Snacks help us get over the mid-afternoon slump, make movie nights more fun, and feed us on long road trips. But some of the snacks that we have the most fondness for are those we enjoyed as children. From Pop Tarts and Funyuns to Reese’s Pieces, we've compiled the ultimate list of chips, candies, and treats you’ll remember if you grew up in Canada or the US.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover our roundup of the greatest childhood snacks from the US and Canada, counting down to the most iconic of them all. How many do you remember?

We've based our ranking on the popularity of each snack and on the opinions of our well-traveled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.

When SnackWell’s launched in the early 1990s, its products included devil’s food cookie cakes, shortbread, and creme cookies. Initially regarded as a healthy cookie brand thanks to its products' reduced fat content, the company eventually had the dubious honor of inspiring 'the SnackWell effect,' a phenomenon whereby people eat more than they normally would because of the 'low-fat' label.

In a bid to satisfy healthier eaters (and appeal to drive-thru customers at the same time), McDonald’s introduced the Chicken Snack Wrap in 2006. Essentially a tortilla wrap filled with crispy chicken, lettuce, cheese, and dressing, it contains just 290 calories and negligible saturated fat. To fans' dismay, the Chicken Snack Wrap was discontinued in the US in 2016, though it remained on the Canadian menu; however, in 2024, it was announced that much-missed item would return to the USA in 2025 as part of the chain's new McCrispy range.

Viennetta is a very British treat that nevertheless captured the hearts and bellies of kids across the Atlantic. Launched by UK ice cream brand Wall's, it arrived in Canada and the US in the mid-1980s. This creamy frozen treat, complete with layers of flaky chocolate and ice cream, quickly became a hugely popular dessert. The brand was sadly discontinued in the early 1990s, but has since resurfaced in the US thanks to ice cream brand Good Humor.  

Orbitz was a fruity drink and a snack of sorts, thanks to the floating bubbles of gellan gum contained in each bottle. Though it was intriguingly futuristic in design, many people compared the beverage to a lava lamp when it launched in 1997 – and it didn’t last. Unopened bottles of Orbitz are now regarded as collectors’ items. The rise in popularity of bubble tea could mean Orbitz has a market if the drinks are ever re-released.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a boom in fruit-based snacks – just take Craisins (sweetened dried cranberries) for proof. Though they were originally marketed as healthy, Craisins have since been found to be pretty calorific, with added sugar used to sweeten them. Despite this, their fruit content still makes them a healthier option than many other snacks.

Founded in the early 1970s, Snapple was one of the first iced tea and juice drink brands to challenge the soda industry by claiming to offer healthier beverages. The brand is fondly remembered for its advertising campaigns, not to mention the ‘real facts’ printed on the inside of its bottle caps – many of which turned out to be incorrect. Happily, Snapple is still around today.

As the public became more health conscious, snacks became healthier. Lay’s launched a baked variety of potato chip in the mid-1990s, containing no saturated fat and just 120 calories per serving – 40 calories fewer than regular Lay's chips. A memorable 1996 ad featuring Miss Piggy and a team of famous supermodels promoted the chips as a guilt-free treat.

OK, so condiments aren’t necessarily snacks, but this one deserves an honorary mention. EZ Squirt Ketchup's crazy colors (pink, purple, orange, green, and teal) were a novelty when the range launched in 2001, and Heinz sold more than 25 million bottles. However, interest waned – possibly because the artificial colorings caused parents to worry – and the product was discontinued in 2006.

Capitalizing on a global obsession with all things Harry Potter, Jelly Belly obtained the license to sell a Muggle version of the Every Flavor Beans described in the books in 2005. Less appetizing flavors include soap, bacon, and dirt, but that hasn’t put Potter fans off yet. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a delicious candy floss, green apple, or marshmallow flavor instead of an unpleasant surprise.

Nature Valley introduced mass-produced granola bars – made with fruits, nuts and cereals – to the American and Canadian public in the mid-1970s. Many granola bars have since faced criticism for their high sugar content, and today there are a plethora of options on the market (with varying levels of nutritiousness). Nature Valley’s lineup has expanded, too; these days, extra crunchy bars and protein bars are available.

Now, here’s an interesting fact: Gatorade, the sports drink formulated in 1965, was named after the Florida Gators, the sports teams that represent the University of Florida. At one point it was the market leader in the energy drink category; however, while it’s generally credited as the first-ever sports drink, the accolade actually goes to British brand Lucozade, which was invented in 1927.

Created by Pillsbury’s chief food technologist, Howard Bauman (who was also behind the first solids consumed in space), Space Food Sticks were promoted as ‘nutritionally balanced between meal snacks.' They came in six flavors, including chocolate and peanut butter. A space-obsessed USA embraced them in the 1970s, though they fell out of favor and disappeared in the 1980s. However, they're still sold at space museums.

