Alright, snack fanatics, buckle up because we’re about to take a totally groovy ride in our flavor-blasting DeLorean, straight back to the 1970s! Forget about avocado toast for a moment, and let’s talk about a decade where food scientists and clever marketers were basically culinary rockstars, turning every bite into a mini-adventure. The ’70s wasn’t just about disco and bell-bottoms; it was a golden age for wildly mass-produced, packaged snacks that took over American households, transforming everything from school lunches to after-school treats and even fancy dinner parties.
Imagine a time when the most futuristic thing you could eat actually went to space, or when your peanut butter came pre-flavored in multiple, mind-blowing options! The ’70s were an era of innovation in snacking, where convenience foods truly hit their stride, offering a dizzying array of interesting treats. Whether you remember grabbing them on a work break, finding them as a special treat your mom packed, or indulging in them like dessert, these munchies left an indelible mark on our collective taste buds and the snack history books.
Half of these old-school favorites have impressively stood the test of time, staying on shelves year after year or making glorious comebacks. The other half, however, have seemingly vanished forever, leaving us with nothing but sweet, sweet memories and a longing for flavors long gone. But don’t you worry, because we’re here to celebrate them all! Get ready to explore some of the most iconic, delicious, and sometimes downright bizarre snacks that defined a generation. Let’s dive into the first seven that kick-started this flavor revolution!
1. **Dunkin’ Donuts’ Munchkins**Before we had fancy coffee shops on every corner, we had Dunkin’ Donuts, and in the early 1970s, they dropped a game-changer on us: Munchkins! While donut holes weren’t exactly a new invention, Dunkin’s genius idea of selling bite-sized versions of their larger donuts truly took off, and for a multitude of totally understandable reasons. These little round delights became an instant hit, quickly becoming a popular snack that everyone adored.
For starters, they offered a smaller portion size, which was a big win for those who didn’t want to commit to a whole donut. Plus, five Munchkins were roughly the equivalent of a single donut, giving you maximum variety without overdoing it. And let’s be real, who could resist the opportunity to mix and match flavors when your stomach space for donuts was finite? No more agonizing over just one flavor choice—you could have them all!
To make them even more irresistible, Munchkins launched at an unbelievable $0.19 a bag, making them an absolute steal. Initially, they were just called “donut holes,” but after a trial run, the name “Munchkins” won out, with its charming connection to “The Wizard of Oz,” its undeniable appeal to kids, and a playful nod to their size. This new marketing campaign deliberately targeted children, and it worked like a charm, with Munchkins accounting for 10% of Dunkin’ Donuts’ sales in the 1970s alone. Talk about a snack sensation!
2. **Cup Noodles**Hold onto your chopsticks, because Cup Noodles were not just popular in the 1970s; they were a phenomenon, and thankfully, they’re still very much a part of our lives today! The whole instant noodle concept actually began in Japan in 1958, born from post-WWII Japan’s need for cheap, accessible food made from available ingredients. These “magic noodles,” formally known as Chicken Ramen, were ready in mere minutes with just the addition of boiling water. Pure genius!
By 1971, Momofuku Ando, the brilliant creator, had a vision to expand his product overseas as Cup Noodles. These early Nissin Cup Noodles from the ’70s were pretty iconic, arriving in a styrofoam cup with a noodle block filling part of it, leaving just enough room for hot water to work its magic. They were the epitome of convenience, perfect as a quick meal or a satisfying snack. Their popularity endured so much that they even boldly went to space in 2005 as Space Ramen!
Today, you can find them all over the world, inspiring countless imitations, but Nissin has kept up with international trends, creating over 150 flavors to tantalize palates everywhere. From late-night study sessions to a quick lunch at the office, Cup Noodles have remained a global comfort food, proving that sometimes, the simplest ideas are the most enduring. What a ride for a humble cup of instant goodness!
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3. **Kraft Koogle**Now, let’s talk about a snack that truly made us wonder, “Why isn’t this still around?” In 1971, Kraft dropped a flavor bomb on the world with Koogle, a brand of flavored peanut butter that was unlike anything else. While today you might see a jar of peanut butter and jelly swirled together, Koogle offered a whole spectrum of exciting flavors like cinnamon, chocolate, banana, and vanilla peanut butter. Seriously, how cool is that?
