11 Things Every 70s Kid Had in Their Lunchbox
For kids in 1970s, lunch wasn’t just about refueling for the rest of the school day; it was a full-blown event. Whether you had a metal lunchbox featuring your favorite TV show or carried a brown paper bag, the contents inside were just as iconic as the box itself.
From decadent snack cakes to space-age treats, ’70s lunches were packed with childhood joy, questionable nutrition, and plenty of processed goodness. Let’s take a nostalgic bite into 11 lunchbox staples that every ’70s kid will remember.
1. Twinkies
Biting into a Twinkie was like tasting pure happiness wrapped in golden sponge cake. With its signature fluffy cream filling and impossibly soft texture, this snack became a lunchtime legend.
Parents loved Twinkies because they were indestructible—they didn’t crumble, spoil, or get squished like other baked goods. Kids, on the other hand, saw them as prime trading material—you could score an extra PB&J or even a fruit roll-up if you played your cards right.
Decades later, Twinkies remain a symbol of childhood indulgence, proving that some things never go out of style.
2. Capri Sun
For ’70s kids, stabbing that tiny straw into a Capri Sun pouch felt like an extreme sport. If you got it right on the first try, you were basically a superhero.
With flavors like fruit punch and wild cherry, Capri Sun was an instant favorite. Its silver packaging looked futuristic, adding to its cool factor. While parents appreciated the convenience, kids loved that they could crush the pouch when they were finished—because, let’s be honest, that was half the fun.
3. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
There wasn’t a lunchbox in the ’70s that didn’t, at some point, contain a peanut butter and jelly sandwich wrapped in wax paper. The magic was in the simplicity—creamy peanut butter, sweet jelly, and soft white bread, perfectly smushed by the weight of your Thermos.
Whether you were team grape jelly or strawberry, there was no denying that PB&J was the ultimate comfort food. It was easy for parents to make, impossible to mess up, and always hit the spot—unless, of course, it got too warm and turned into a sticky mess.
4. Space Food Sticks
Long before kids had astronaut ice cream, Space Food Sticks were the snack that made you feel like you were ready for NASA training.
Marketed as “nutritionally balanced energy snacks,” these chewy, chocolate or peanut butter-flavored sticks were supposedly based on real astronaut food. Kids loved them for the novelty, while parents appreciated their pre-packaged convenience.
Looking back, they were kind of a cross between a protein bar and a Tootsie Roll, but back then, it was pure rocket-fueled excitement in every bite.
5. Fruit Roll-Ups
Peeling a Fruit Roll-Up off its plastic backing and wrapping it around your finger like a gummy bandage was a ’70s lunchtime tradition.
These colorful, sticky sheets were equal parts toy and treat. Some kids took tiny bites to make them last, while others balled them up and ate them in one chewy mouthful. Parents were tricked into believing they were sort of healthy because they contained “real fruit.” (Spoiler alert: It was mostly sugar.)
6. Hostess CupCakes
The perfectly round chocolate cupcake with a white swirl on top was a sign that your lunchbox was elite.
With its thick layer of chocolate frosting and creamy center, the Hostess CupCake was more than just a dessert—it was a lunchtime status symbol. The best part? Some kids ate them layer by layer, while others went straight for the gooey middle.
Even decades later, that signature swirl remains one of the most recognizable icons in snack history.
7. Chips Ahoy!
Nothing beat pulling out a blue-packaged sleeve of Chips Ahoy! cookies from your lunchbox.
These crunchy, chocolate-chip-packed cookies were the answer to every kid’s sweet tooth. Some dunked them in their milk from home, while others traded them for Twinkies (if they were lucky).
Back in the ’70s, Chips Ahoy! felt like a homemade cookie, just without the homemade part. They were the snack equivalent of a warm hug, always delivering the perfect balance of sweetness and nostalgia.
8. Yodels
Yodels were the snack cake of dreams—a perfectly rolled chocolate-covered cake with a creamy swirl in the center.
These decadent treats had the ultimate lunchbox appeal. Some kids would unravel the spiral layer by layer, while others took giant bites for the full chocolate experience. Either way, if you had Yodels, you were suddenly the most popular kid at the lunch table.
9. Jell-O Pudding Cups
Forget yogurt—Jell-O Pudding Cups were the ultimate spoonable lunchbox treat.
These single-serve cups of smooth, creamy pudding came in classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch. Parents loved their mess-free convenience, while kids savored every last spoonful.
The real debate? Did you stir yours into a pudding soup, or did you savor each bite as is? Either way, Jell-O Pudding Cups were the highlight of any lunch break.
10. Ring Dings
Wrapped in shiny foil, Ring Dings were the definition of lunchtime indulgence.
These rich chocolate snack cakes, filled with sweet cream, were the highlight of every school meal. They were dense, decadent, and delightfully messy, often leaving kids with chocolatey fingers (which they 100% licked clean).
Ring Dings weren’t just a dessert—they were a lunchtime event.
11. Fruit Stripe Gum
Nothing screamed childhood like a pack of Fruit Stripe Gum, complete with temporary tattoos on the wrapper.
Each stick of gum was brightly striped and bursting with juicy flavor, but there was just one catch—it lasted about as long as it took to read a math problem. Kids didn’t mind, though. The sheer joy of peeling the tattoo off the wrapper and slapping it onto their arm made up for the fleeting flavor.
Fruit Stripe Gum was more than just gum—it was an experience, a fashion statement, and a rite of passage in every ’70s kid’s lunchbox.