snacks - Retroland

Hydrox

The cookie world, as you might imagine, is just a tad competitive, and when it comes to two chocolate wafers embracing a layer of sweet vanilla crème, there has always been a heavyweight and an underdog. We know you are aware of the former, but for the uninitiated, we would like to talk about the latter, and thy name is Hydrox. While their demise can be directly linked to their Nabisco counterpart, they are the cookie of choice of millions of people who, in 2008, demanded their cookie back. Let’s see what all the fuss was about.

Snack Pack

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If you ever sliced open your tongue while desperately trying to lick the last remaining morsels of pudding from a pull-top lid, it is safe to say that you might remember a childhood delight of the 70s and beyond called Snack Pack. Introduced in 1969, they remain a staple of lunchboxes (or brown bags, if you prefer) to this day.

The Keebler Elves

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With a taste so uncommonly good, it’s hard to believe that their delicious treats came from a hollowed-out tree. But not just any old tree - this one contained magical ovens, each one manned by the diminutive bakers known fondly to us as the Keebler Elves. And throughout their long history, they have continued to tantalize all who come within sight or smell of their irresistible specialty – cookies! Join us as we remember this trio of tree-dwelling mascots from yesteryear.

Astronaut Food

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Throughout most of the 20th century, it was no secret that dreams of space travel captured the hearts and imaginations of just about every tyke in existence. As the 60s arrived and astronauts started venturing out into this unexplored territory, one particular area of interest was the food that the astronauts took with them. And realizing some serious marketing potential here, numerous manufactures decided to give young consumers a taste of what these brave explorers were munching in their zero gravity environment.

Hostess Cupcakes

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Always moist, always yummy, always with precisely seven squiggles of white icing atop a bed of chocolate icing, filled with a dollop of rich vanilla cream. That’s right, it’s the chocolatey goodness that could only be a Hostess Cupcake, a treat coveted by every youth that ever set eyes on that squiggly stripe that distinguished it from all other inferior cupcakes. And only time will tell if we ever see these beloved snacks occupy a store shelf again.

Jiffy Pop

Jello Pudding Pops

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For a legion of 80s kids, the antidote for a hot summer day was a creamy Jello Pudding Pop. These frozen treats first hit the stands in the late 70s and caused spokesperson Bill Cosby to expand his Jell-O repertoire substantially. All this advertising, however, was likely directed at the parents; kids certainly didn’t need to be told how awesome Pudding Pops were. They just knew. In fact, these treats continue to top the list of foods that kids from the 80s reminisce about. Let's take a look at Mr. Cosby, sharing his love of Pudding Pops with television viewers:

Screaming Yellow Zonkers

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Sure, when you ponder sweetened popcorn snacks, you might immediately think of the iconic Cracker Jack, the boxed treat that has been forever linked with America’s favorite pastime. But not everyone enjoys peanuts mixed with their popcorn, and in the 60s, a company called Lincoln Snacks introduced a clever and humorous alternative to the beloved Cracker Jack. Given the name, Screaming Yellow Zonkers, it was clear out of the gate that this decidedly different concoction might not be taking themselves all too seriously. That didn’t stop millions from embracing this popcorn treat that dared to be different.

Drake’s Cakes

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When one thinks of individually packaged snack cakes, the first word that probably comes to mind is “Hostess.” But for those who grew up on the East Coast of the United States, there has always been an equally-loved underdog known as Drake’s Cakes. For those east coasters who have relocated to places where their beloved Devil Dogs and Yodels are no longer available, Hostess snacks are considered a substandard substitute for the treats they hold dear to their heart.

Fluffernutter

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It’s a snack so decadent that one might immediately assume that the King of Rock and Roll first concocted it. Two simple slices of bread, coated with equal and generous amounts of peanut butter and a delightful product called Marshmallow Fluff. To many kids of generations past, it was the perfect afterschool snack; to those with less-nutritionally-minded parents, it was occasionally a resident of the lunchbox. And, to anyone who ever had the privilege of crossing paths with a Fluffernutter, it was a sandwich that seemed as if it was created through divine intervention.