. While technically still available in limited releases, the original recipe and texture are gone forever. Many of us preferred their less sweet, more chocolatey taste and the way they stayed crisp in milk longer than their more famous competitor.
4. Reggie! Bar
Named after baseball star Reggie Jackson, this round chocolate bar filled with peanuts and caramel was a ballpark favorite. When it launched in 1976, the Yankees gave them away at a game, resulting in fans throwing them onto the field when Reggie hit a home run. The bar disappeared in the early 1980s, though it briefly returned in the 1990s.
5. Seven-Up Gold
This spicy, ginger-ale-like version of Seven-Up lasted only a year in the late 1960s. It was darker and more complex than regular Seven-Up, with a unique blend of spices that made it taste more like a ginger beer. The unusual color and taste confused consumers who expected the clear, lemon-lime flavor they knew.
6. Gatorgum
This Gatorade-flavored gum came in lemon-lime and orange flavors, promising to quench your thirst while you chewed. The powerful flavor blast would indeed make your mouth water, though it faded quickly. It was popular with athletes and kids alike before disappearing in the late 1980s.
7. Wonka Oompas
These chocolate-covered peanut butter candies were like larger, flatter M&Ms with a unique taste all their own. Named after the Oompa Loompas from “Willy Wonka,” they were discontinued in the 1980s. The two-tone candies came in a distinctive orange package that stood out on store shelves.
8. Danish Go-Rounds
Pillsbury’s answer to Pop-Tarts was flakier and more pastry-like than its competitor. They came in flavors like strawberry, blueberry, and brown sugar cinnamon, with a distinctive swirl pattern on the frosting. Despite being arguably superior to Pop-Tarts, they disappeared by the mid-1970s.
9. Chocolate Soldier
This chocolate drink was Yoo-hoo’s main competitor in the 1960s. It had a richer, more chocolatey taste and came in a distinctive brown bottle with a soldier on the label. The drink was especially popular in the South before gradually disappearing in the 1970s.
10. Pizzarias Pizza Chips
These thin, crispy chips actually tasted like pizza, with a perfect blend of tomato, cheese, and herbs. Keebler introduced them in the late 1960s, and they remained popular through the 1970s. No modern pizza-flavored snack has quite captured their unique taste and texture.
11. Milk Break Bars
These chocolate-covered wafer bars were marketed as a wholesome snack because they contained real milk. They came individually wrapped in foil and were perfect for lunch boxes. The combination of crispy wafers and creamy chocolate made them a favorite before they disappeared in the early 1980s.
12. Screaming Yellow Zonkers
These yellow-glazed popcorn snacks came in a distinctive black box with humorous writing all over it. While similar to Cracker Jack, they had no prizes – just perfectly sweetened popcorn with a unique yellow coating. The snack disappeared in the 1980s, though it briefly returned in the 2000s.
13. Life Savers Holes
Marketed as the centers punched out of Life Savers candies, these tiny candies came in a small plastic tube. While they weren’t actually made from Life Savers manufacturing process, they were a clever marketing idea. They disappeared after a brief run in the late 1970s, possibly due to choking concerns.
