Top 10 2000s Foods That Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again

The word “Fruit” may be right there in the name. But with three of the main ingredients being sugar, maltodextrin and corn syrup, Fruit by the Foot is as much made of fruit as it is of feet. And, if we’re being honest, that’s probably why we loved them so much. That, and the fact that we got to unroll our food like some kind of sugar red carpet for our mouths. Sure, Fruit Roll-Ups are good, but they were so short in comparison. Fruit by the Foot was, and still is, “3 Feet of Fun”!

Peeling back that flimsy plastic covering to reveal the rectangle Ritz crackers and that bright orange cheese dip is a feeling like no other. Ritz Handi-Snacks sure did come in handy when you were a hungry kid. And the little red spreader utensil was perfect for when you finished the crackers and wanted to scrape up all of the remaining cheese dip. Just looking at a picture of the plastic stick instantly takes us back to our childhoods. It’s something today’s youth can’t understand, since Ritz has officially removed the utensil in an effort to be more “eco-friendly.”

Hannah Montana wasn’t talking about cereal with the song “The Best of Both Worlds.” But if she had been, it probably would have been about French Toast Crunch. It’s a crunchy, sugar cereal that tastes like french toast! There’s absolutely nothing about that that doesn’t sound amazing! And we aren’t the only ones who thought so. In 2006, General Mills, the company who produced French Toast Crunch, stopped producing the cereal in the United States. There was such an outcry that in 2014 they brought it back! They even resurrected the classic french toast shaped pieces - which they had changed to basic squares back in the day.

No, we’re not talking about “Underoos,” the often superhero-themed underwear that was fun to wear. Dunkaroos are a delicious sugary snack. We’d like to think that there was secret research done in the ‘90s and 2000s showing that kids love to assemble their snacks themselves. Because, just like ​​Ritz Handi-Snacks separate the crackers and the cheese, Dunkaroos separate the cookies and the frosting in a similarly-designed two compartment vessel. Controlling just how much sugary goodness you get in each bite somehow makes the whole thing taste even better. Although these dunkable delights disappeared from US stores in 2012, they returned in 2020 for a new generation of kids to get their dunk on.

As an adult, the idea of delicious pizza is an amazing Neapolitan-style thin crust pizza with a San Marzano tomato sauce, basil and fresh mozzarella. But as kids, we preferred our pizza in non-slice forms. We wanted it in pockets, in rolls, and of course, on little bagels. And honestly, we were onto something! Pop them in the oven then pop them in your mouth. But please let them cool down first. Raise your hand if you burned your mouth on multiple occasions as a kid trying to scarf down a Bagel Bite while it was still piping hot. They were so fun it was worth it, though.

It literally calls itself cuisine for kids. How could this classic frozen meal brand not make us feel like children again? The company did a great job advertising to the youth. So while many parents were eating Lean Cuisine, we were demanding Kid Cuisine meals consisting of cheeseburgers with corn and gummies. Or maybe you preferred the nuggets with chocolate pudding. If we’re being honest here, both of those options still sound really good all these years later. The food may have been frozen, but it felt like a really special dining experience back in the day. What more could you ask for?!

In an attempt to clean up our planet, we’ve seen businesses and governments institute policies around the elimination of plastic straws. And while the end result is beneficial, many people agree that drinking with paper straws isn’t very enjoyable. Well, those of us who were kids in the 2000s remember that the Kellogg company was ahead of the curve. Froot Loops cereal straws were exactly what they sound like - straws made of crunchy, fruity, sugary cereal. And even better than recyclable or compostable, they were digestible! And best of all, they’re back! Although discontinued in 2009, Kellogg's reintroduced the cereal straw to a new generation in 2021.

Not to be confused with the fictional Scooby Snacks, these are fruit flavored gummies in the shape of Scooby-Doo and other characters from the classic cartoon. Because the only thing better than a sweet snack is one in the shape of characters from TV shows we love. And while the product still exists, it - like oh so many Scooby-Doo villains - isn’t exactly what it appears to be. In 2015, the company revamped it and eliminated artificial flavors and colors. In the process, they got rid of the light blue Scooby-Doo gummy - which by many accounts was the most beloved one. To that we say: “ruh roh”!

It wasn’t just Trix cereal that that silly rabbit was trying to get his hands on back in the 2000s. The mascot was also constantly trying to fill his belly with Yoplait Trix Yogurt. And it only makes sense given that it was essentially a spoonable dairy version of the kid-friendly cereal. So many were saddened when the snack was discontinued in the mid 2010s. By the same token, loads of millennials were stoked to see it return to the store shelves in 2021. And while the product’s classic slogan tells us that it’s only for kids, we figure our inner child can enjoy it without breaking the rules.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Gripz
As Delicious as Regular Cheez-Its, but Smaller

Fruit Twistables
One Twistingly Nostalgic Treat

Shrek Go-Gurts
Two Things We Love: Portable Yogurt & “Shrek”

Hot Chocolate Pop-Tarts
This Flavor Warmed Our Kid Bellies in the 2000s

Smuckers Uncrustables
A Genius Treat with the Crust Already Cut Off

This DIY snack experience that required us kids to build the final product rules them all. It was like HGTV for sugary treats. We would start with the foundation - usually a brownie or a cookie. And from there we would add the decor in the form of frosting and sprinkles. Now that’s a sweet snack we could sink our teeth into. The nostalgia factor is big here, as one bite will instantly remind you of all the times your mother put them in your lunch bag. Or it’ll transport you to all the times you saw your friends eating them and wished you had one too!