Top 10 '90s Foods That Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again

There are a few recognizable landmarks in a person’s voyage from kid to grown-up. Things like getting a driver’s license, opening a bank account in your own name and, maybe the biggest one, eating crust. Whether that be from a pizza or a sandwich, you’ll find that most kids leave it out of their diet. For us ‘90s kids, this means we remember Uncrustables fondly. Developed in 1995 and purchased by Smuckers in 1999, the calzone-like sandwich with the crimped edges was a PB&J straight outta our child-like fantasy. No crusts!!!

Remember in the 2000s when 3D movies were a big thing? Well, in the ‘90s 3D was also popular, but rather than at your local cineplex, this 3D experience could be found in the chip aisle at your local grocery store. Doritos 3D were basically puffed-up three-dimensional, hollow triangles - like Bugles without the opening at the wide end. They came in a few different flavors including Jalapeño Cheddar, Nacho Cheese, and Zesty Ranch. For about 15 years since the product was discontinued in the mid-aughts, all we could do was reminisce. However, as of the end of 2020 - to quote the little blonde girl from “Poltergeist II” - “they’re back”.

As adults, many of us - assuming we’re tolerant of lactose - love cheese. A nice aged cheddar, a creamy camembert or a white stilton will almost always hit the spot. Unless, of course, that spot is wanting to feel like a kid again. If we need to embrace a sense of child-like innocence, well there’s really only one choice when it comes to cheese, and that’s string cheese. It’s fun to eat, it’s a snack that’s easy to consume on the go, and it’s pretty tasty too, all things considered. Oh, and for those of you who bite into it instead of pulling it off in strings… you can go ahead and click off the video now.

As we all know, trying to find consensus online is a fool's errand. That being said, it’s pretty well agreed upon that these days McDonald’s serves one of, if not the best fast food french fries. As for Burger King, where they land on the list varies but it’s most definitely lower than the Golden Arches. However, back in the ‘90s that wasn’t such a universal truth. In fact, there are Reddit threads dedicated to the memory of BK fries from the late ‘90s and early 2000s. Whether it’s childhood food goggles or not, those old Burger King French Fries are crispy nostalgia for many.

Their association with Bill Cosby does put a bit of a damper on things. But for any kids of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s there’s no forgetting how yummy Jell-O Pudding Pops were. It’s frozen Jell-O pudding on a stick! If you’ve never tried it then maybe you don’t understand, but trust us when we tell you it was awesome. And yes, we know that the “Popsicle” brand brought back pudding pops in 2004, but they just weren’t the same. Which is probably why they were eventually discontinued in 2011. Bring back the OG, Jell-O!

When in doubt, childhood food nostalgia can usually be found with bright colors and sugar. And one classic ‘90s snack that brought those two together in delicious harmony was Trix Yogurt by Yoplait. Bringing the sweet and colorful cereal to yogurt containers meant a duo-colored fruit-flavored snack that kids loved. Yoplait has recently brought them back to store shelves after a five-year hiatus, so if you were missing Strawberry Banana Bash, Raspberry Rainbow, or Watermelon Burst, you might just be in luck. While we’re encouraging a tasty trip down memory lane, we’ll take the opportunity to remind you that, “Trix are for kids”.

Penne, fettucini, ravioli, linguini… Depending on your family, any one of those pasta-types and shapes might bring back childhood memories. But there’s one shape that, for some of us, is the most reminiscent of our childhood meals. And that would be the humble circle. Or more specifically, the “oh”... the SpaghettiO. Pasta circles in a can of tomato sauce might not sound like anything special, but to kids who had trouble twirling their spaghetti, it sure was. It was, as the initial tagline told us, “the neat round spaghetti you can eat with a spoon”. And to this day, what 90s kid doesn’t throw out an “Uh-Oh! SpaghettiOs” every now and then.

This one will awaken your inner child even before you even get to consume it. The second that three-dimensional triangle in your hands you’ll start flashing back to those good ol’ days. These frozen juice bars stood out from the crowd because of their unconventional shape, and they stand out in our minds for that - and for how delicious they are, obviously. Also, yes, they’re still making them today. So if you remember just how to squeeze them, you, too, can have a yummy frozen snack - no matter your age!

2020 was definitely a very tough year for all of us. However, there was a bright spot in the year of the pandemic, and it came in May. This was the time Dunkaroos came back into our lives. Introduced in 1990, Dunkaroos were a staple of many a childrens’ lunch boxes. Those cookies and icing were the undisputed highlight of our lunches. Sadly, by the time we were teens and young adults, Dunkaroos had gone away. The collective sobs from our child selves must have been heard far and wide, because Dunkaroos seems here to stay this time around!

Is there anything that can make you feel more like a kid than biting down on a gummy candy and feeling the sweet sugary syrup ooze out? When it comes to ‘90s candy, we certainly don’t think so. Fruit Gushers were brought into the world in 1991 and they’re still around today. But when was the last time you had one? As adults, many of us have put a stop to our childhood candy habits. However, one bite of a Fruit Gusher and the only thing rushing into you faster than the juice inside the candy will be happy childhood memories.

Which ‘90s snack always takes you back to your younger days? Let us know in the comments.