20 Forgotten ’70s Snacks That Take You Straight Back to Childhood

The YouTube channel “Those Wonder Years” recently took viewers on a nostalgic journey through the most memorable snacks of the 1970s. Their fascinating video explores 20 treats that defined childhood for an entire generation, from space-age candies to innovative breakfast cereals. Let’s dive into these forgotten favorites that had everyone rushing to the corner store with their allowance money.

Space Food Sticks

Space Food Sticks kicked off the decade’s fascination with futuristic snacking. Developed by Pillsbury in collaboration with NASA, these dense, chewy energy bars made kids feel like they were dining alongside astronauts. Available in chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel flavors, these foil-wrapped treats captured the imagination of Space Race era youth who dreamed of exploring the final frontier.

Marathon Bar

The legendary Marathon Bar was every chocolate lover’s dream – an impressive 8-inch braided caramel rope covered in milk chocolate. The packaging even included a ruler to showcase its extraordinary length. This wasn’t your typical candy bar; it was designed to be savored, often lasting through entire movies or long car rides thanks to its chewy texture.

Freshen Up Gum

Freshen Up Gum revolutionized the chewing gum experience with its innovative liquid center that burst in your mouth with the first bite. Available in peppermint, spearmint, and cinnamon, this gum delivered an unexpected splash of freshness that made it stand out from traditional options. The interactive element of the liquid center made it especially popular among young consumers who enjoyed the surprise with every piece.

PB Max

PB Max elevated the humble peanut butter cup to new heights, featuring a thick layer of creamy peanut butter topped with crunchy oats and cookie bits, all enrobed in milk chocolate. This more sophisticated treat balanced sweet and savory elements, creating a substantial snack that satisfied both kids and adults alike.

Chocolate Cigarettes

Chocolate cigarettes were a popular novelty item that let kids playfully mimic adult behavior. These thin chocolate sticks, often wrapped in paper with fake branding, were more about the experience than the taste, allowing children to “smoke” their treats before eating them.

Danish Go Rounds

Danish Go Rounds were the sophisticated predecessor to Pop-Tarts, featuring a flakier, more delicate pastry texture. Available in fruit flavors like strawberry, cinnamon, and apple, these toaster treats offered a quick breakfast option that felt slightly more upscale than their successors. Their delicate nature ultimately led to their downfall, as the more durable Pop-Tarts gained market dominance.

Hostess Chocodiles

Hostess Chocodiles took the beloved Twinkie and elevated it by adding a chocolate coating. This simple yet genius modification created an even more indulgent version of the classic snack cake, though they eventually became harder to find and were discontinued in many areas.

Fizzies

Fizzies brought the excitement of making your own soda at home with fizzy tablets that transformed regular water into bubbly, flavored drinks. Available in cherry, grape, orange, and root beer, these tablets made every glass of water an entertaining science experiment that kids could drink.

Sugar Mama Caramels

Sugar Mama Caramels offered a rich, chewy experience that required dedication to eat. These chocolate-covered caramel bars were part of the Sugar Daddy family but stood out for their more sophisticated coating and long-lasting chew.

Pizza Spins

Pizza Spins brought the beloved flavor of pizza to snack time with their spiral-shaped crackers coated in tomato, cheese, and herb seasonings. Though short-lived, these unique treats satisfied cravings for pizza flavor in a convenient, crunchy format.

Koogle

Koogle revolutionized peanut butter with unusual flavors like chocolate, banana, cinnamon, and vanilla. This playful spread made ordinary sandwiches extraordinary and captured kids’ imaginations with its mascot and catchy commercials.

Choc-A

Choc-A offered a whimsical twist by shaping chocolate into bandages, complete with individual foil wrapping. This novelty candy combined play and treats, allowing kids to “heal” themselves with chocolate before eating their medicine.

Boppers

Boppers combined peanut butter, cookie bits, and chocolate coating into a satisfying bite-sized treat that hit all the right notes of texture and flavor. Though they didn’t last long on the market, they left a lasting impression on snack lovers.

Amazing Raisin

Amazing Raisins transformed ordinary raisins into exciting candy by coating them in flavored shells. Available in orange, lemon, cherry, and grape, these treats offered a slightly healthier alternative to pure candy while maintaining the fun factor.

Bonkers Candy

Bonkers candy became famous not just for its fruity dual-layer construction but for its memorable commercials featuring characters getting “bonked” by flavor. The combination of chewy outer shell and soft, fruity filling made every bite an adventure.

Giggles Cookies

Giggles cookies brought smiles to faces with their distinctive design featuring happy faces stamped into sandwich cookies filled with both chocolate and vanilla cream. This playful approach to cookie design made snack time more entertaining.

Wacky Wafers

Wacky Wafers delivered bold fruit flavors in oversized, colorful wafer format. These quarter-sized candies came in watermelon, banana, orange, green apple, and strawberry flavors, providing a satisfying crunch with every bite.

Whistles

Whistles combined snacking with play by creating cookies that actually worked as whistles before being eaten. These buttery treats offered an interactive element that made them especially popular at parties.

Crazy Cow Cereal

Crazy Cow cereal transformed ordinary milk into chocolate or strawberry “milkshakes” while providing a crunchy breakfast experience. This innovative approach to cereal made breakfast more exciting for kids.

Screaming Yellow Zonkers

Screaming Yellow Zonkers wrapped sweet, glazed popcorn in packages covered with quirky humor and jokes, making snack time both delicious and entertaining. These bright yellow boxes stood out on store shelves and became known as much for their witty packaging as their tasty contents.

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Which of these forgotten treats do you remember most fondly? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check out the full video from Those Wonder Years on YouTube for even more nostalgic snack memories.