1. Dunkaroos
Dunkaroos were like a lunchtime jackpot. Those little cookies with a side of frosting felt like the ultimate treat, especially if you managed to score the chocolate frosting version. Kids who had them became instant trading celebrities at the lunch table. Everyone wanted to dip just one cookie and taste that overly sweet frosting. If you had extras, you could basically barter your way into an extra juice box or even a sandwich swap. They disappeared from shelves for years before making a comeback, but the magic never felt quite the same. Back then, it was the thrill of having something no one else had.
The portion sizes were tiny, which made them even more coveted. A pack didn’t last long, and most kids tore through them before finishing their sandwich. Parents might have thought they were sending something “fun,” but kids knew they were pure currency. Lunch trades went smoother when Dunkaroos were involved, because no one was turning down that neon frosting. It’s funny how such a simple snack could hold so much power in a cafeteria.
2. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
This neon green drink looked suspicious but tasted like liquid candy. Released as a tie-in with Ghostbusters, Ecto Cooler came in those little juice boxes and felt like a badge of coolness in the lunchroom. If you pulled one out of your lunchbox, you could bet at least two kids would offer to swap their chips for it. The citrusy-sweet flavor didn’t taste like anything from nature, but that was part of the fun.
Even after the Ghostbusters hype died down, the drink lived on, just disguised under new names. Kids didn’t care what it was called, it still had that electric green punch. Lunchrooms became mini marketplaces when these showed up, with kids scheming how to get one. It’s one of those things that’s burned into memory because of its color as much as its flavor. Nothing screamed “’90s lunch” more than staining your tongue neon green.
3. Handi-Snacks
The little red stick that came with Handi-Snacks was as important as the cheese itself. Those crackers and spreadable cheese packs felt like a real DIY project for kids. Sometimes the cheese was oddly stiff, other times runny, but either way it was better than plain crackers. If you had one in your lunchbox, you could almost guarantee someone would ask for a trade.
The cheese wasn’t fancy, but it made kids feel like they had something special. Spreading it on crackers was oddly satisfying, and there was always a race to see if you had enough cheese left for the last cracker. Some kids went rogue and licked the cheese straight from the container, skipping the stick entirely. Handi-Snacks were the kind of lunchbox treasure that felt like more than a snack—they felt interactive.
4. Fruit Roll-Ups
These were less of a snack and more of a playground activity. Fruit Roll-Ups could be stretched, folded, and twisted before they ever made it to your mouth. Sometimes kids would peel them into long strings, other times they’d wad them up into a sticky ball and eat it that way. They were messy, but that was half the fun.
The bright colors and fake fruit flavors made them irresistible. You could smell one the second it was unwrapped, which made hiding them impossible. Lunch trades often turned competitive when someone had a pack, especially if it was the rare tie-dye variety. They weren’t healthy by any means, but parents kept buying them, maybe because they looked like fruit. Every lunchroom had at least one sticky table corner from a forgotten Fruit Roll-Up.
5. Gushers
If you had Gushers in your lunch, you instantly became popular. These little fruit snacks that squirted juice when you bit into them were both strange and delicious. Kids either loved the gooey surprise or hated it, but everyone was still curious enough to want to try one. Packs were small, which made them extra valuable.
Trading for Gushers usually meant offering up something big, like your cookie or a bag of chips. They had that perfect combination of chewy and messy that made them fun to eat. Even when they stuck to your teeth, no one complained. Gushers were a guaranteed conversation starter at the lunch table, and everyone seemed to remember the commercials where kids’ heads turned into fruit.
6. Pudding Cups
Whether it was chocolate or vanilla, pudding cups were one of the most traded items in the lunchroom. They weren’t hard to find, but kids always wanted one more than they had. Pulling back that foil top was a satisfying moment, and if you had a spoon, you were in business. Of course, sometimes kids resorted to dipping their fingers if utensils weren’t handy.
Pudding had a certain comfort-food vibe, making it different from candy. Kids who had pudding cups often got good trades, especially if it was chocolate. It was smooth, sweet, and simple, which made it timeless. And while they weren’t flashy like Gushers or Fruit Roll-Ups, pudding cups had a steady value on the lunchroom trade market.