Sure, we could add these flavors to our peanut butter ourselves today, but back then, having it come pre-mixed was pure magic. Koogle wasn’t just flavored; it was sweet, sported a super fun logo with googly eyes, and even boasted that it wouldn’t stick to the roof of your mouth like regular peanut butter. Talk about appealing to kids on multiple levels! It was designed to make that everyday peanut butter sandwich an adventure.
Despite its innovative flavors and playful marketing, Koogle sadly met its demise by the end of the decade. Perhaps it was its higher price point or the fact that it wasn’t exactly a health food, but its disappearance still leaves us scratching our heads when other sweet spreads like Nutella have thrived. Koogle remains a wistful memory for those who remember its sweet, googly-eyed charm, leaving us dreaming of banana-flavored peanut butter once more!
4. **Pizza Spins**Imagine a world where pizza wasn’t readily available on every corner, but you could still get that incredible pizza flavor in a snack whenever you wanted. That was the promise of General Mills’ Pizza Spins! Although invented in 1968, these savory delights were a staple throughout the entire 1970s. Seriously, who *wouldn’t* like a snack that tasted like pizza? It was pure genius wrapped in a little corn-based bite.
These small, crispy snacks were bursting with cheese, tomato, and a medley of pizza spices. To us, they might look like tiny wagon wheels, but the intention was clear: pizza in a fun, munchable form. The packaging itself was a vibrant green, white, and red, cleverly designed to evoke the colors of the Italian flag, fully immersing you in the pizza experience before you even took a bite. It was a whole vibe!
Heartbreakingly, General Mills discontinued Pizza Spins in 1975, and they’ve never made a comeback. So, if you weren’t around to enjoy them in the ’70s, you’re pretty much out of luck, left only to imagine the cheesy, tomatoey goodness. Many have forgotten them entirely, but a dedicated few still wish for their return, with some even finding a close (but not quite the same) substitute in Mexican Bocadeli Trompetas de Pizza. Oh, what we wouldn’t give for another spin!
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5. **Kraft Squeez-A-Snak**Before the days of fancy cheese boards and artisan crackers, there was Kraft Squeez-A-Snak, a true ’70s icon of processed cheese delight! While it wasn’t the *first* processed cheese spread to hit the market, it certainly carved out a popular niche in the decade. But this wasn’t your typical aerosol can cheese; oh no, this was something far more interactive and, dare we say, exciting!
Squeez-A-Snak came in a plastic tubular package, much like ground sausage, but with a special port on the top side for, you guessed it, squeezing! The name was perfectly fitting. What truly made this snack stand out was its star-shaped nozzle, which delivered cheese onto your crackers, nachos, or baked pretzels looking like you’d used a fancy cake icing tip. It transformed ordinary snacking into a culinary art form, making every bite feel a little bit special.
It came in six intriguing flavors: pimento, sharp, bacon, hot pepper, garlic, and hickory smoke. While those who remember it from the ’70s often recall the flavors being quite artificial, kids absolutely loved it. And honestly, who can blame them? There’s an undeniable, primal joy in squeezing your food, especially when it comes out in a fun shape. Squeez-A-Snak was a testament to the fun and playful nature of ’70s snacking, a delightful memory of cheesy creativity!
6. **Reggie Bars**Get ready for a home run of flavor with the Reggie! bar, a snack forever tied to a legendary moment in baseball history! In 1977, when Reggie Jackson joined the New York Yankees and then hit three incredible home runs to win their first World Series game in 15 years, a star was born, both on the field and in the candy aisle. The following year, at the Yankees’ first game, every attendee received a Reggie! bar, leading to an iconic celebration as fans threw their bars onto the field after Jackson hit *another* home run.
Reggie! bars were an absolute sensation that year, raking in a staggering $11 million in sales in the New York area alone. Despite its name, the candy was more of a patty shape than a traditional bar, a delicious concoction of milk chocolate, rich peanut butter, gooey caramel, and crunchy roasted peanuts. It was a powerhouse of flavor, just like its namesake!
