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David Prince

21 foods from the 1980s and 1990s I would love to see back on the shelves

Nothing screams nostalgia more than the food that we loved as a child.

While those growing up in the '70s or '80s might not have dealt with rationing, the food we used to eat was still required to last and we all had to use our initiative to make the most of what was available to us.

Most of us have fond memories of our preferred snacks, some of which have long gone, and others that are still around but the taste is maybe just not the same.

Read More: The legendary families who ran Wales' Italian cafés

Below are some of the meals, snacks and lunchbox staples we loved from our youth that bring back nothing but happy memories of our long-gone childhoods...

Texan Bar

A Nestle Texan Bar (Sam Bagnall)

The Texan bar was everywhere during the '70s and '80s, but was sadly discontinued towards the end of the '80s.

The toffee and nougat bar was briefly reinstated in 2005 by Nestlé for a limited period and was once voted Britain's favourite ever chocolate.

Pacers

Green and white stripes can only mean one thing and that's the much-loved and missed minty chew, that was Pacers.

Despite being a hit, production of the fresh two-mint sweet stopped in 1985 but it is still thought of as one of the best sweets there was around.

Bovril

Anyone for a cup of Beef tea? Bovril is very much like Marmite in that you either love it or hate it. But I loved Bovril spread on my toast or Bovril-flavoured crisps.

Friends of mine always used to go on about going to football with their dads and during the cold months would always talk about drinking a warm Bovril in the stands.

Spangles

Spangles were a boiled sweet made by Mars from the '50s until the mid '80s that many will remember fondly.

Although the '50s tagline "The sweet way to go gay!" would have a different meaning now, back then they flew off the shelves.

Hedgehog/Fish and chips/Salt N Shake crisps

The '70s and '80s were awash with unusual takes on all things food-related, none more so than the strange but weird crisp flavours that were around then.

Some of the more out-there flavours included a Hedgehog variety and who could forget the Fish & Chips crisps that you can still find in some shops today?

Salt & Shake crisps are also still popular today, but for me, I miss the Bovril crisps - they tasted amazing.

Drifter

The original Drifter bar came out in 1980. However, by 2007, Nestlé, which had bought out Rowntree's in 1988, discontinued the bar on the back of low sales.

This was another bar which had great TV adverts with 'the chewy chocolate bar that you really have to get your teeth into' and 'do you catch my drift' standing out.

Marathon

Marathon hasn't really gone, of course, but many still have fond memories of the brand. Now going by the fairly boring US name, Snickers, it's still one of the best chocolate bars around.

Here in the UK the Snickers bar was called Marathon until 1990 and it seemed a much bigger bar back then. The old name was briefly brought back for a retro limited edition in 2020.

Opal Fruits

Okay, same as above, but Starburst just doesn't have the same ring to it as the original name of Opal Fruits now does it?

Though essentially the same following the 1998 rebranding, there were a couple of differences as the lemon and lime flavours were combined and a blackcurrant variety was added. Opal Fruits made a comeback in 2020 and, again, in 2021 for "one final time". Perhaps we will see them again though...

Trio

The Trio is a beautiful-tasting chocolate bar with a biscuit base and a toffee cream on top covered in delicious chocolate.

Most people will remember the bar's '80s TV advert with the song - Trio, Trio, I want a Trio and I want one now. It was discontinued in 2003 but was brought back from 2016.

Findus crispy pancakes

I must admit I still love a Findus crispy pancake, but they are not the same as they were back in the day.

I loved these with some chips and peas, but was always wary of just how hot the filling was. I mean, you wouldn't want to burn your tongue on it, would you?

Arctic roll

Back in the '70s and '80s Arctic roll was seen as a sophisticated dessert. Come on, what's not to love? Ice cream with a sponge wrapped lovely around it. One word - perfection.

Birds Eye stopped making Arctic Rolls in 1997 after seeing sales drop by around 50 per cent. However, they made a comeback in 2008 in a bid to target thrifty shoppers amid the economic downturn in the late noughties, and are still available today.

Birthday party staples - such as cheese and pineapple/pickled onion on sticks and jelly and blancmange

Cheese and pineapple on sticks ((c) Joy Skipper)

Was a children's birthday party really a birthday party without cheese and pineapple/pickled onion on sticks or jelly and blancmange?

Of course, it wasn't - hopefully, these are still in favour with the kids of today.

Angel Delight

A 1970s advert for Angel Delight (www.cartercollectables.co.uk)

The dessert of angels, which when made perfectly is light and airy and tastes magical.

It was first introduced by Bird's in 1967 and is still sold to this day, although many flavours have fallen by the wayside such as one of my favourites from my childhood - the wonderfully sharp and sweet lemon flavour.

Banana sarnie/butty

Banana sandwich (John Ewing/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

Ahh, the best way to get some of your five-a-day - sliced banana with two slices of bread. Quicker than you can say, 'is it ready', there it is - a true thing of beauty - and, of course, available as long as there are such things as bananas and bread.

Crisp sandwich

The humble crisp sandwich - now this is another one some people love and others hate.

Some would argue the best flavour crisps to enhance the sandwich are none other than cheese and onion. This is where you get people saying, 'why don't you have an actual cheese and onion sandwich', but where's the fun in that? Also, the crunch of crisp sarnies is miles better than a regular sandwich anyway. Other flavour crisp sandwiches are available!

Chip Bap/Barm/Butty

The classic chip butty (Jayne Williamson)

As above, the chip butty is up there with the champion of champions of anything bread-related.

I love a chip butty and still to this day it is my go-to of choice if I am in or near a chip shop around lunchtime.

Instant Noodle sandwich

Now we are getting to the slightly more unusual choices.

One of my own personal favourites is the Instant Noodle sarnie. Obviously, the noodles will be cooked but then they're wedged with one or two slices of bread - perfection!

Toast dipped in coffee

Now, this for me is going too far, as while I love my bread - coffee is a complete no-no for me anyway.

One of our readers said: "I loved this as a teenager, but when I tried to enjoy it again with my girlfriend, she wasn't impressed and said it's either me or whatever the hell that is. As she's the mother of my children - I felt it only right to stay with her and have not had it since. I really miss it."

Liver and Onions, with gravy and mash

Again, this would be a no for me as I've never liked liver at all. But some people used to swear by this comforting meal.

Semolina

Semolina was a staple for school lunch dessert, but some people actually love the stuff.

I didn't mind it but for some, it is a 50/50 thing with some loving it and others hating it.

Steamed meat pie



Now, I am saving the best until last and the steamed meat pie was easily my favourite choice of food in many of south Wales' Italian Cafes.

Maybe it was just a south Wales valleys thing but a pie 'cooked' by the steam from a coffee machine was truly out of this world!

So what was your favourite snack from your childhood? We would love to hear about them in our comments below.

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