The nostalgia of eating a snack from your childhood is a feeling that cannot be beat.

By: Alexandra Cuoco

When we were younger, everyone went grocery shopping with our parents and got to pick a snack or two to take home. Some of our favorite snacks, like Gripz, Yoplait Trix yogurt, and Hershey’s Kissables have all been discontinued, but what if you could recreate the magic of the early 2000s in your kitchen? Nowadays, there are many ways to incorporate the flavors of your childhood into meals we eat every day. 

One of my favorite childhood snacks was Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies. These gooey brownies covered in candy-coated chocolate chips may not be good for your health, but they are good for your soul! Whenever I’m needing a Cosmic Brownie kick, one of my favorite ways to get these flavors is through Cosmic Brownie overnight oats! All you need are some oats, cocoa powder, vanilla protein powder, almond milk, and yogurt (non-dairy if necessary). After letting these oats sit in the fridge, you make the frosting by combining almond milk, cocoa powder, and sweetener (my favorite is Stevia) and whisk together until the desired consistency. Put the frosting over the overnight oats and top with rainbow sprinkles. Not only will this healthy recipe keep your stomach full, it will keep your heart happy, too!

A second childhood snack that I loved was Trix yogurt. Sadly, these yogurts have been discontinued. An easy way I have found to recreate these flavors at home is by making yogurt pops! Yogurt pops were one of my favorite snacks growing up, and they are so easy to make. All you need is Trix cereal, Greek yogurt, and crushed fruit. The first step is to grind up the Trix cereal and blend it with honey, Greek yogurt, and your fruit of choice. My personal favorites are strawberries and blueberries (for a triple-berry flavor). After blending, stick it in the freezer until fully frozen in the molds. (You can even make the molds at home by using dixie cups and popsicle sticks.) These treats provide nostalgia and refreshment all-in-one!

The final snack I enjoy making is homemade Dunkaroos! Dunkaroos, the sweet and yummy snack from the 1990s-2000s, were discontinued in recent years. However, there are ways to bring their yumminess right to your home. My party favorite is Dunkaroo dip! All you need for this recipe is yellow cake mix, a tablespoon of vanilla extract, vanilla Greek yogurt, and cool whip. Mix all of the ingredients until a frosting-like consistency is formed and make sure to top it with rainbow sprinkles! Although there are healthier alternatives to use as dippers such as apple slices, I usually opt for Nilla Wafers or Teddy Grahams. This dip will be a crowd-pleaser and make everyone feel like a little kid again.

These are just a few yummy snack options that will fill your heart and stomach with nostalgia. Both kids and adults will love these dishes, and they are so easy and quick to make. These snacks will have everyone saying, “Aw, I used to love those as a kid!”