The bars remained popular but were unfortunately discontinued in 1981 due to financial woes at the Curtis Candy Company. However, true legends never die! The Clark candy company briefly brought them back in the 1990s, each one containing a limited-edition Upper Deck baseball card. And guess what? They made *another* comeback in 2023, proving that some snacks, like some baseball heroes, are just too good to stay out of the game. Talk about nostalgia making a grand slam!
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7. **Jell-O Pudding Pops**Prepare for a wave of delicious nostalgia, because Jell-O Pudding Pops were the stuff of dreams for every kid in the 1970s and 1980s! If you didn’t beg your parents for them after seeing one of their ubiquitous commercials, you were probably trying to make homemade versions in your kitchen. The concept was utterly irresistible: smooth, creamy pudding in the convenient, fun form of a popsicle. Pure genius, truly!
These frozen delights first hit test markets in 1978 and were so successful they went mainstream in 1979. Interestingly, General Foods had been advertising recipes for making homemade pudding pops using Jell-O pudding since the 1960s, so customers were already primed and ready for the commercial version when it arrived in the freezer aisle. It was a brilliant marketing build-up!
Just like Jell-O’s classic puddings, these pops came in beloved flavors like chocolate, vanilla, butterscotch, and even banana. And boy, did they make bank! The company pulled in a whopping $100 million in sales in their first year, tripling that amount by their fifth. Sadly, Pudding Pops have been just a memory since their discontinuation in 2004, due to declining sales. Yet, for countless people, they remain a cherished, pleasantly nostalgic frozen treat, a creamy, dreamy taste of simpler times. We miss you, Pudding Pops!
Alright, buckle up, time travelers, because our ’70s snack safari is far from over! If you thought the first batch of treats was mind-blowing, just wait until you see what else the groovy decade had cooking. We’re diving deeper into the delicious, the daring, and the sometimes downright bizarre munchies that filled lunchboxes, fueled parties, and became unforgettable parts of our collective childhoods. Get ready to awaken those long-dormant taste buds and experience a fresh wave of nostalgia as we continue our countdown of the most iconic 70s snacks!
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8. **Jell-O 1-2-3**Prepare for some serious kitchen magic with Jell-O 1-2-3, a snack that practically defied gravity and delighted taste buds from 1969 straight through the 1970s! Imagine a dessert so clever: all you had to do was mix the powder with boiling water, let it chill, and BAM—it magically separated into three distinct layers. Talk about mind-bending convenience, making sophisticated-looking desserts a breeze!
Before this culinary marvel, achieving a layered gelatin dessert was a tedious, multi-step process, requiring patience as each layer set individually. Jell-O 1-2-3 was a true game-changer, stripping away all that work and making elegant desserts accessible for any busy ’70s homemaker or eager kid. It was the ultimate shortcut to dessert glory, offering visual appeal with minimal effort.
The real kicker was how unique each layer felt. The bottom was classic, wiggly Jell-O. The middle transformed into something creamy and delightfully pudding-like, adding a new dimension. And then, topping it all off, was a fluffy, spongy layer that looked just like whipped cream, giving you three fantastic textures in one glorious spoonful!
You could snag this layered dream in classic fruit flavors like strawberry, raspberry, cherry, lime, and orange. Sadly, as its novelty wore off, Jell-O 1-2-3 began fading from shelves by the mid-1980s, completely vanishing by 1996. It’s a wistful memory for many, only making a fleeting return as a DIY pudding pop mold kit—a shadow of its former layered glory.
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9. **Betcha Bacon**Oh, General Mills, you had our attention with this one! In the early 1970s, they unleashed Betcha Bacon, a snack that dared to promise the glorious taste of bacon in a crunchy, convenient form. These little corn and rice-based bites were designed to look just like mini bacon pieces, offering a tantalizing artificial bacon flavoring. Who wouldn’t want a pocketful of bacon-y bliss?
But wait, there’s more to this flavor! Betcha Bacon also packed a subtle punch of cheddar cheese and buttermilk, adding an interesting, almost savory-sweet twist. It was an ambitious blend, clearly trying to stand out in a crowded snack aisle with its unique combination of familiar, comforting flavors. This was no ordinary chip!