Great for dipping, these ridged potato chips have been a popular snack since the 1960s. These days, Ruffles come in a range of other flavors, which vary depending on where you are in the world; sour cream and onion is America’s favorite, while Canadians can't get enough of All Dressed (a mix of ketchup, barbecue sauce, sour cream and onion, and salt and vinegar). Not only that, but there are baked, thick cut, low-fat, and low-salt versions, too.

Launched in the UK in 1960 under the name Opal Fruits, these individually wrapped chews – which come in lemon, lime, orange, and strawberry flavors – were renamed Starburst when they crossed the Atlantic in 1967. Today, the Starburst range includes Jellybeans, Minis, and Gummies, with an impressive range of flavors to suit every taste.

Doritos tortilla chips have been around since 1964, when Frito-Lay’s marketing vice president discovered the snack at Disneyland, California. The very first flavor was taco flavor, followed by nacho cheese in 1972. Today, there are multiple other options, with Cool Ranch and Flamin’ Hot Nacho among the most popular.

Originally called Cup O’ Noodles, this instant ramen snack in a foam cup was invented in Japan – but it was brought to the US by Nissin foods in 1971. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the brand was famous for its steaming sign in New York City's Times Square (pictured). Today, Cup Noodles are healthier than ever before, with no artificial flavors or MSG, and less salt. They're still an indispensable, affordable snack for students.

Made to look and taste like fried onion rings, Funyuns corn snacks have graced the lunchboxes of countless school kids since 1969. They’re still available and these days, they come in Original, Flamin’ Hot, and Spicy Queso flavors. Chile Limón, Steakhouse Onion, and Wasabi were sadly discontinued, with some fans still yearning for their return.

Hubba Bubba gum has always had a young following thanks to its bubble blowing potential. Wrigley struck gold when Bubble Tape was launched in the late 1980s; its success was attributed to its unique (at the time) tape dispenser packaging, plus its variety of flavors. Today, you can get it in Original and Sour Blue Raspberry varieties.

Much like Life Savers candies, but with creamy flavors, Creme Savers were loved by kids in the 1990s and 2000s. They were introduced by Nabisco in 1998 and produced by Wrigley from 2004 to 2006, when they were discontinued. However, to the delight of fans who missed them dearly, they were revived in 2021 when a partnership was struck between Wrigley and Iconic Candy (a company that specializes in reviving candies from the past).

Another memorable General Mills product, Milk 'n Cereal Bars were the ideal choice when you needed breakfast on the go – after all, why spend time tucking into a real bowl of cereal when you can eat two cereal bars sandwiched together with a milk filling? They came in flavors including Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but they were discontinued in 2022, 20 years after their release.

Pringles were first sold in 1967 as Pringles Newfangled Potato Chips – but it was from 1975 onwards, when they were widely distributed, that the brand really took off. The catchy slogan ‘Once you pop, you can’t stop’ sealed the snack’s status as one of the most recognizable potato chip varieties around.

Twix was originally launched in 1967 in the UK; it didn’t make its way to North American shores until 1979. The twin biscuits, featuring a delicious combination of soft caramel and chocolate, have been incredibly popular ever since. These days, the Twix is one of the top five most recognizable candy bars in the US, and it's loved in Canada, too.

For many kids, long, hot summers were filled with ICEEs, Slurpees, and Slush Puppies. But these garish beverages, responsible for giving millions brain freeze, are a relatively recent treat. Slushy drinks were invented by Dairy Queen owner Omar Knedlik in the late 1950s, and the slushy craze began in earnest in the 1960s (though it continues today).

Tangy and chewy, AirHeads have been popular across the US and Canada since they launched in August 1985. The candies' garish colors appeal to children, as do the 24 flavors – including favorites like grape and orange. For AirHeads’ 30th birthday in 2016, a limited-edition birthday cake flavor was released.

You may be surprised to learn that Skittles aren't an American creation, but a British one; they first appeared in stores in the UK in 1974, and finally made their way to the US and Canada in 1979. These fruity, chewy sweets are still incredibly popular today – thanks, in part, to the long-running, well-known slogan ‘Taste the Rainbow,' plus a string of quirky ad campaigns.

The 1960s and 1970s were the decades of the toasted treat. The ultimate example? Betty Crocker's sausage and maple–flavored Toastwiches, which were introduced in 1973 to make hectic mornings easier. Dipped in egg and packaged up ready to be toasted, they consisted of two slices of bread and a savory sausage filling. They were discontinued in 1974, never to grace a breakfast plate again.