7. Planters Cheez Balls
A can of Planters Cheez Balls was like gold in a lunchbox. These neon orange puffs were cheesy, salty, and left your fingers coated in powder. Parents might have thought they were just another chip, but kids knew they were something special. The blue canister made them easy to spot from across the cafeteria.
Trades for Cheez Balls were often aggressive, with multiple kids offering up parts of their lunches. The flavor wasn’t particularly unique, but the branding made them feel fancier than regular cheese puffs. They had a nostalgia factor even back then, because they always seemed a little retro. Everyone knew the orange fingers were proof you had eaten them, and nobody minded showing it off.
8. Little Debbie Star Crunch
Star Crunch was one of those snacks that seemed to appear out of nowhere. A chewy mix of chocolate, caramel, and crisp rice, it looked messy but tasted incredible. Kids who had one in their lunch often got asked, “What is that?” followed quickly by, “Can I have a bite?” It wasn’t as common as oatmeal pies or Swiss rolls, which made it even more special.
Trades for Star Crunch weren’t easy, because once you had one, you didn’t want to give it up. They were gooey enough to stick to your hands, but no one cared. Parents probably grabbed them randomly at the grocery store without realizing they were sending their kids to school with high-value trade bait. They weren’t flashy, but they always drew attention once unwrapped.
9. Yoo-hoo Boxes
Yoo-hoo was one of those drinks that wasn’t quite chocolate milk and wasn’t quite soda, but kids loved it anyway. The little boxes of Yoo-hoo felt like a sweet upgrade from regular juice. They had that unique, slightly watery chocolate flavor that somehow worked, and pulling one out of your lunchbox made you feel like you had something different. While not everyone was a fan, those who loved it were willing to trade big for it.
Because Yoo-hoo wasn’t as common as Capri Sun or Hi-C, it carried a certain mystery in the cafeteria. Kids who had it often got peppered with questions like, “What does it taste like?” before anyone dared to swap. Parents may have thought they were giving their kids something a little healthier than soda, but at school it was pure trading gold. It wasn’t the most glamorous item, but it was definitely one of the more intriguing ones to show off at lunchtime.
10. Hostess Fruit Pies
These were a little heavy for a lunchbox, but that didn’t stop kids from trading for them. Hostess Fruit Pies had that thick, sugary crust with a gooey filling inside that felt more like dessert than a snack. Apple and cherry were the big favorites, but no kid turned down any flavor. They were messy, but the payoff was worth it.
Unwrapping one felt like getting a bakery treat, which instantly upped its trade value. Kids were willing to give up their chips or even sandwiches for a chance at a Fruit Pie. Parents probably thought they were sending something “fun,” not realizing it was basically cake. In the lunchroom economy, these were one of the higher-end trades.
11. Ritz Bits Sandwiches
Ritz Bits were small, but they packed a punch in the lunchroom trade game. The tiny sandwich crackers came with either cheese or peanut butter filling, and both were hits. They were bite-sized, which made them easy to share, and kids loved that crunch. A bag never lasted long, which made them even more desirable.
The peanut butter ones always seemed to disappear first in trades, but the cheese version had its loyal fans. Parents liked them because they seemed practical, but kids saw them as a fun snack. They weren’t flashy, but they had staying power. Anyone with Ritz Bits in their lunchbox could count on being popular for a few minutes.
12. Capri Sun
While technically a drink, Capri Sun had its own legendary status in lunchroom trades. The shiny pouch looked futuristic, and poking the straw through the hole always felt like an accomplishment. Flavors like Pacific Cooler were the crown jewel, and kids often swapped snacks just to get one.
The only downside was when the straw went all the way through the pouch, spilling juice everywhere. But even that didn’t ruin its appeal. Capri Sun was refreshing, sweet, and just different enough from regular juice boxes to feel special. It was one of those staples that never stayed on the lunch table for long before someone tried to make a deal for it.