Despite all the enthusiastic advertisements that loudly declared Betcha Bacon’s flavor was “blissful,” it seems not enough folks found that bliss. The company poured effort into promoting this snack, but alas, it never quite flew off the shelves with the fervor General Mills had hoped for. It became one of those snacks that sadly didn’t make it out of the ’70s.
Ultimately, after only about four short years, General Mills pulled the plug on Betcha Bacon. They even tried to boost its appeal by adding more bacon flavor, but it just wasn’t enough to capture hearts. Interestingly, the concept of bacon-flavored corn snacks fared much better in the U.K., where you can still find a similar delight called Frazzles.
10. **Chocodiles**Alright, Twinkie fans, gather ’round, because in 1977, your favorite golden sponge cake got a seriously cool chocolate makeover: enter the legendary Chocodiles! The idea was deliciously simple and utterly brilliant: take a classic yellow sponge cake Twinkie, keep its iconic white cream filling, and then—gasp—drench it in a rich, chocolatey coating. Pure genius, right?
Now, don’t confuse these with chocolate sponge cake Twinkies; Chocodiles were in a league of their own. They were a chocolate-covered dream that retained the original Twinkie’s sunny disposition inside. To make them even more unforgettable, they came with their very own mascot, the wonderfully named Chauncey Chocodile, a friendly crocodile who graced boxes and commercials, enthusiastically offering Chocodiles to everyone!
Sadly, despite his charm, Chauncey never quite reached superstar status and has largely faded into obscurity. However, Chocodiles themselves have proven resilient, making a few triumphant comebacks over the years. Sometimes they’ve reappeared under different names, like “Fudge Covered Twinkies” or even “DingDongs x Twinkies Mashups,” offering a similar texture but missing that classic Chocodile shape.
Their most recent return was under the beloved Chocodiles name, sparking joy for nostalgic snackers! But in a curious twist, our pal Chauncey was nowhere to be found. Instead, the mascot was a cartoon Twinkie rocking a cowboy hat, which, while cute, just doesn’t have the same wild, reptilian charm as an actual crocodile. We miss you, Chauncey!
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11. **Marathon Bars**Get ready to stretch your snack-time expectations, because the Marathon bar was truly an epic candy experience that ran straight through the 1970s and into the early ’80s! When this colossal treat burst onto the scene in 1973, it immediately captivated candy lovers with its sheer size. Seriously, it came with a ruler printed right on the wrapper, proudly boasting an impressive eight inches of deliciousness!
Even in today’s world of “king-sized” candy bars, most barely crack seven inches, making the Marathon bar a true heavyweight champion of length. But its uniqueness didn’t stop at its impressive stature. This wasn’t just any ordinary chocolate bar; it featured a distinct, loosely braided structure, beautifully intertwining rich milk chocolate with gloriously chewy caramel.
The name “Marathon” wasn’t just for show; it perfectly encapsulated the experience of eating one of these bad boys. The idea was that it took a *long* time to devour—supposedly, the culinary equivalent of running a marathon! It was a snack designed for savoring, for stretching out those moments of pure, unadulterated sweet indulgence.
Alas, like many good things from the ’70s, the Marathon bar eventually crossed its finish line, being discontinued in the U.S. in 1981, partly due to financial restructuring at Mars. This disappearance left a caramel-chocolate shaped hole in many hearts, and dedicated fans still hope for its return. For our friends across the pond, Cadbury’s Curly Wurly, a similar winding candy bar, is still available in the U.K., proving some snack legends live on in other lands!
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12. **Space Food Sticks**In the 1970s, as America reveled in moon landings, the craze for all things outer space wasn’t just a trend—it was a way of life, even for our snacks! And few treats embodied this cosmic connection more genuinely than Space Food Sticks. These weren’t just *part* of the space trend; they actually *went* to outer space on several NASA missions, making them genuinely out-of-this-world!
Developed by Pillsbury in the 1960s for the U.S. aerospace program, these pliable, chewy bars were billed as “the energy food” and promised “balanced nutrition” from a mere 44 calories. Their real genius was design: they were engineered not to crumble, preventing pesky crumbs from floating around the spaceship cockpit. How cool is that for a snack origin story?