Push Pops are the perfect candy for anyone who wants to start a snack and save the rest for later. These pops are slowly pushed up through the tube they come in – and you can simply replace the lid if you want to take a break. They were first made in 1986 in cherry and grape flavors, and they're still available today. In the late 1990s, the Triple Power Push Pop came onto the scene, featuring three flavors in one.

From the mid-1980s onwards, consumers in the US embraced this addictive fruit-flavored juice, which had to be squeezed to be drunk. Popular with children (making it a mainstay of lunchboxes everywhere), it came in crazily named flavors such as Silly Billy Strawberry and Chucklin’ Cherry. There was even a color-changing version, though it was sadly discontinued in the early 2000s.

Starting with a single parlor in Vermont, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield built up an ice cream empire in just a few years – all thanks to their creative flavors, quirky packaging, and ethical stance. By 1981, they were opening their first franchise, and by the mid-1980s, everyone wanted to try their ice cream. Flavors such as Cookie Dough, Phish Food, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie are still firm favorites. Pictured is the first Ben & Jerry’s, located in an old gas station.

A popular treat in the late 1970s, Topps Ring Pops – jewel-shaped candy rings – were so big that they made your hand ache. But they lasted for ages, and they came in some great flavors, including cotton candy, bubble gum, and cherry. They’re still available today, and you can also buy gummy candies inspired by the originals.

Every fast food fan knows that McDonald’s sells apple pies. However, only a few people are aware of one key difference between the apple pies of the past and those on today's menu: today they’re baked, not fried. Up until the early 1990s, McDonald’s deep fried its apple pies, creating a super crispy outside and molten hot inside. However, the chain changed the process when it made a move towards healthier menu items.

In the 1960s, Beech-Nut’s Fruit Stripe Gum was all the rage. Its strong yet short-lived fruity flavors, brightly colored stripes, and mascot, Yipes the Zebra, were around for decades, although the brand had different owners over the years. The gum was discontinued in 2024, but lots of people still have fond memories of it.

Hunt's Snack Pack's original aluminum cans of pudding with a pull-tab top were initially marketed as a healthy snack for kids in the late 1960s. Although this claim was a bit of a stretch, the desserts are still eaten today (in plastic pots); they come in a range of flavors, from chocolate to banana cream pie.

Who doesn't remember having a Capri-Sun back when they were a kid? These legendary drinks pouches have been a lunchbox staple since they made their way from Germany to the US in 1979, and Canada in 1991. But they’re not without controversy; the brand has got into hot water in several countries over the years after claiming to be ‘all-natural –' despite the drinks being low in fruit juice and having a high sugar content.

These assorted flavor gummies were shaped like characters from the popular Scooby-Doo! Show and were enjoyed throughout the early 2000s. While they're still around, manufacturer General Mills changed the recipe in a company-wide bid to eliminate artificial flavors and colors in 2015 and fans say this newer version of the sweet snack just isn't the same.

Released in 1994, the Fruit String Thing featured fruity, chewy strands arranged into fun shapes such as racing cars and rockets. Part of the appeal was that they actively encouraged children to play with their food: you could peel the flexible strands apart to make different shapes, before finally eating. The treat disappeared from shelves in the early 2000s.

Millions of American and Canadian kids growing up in the 1980s will remember eating Fruit Roll-Ups. They'll probably recall the ads, too; remember the tagline 'Fruit Corners Fruit Roll-Ups: Real fruit and fun, rolled up in one?' Misguided mothers in every state presumed that the snacks were healthy, but there was actually very little fruit in them – a fact that led to a class action lawsuit for manufacturer General Mills in 2011.

Invented at a Canadian McDonald's franchise in 1995 – and rolled out across the US in 1998 – the McFlurry has become an integral part of the McDonald’s menu. The treat consists of soft serve ice cream, crowned with a vast array of toppings (including Oreo, M&M’s, and, in Canada, Smarties). New limited-edition flavors appear frequently, too.

Hot Pockets are essentially savory microwaveable turnovers that come in a host of flavors – and they first hit American grocery stores in 1983. Once a staple at sleepovers, the snacks have seen a drop in sales in recent years; however, they remain a guilty pleasure for many. A similar product, Pizza Pops, is made by Pillsbury and sold in Canada.

Following on from the success of chocolate M&M's (launched in 1941) and peanut M&M's (launched in 1954), Mars Inc released peanut butter M&M's onto the market in 1991 – possibly in response to the success of Reese’s Pieces. They’re still a big hit today; in fact, Mars even brought out peanut butter and jelly M&M's, which were discontinued in 2015 (but brought back in 2024).

Known as ‘extreme’ candies due to their eye-wateringly strong sour tang, Warheads are a Taiwanese invention; they were first imported to North America in 1993. They swiftly became popular, especially among kids competing to see who could eat the most at once. Each super-sour candy is covered in a layer of malic acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid – eat too many, and you could end up with a very sore mouth.