Naturally, with space-centric advertisements plastered everywhere, everyone on Earth wanted a piece of the astronaut lifestyle. Kids everywhere embraced the idea of nibbling on NASA-style provisions, making Space Food Sticks a lunchbox staple and an after-school energy boost. You could get these futuristic fuel rods in classic flavors like chocolate, peanut butter, and even caramel.
Eventually, Pillsbury rebranded them simply as “Food Sticks” and shifted the marketing focus away from their stellar origins. Sadly, like many celestial phenomena, Space Food Sticks faded from existence, disappearing completely sometime in the 1980s. But their legacy lives on, a delicious reminder of a decade that dreamed big, both on Earth and beyond the stars!
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13. **Space Dust Sizzling Candy**Hold onto your taste buds, because the ’70s also brought us another space-themed sensation that literally popped in your mouth: Space Dust Sizzling Candy! This incredible confection was the crushed-up, powdered sibling of the already legendary Pop Rocks, bursting onto the scene in 1978 and taking the fizzy candy experience to a whole new galaxy.
Its origins were wild, stemming from General Foods’ 1956 attempt to create instant soda tablets. While that didn’t quite work out, the inventor noticed the amazing sizzle and crackle. Fast forward to ’78, and Pop Rocks got a pulverizing makeover, emerging as Space Dust, complete with fantastic, space-related names like “Galactic Grape,” “Orbital Orange,” and “Cosmic Cherry.” How fun is that?!
For a while, Space Dust was even *more* popular than its whole-rock counterpart, captivating kids with its finer texture and intensified fizz. However, its meteoric rise eventually met a rather bumpy landing. The name “Space Dust” caused a stir among parents who worried it sounded too similar to the illegal drug “Angel Dust,” fueling concerns about drug culture.
To calm the storm, the company even renamed it “Cosmic Candy,” but the damage was done. Adding to its woes, those infamous rumors about Pop Rocks making your stomach explode if eaten with soda extended to Space Dust too, leading to its discontinuation. While Pop Rocks eventually made a triumphant comeback, Space Dust sadly joined the ranks of forgotten retro snacks.
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14. **Jelly Belly**Let’s rewind to the sweet, sweet world of jelly beans, but not just any jelly beans—we’re talking about the game-changing Jelly Belly! While Ronald Reagan definitely made them famous during his 1980s presidency, everyone was already happily munching on these miniature flavor bombs throughout the 1970s. The company had been making jelly beans for ages, but it was their brilliant idea in 1976 to shrink them down to the perfect, bite-sized “miniature-sized Jelly Bellys” that truly revolutionized the candy world.
These aren’t your grandma’s generic jelly beans; Jelly Belly was all about intense, true-to-life flavors that packed a serious punch. They started with just eight ordinary-sounding but extraordinary-tasting flavors like cherry, grape, lemon, tangerine, and classic licorice. But they weren’t afraid to get a little wild, introducing unconventional, yet utterly delicious, options like root beer, cream soda, and green apple. Talk about a flavor adventure in every single bean!
And the company hasn’t stopped there! Jelly Belly has been on an unstoppable mission to expand its flavor offerings ever since, continuously tantalizing our taste buds with new and exciting combinations. This commitment to innovation and incredible flavor variety is precisely why they’ve remained so incredibly popular through the decades, becoming a true candy icon.
It’s fascinating to see how some original flavors have held their own. For years, “very cherry” reigned supreme as the best-selling flavor. Buttered popcorn briefly stole the crown between 1998 and 2003, but “very cherry” bounced back, proving its timeless appeal. And even today, licorice still proudly holds a spot in the top five, showing that sometimes, the classics are simply unbeatable.
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Wow, what a flavor trip! From magic-making gelatins to space-faring energy sticks, and from bacon-flavored crisps to chocolate-covered Twinkies, the 1970s truly gifted us a kaleidoscope of snacks that were as innovative as they were delicious. These munchies weren’t just food; they were miniature cultural artifacts, reflecting the era’s boundless creativity, playful marketing, and a sheer love for making every bite an experience. Whether they’ve endured as pantry staples, made triumphant comebacks, or live on only in our fondest memories, these 70s snacks undeniably left their delicious mark. So, tell us, which of these groovy treats instantly transports you back to the era of disco and bell-bottoms? Share your favorite ’70s snack memories—we’re all ears (and hungry for more nostalgia)!