Mothers were making marshmallow Rice Krispies cakes for years before Kellogg’s finally launched its own packaged version in 1995 – known as Rice Krispies Treats in the US and Rice Krispies Squares in Canada. Soft, crunchy and chewy, they were invented in around 1939 to promote Rice Krispies cereal, with the recipe given on the side of the cereal box. When they were eventually sold as a ready-made product, Kellogg’s also marketed a Rice Krispies Treats cereal.

Known as Tubes in Canada, Go-Gurt – tubes of yogurt designed to be squeezed into the mouth – are a late-1990s invention that's spawned countless copies. They continued to be popular over the 2000s and 2010s, celebrating one billion tubes sold per year by the brand’s 20th birthday. Lots of fun varieties are still available to buy, including slushie flavors, glow-in-the-dark tubes, and a selection of ice pop flavors.

Jell-O's chocolate and vanilla Pudding Pops had a big following in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These days, they're no longer available in their original form – so die-hard fans have to buy molds and make their own. Kraft Heinz, owner of the Jell-O brand, even provides a recipe to follow on its website, so anyone who really misses them can recreate them.

This snack would be eaten all day, if McDonald’s allowed it; however, its restaurants usually stop serving breakfast at 10.30am in the US and Canada. Consisting of a griddled egg, Canadian bacon, and American cheese in a toasted English muffin, the Egg McMuffin has been a key dish on McDonald's menu since the early 1970s. Limited-edition variations like the Chicken McMuffin BLT are sometimes available, too.

Introduced in the early 1950s, Eggo frozen waffles quickly became a staple in American households, and they made their way to Canada in 1971. As a result, most children of the 1960s and 1970s will remember the slogan ‘L’eggo my Eggo.' The snack recently enjoyed a renaissance when it featured in Netflix series Stranger Things as the favorite food of character Eleven.

Goldfish crackers launched in the US in 1962 – but did you know they're originally from Switzerland? The founder of Pepperidge Farm, Margaret Rudkin, discovered them on a trip to the country and made a deal to bring them to North America. The first flavors were lightly salted Original, Cheese, Barbecue, Pizza, and Smoky. The iconic Cheddar Cheese flavor came later, in 1966.

Legend has it that Lunchables were created in the late 1980s as a way to sell more bologna meat, and that the pre-packaged lunch idea came about to appeal to time-poor working mothers. Crackers, rather than bread, are used to give the product a longer shelf life. The pack also came with a sugary drink and a dessert of candy, chocolate, or – more recently – a healthier option of yogurt. These days, you can get pizza, nachos, and hot dog varieties.

Dunkaroos were a staple of the 1990s and 2000s. For around 20 years, American and Canadian kids enjoyed dipping cinnamon cookie shapes into icing, not to mention following the antics of the product’s mascot, Sydney the kangaroo (who later became a daredevil named Duncan). However, General Mills discontinued the product in the US in 2012 – though it continued to be available in Canada. Luckily for anyone who couldn’t let them go, Dunkaroos returned to the US in 2020.

Convenience food at its most convenient, Uncrustables are a range of ready-made processed sandwiches that launched in 2000. They feature popular fillings – such as peanut butter and jelly – with the crusts cut off, so you don’t have to do it yourself. Canadians can enjoy varieties filled with chocolate-flavored hazelnut spread, while in the US, Uncrustables also come in raspberry and honey flavors.

The cupcake trend was more of an explosion than a steady rise. In a 2000 episode of Sex and the City, Miranda and Carrie enjoyed cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery in New York City, catapulting the spot – and the snack – to stardom. In fact, the shop had to be taken off the bus tour for the show in 2010, as it couldn't keep up with demand. The trend is thought to have peaked in 2012, with the 2015 closure of the cupcake chain Crumbs being the final nail in the coffin (though cupcake lovers may vehemently dispute this).

Launched in 1978, Reese’s Pieces are peanut-flavored candies that come in orange, brown, and yellow crispy coatings – and they were immortalized in the 1982 film E.T. (a great early example of successful product placement). The original Reese’s Pieces are still sold, but today’s shoppers can also buy Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups stuffed with Pieces for that extra peanut hit.

Pop-Tarts have delighted generations of children since 1964. An instant hit, these toasted sweet pastries weren’t frosted when they first arrived on grocery store shelves; this extra touch was added a few years later. They were originally available in four flavors, but there are lots of varieties to choose from today – from basic blueberry and chocolate chip varieties to s’mores and snickerdoodle creations.

Now discover the iconic fast food chains we wish hadn't closed

Last updated by Dominique Ayling.