1. Kellogg’s Concentrate Cereal
This wasn’t your average cereal. Kellogg’s Concentrate came in a small box because it was so dense, just a few spoonfuls was supposed to keep you full for hours. Boomers remember the tiny serving size being almost comical compared to today’s overflowing cereal bowls.
It was pitched as a high-protein health cereal, which made it stand out in an era when sugar-loaded options dominated the shelves. The green box is seared in the memory of many, even if most kids at the time weren’t all that excited about its flavor. It quietly disappeared in the ’70s, but some still swear it was way ahead of its time.
2. Marathon Bar
Long before today’s candy bar fusions, there was the Marathon Bar. It was an 8-inch-long braided chocolate and caramel bar that seemed to last forever, or at least that was the marketing hook. Kids loved showing it off because it was so much longer than a regular candy bar.
The bright red wrapper with the ruler on the back is something many still recall. Unfortunately, the Marathon Bar didn’t make it out of the ’80s, but the memory of unwrapping all that caramel goodness lingers.
3. Post Oat Flakes
This cereal had a simple concept but a loyal following. Post Oat Flakes were hearty and wholesome, marketed as a straightforward breakfast choice. Boomers often remember them as something their parents liked, especially compared to sweeter cereals.
It wasn’t flashy or full of marshmallows, but it had staying power for decades. When it was pulled from shelves in the ’80s, many felt it was an undeserved end for a cereal that had been part of the breakfast table for so long.
4. Hubba Bubba Soda
If bubblegum and soda weren’t enough fun on their own, Hubba Bubba decided to combine them. This short-lived soft drink in the ’80s promised to taste like liquid bubblegum. Some loved it, others thought it was just too sweet to handle.
Still, it was a big part of the novelty beverage craze that defined the decade. Even though it vanished quickly, people who grew up in the era can still describe the exact taste and the pink can it came in.
5. Keebler Magic Middles
In the late ’80s and early ’90s, Keebler had a cookie that really lived up to its name. Magic Middles looked like plain shortbread on the outside, but inside was a gooey chocolate or peanut butter filling. Kids loved biting into them and finding the surprise center, and they quickly became a lunchbox favorite.
Despite their popularity, they quietly disappeared from shelves, leaving fans to reminisce about their unique taste and texture. Every so often, petitions pop up online begging Keebler to bring them back, which shows just how deeply these little cookies are missed by boomers who grew up snacking on them.
6. Hi-C Ecto Cooler
In the ’80s, nothing felt cooler than sipping on a juice box with Ghostbusters branding. Ecto Cooler was bright green, citrus-flavored, and came in those little boxes that stained your tongue. Kids begged their parents to toss them into lunchboxes, making them a schoolyard status symbol.
Even after the Ghostbusters craze slowed down, Ecto Cooler stuck around for years before finally disappearing. Every now and then it has made brief comebacks, but for many boomers, it’s forever tied to childhood afternoons and Saturday morning cartoons.
7. Beech-Nut Gum
Beech-Nut Gum goes all the way back to the early 1900s, but it was still popular in the mid-20th century. Boomers remember the distinct packaging and the no-nonsense flavors like peppermint and spearmint. It wasn’t flashy, but it was reliable.
By the ’70s and ’80s, it began to disappear from shelves, making way for brands like Wrigley’s and Trident. But for those who chewed it as kids, it still comes up in conversations about “whatever happened to…” grocery staples.
8. Libbyland Frozen Dinners
In the ’70s, Libbyland frozen dinners were the ultimate treat for kids. Packaged with cartoon mascots, they came with items like mini burgers, corn, pudding, and even chocolate brownies. Parents loved them for convenience, kids loved them because they felt like fun little feasts.
They were colorful, kid-friendly versions of the TV dinner craze that swept America. They vanished as other brands took over the frozen food market, but people still light up when they talk about those little divided trays.
9. Clove Gum
This one was polarizing. Clove Gum had a strong, almost medicinal taste that not everyone loved, but those who did were fiercely loyal. It felt old-fashioned even back then, but it was a comforting flavor for many boomers.
Eventually it was discontinued, only to pop up occasionally in nostalgia-driven re-releases. Still, you’d be hard-pressed to find it at your local grocery store today, and that absence makes it a frequent subject of reminiscing.
10. Carnation Breakfast Bars
Before protein bars were everywhere, Carnation Breakfast Bars were the grab-and-go option. They were dense, filling, and marketed as a meal replacement that you could eat on your way out the door. Boomers remember the rich chocolate coating and chewy inside.
For many, these bars were a staple during busy mornings in the ’70s and ’80s. They eventually disappeared, leaving fans wondering why no one has brought them back in their original form.
11. Tab Soda
Tab wasn’t just a drink, it was a lifestyle. Introduced in the ’60s, this diet soda became incredibly popular, especially with women who were marketed to in stylish, aspirational ads. Its pink can was instantly recognizable in refrigerators across America.
Despite hanging on for decades, Coca-Cola finally pulled the plug in the 2000s. But for boomers, Tab remains one of the most iconic sodas of all time, and its disappearance still stings.
12. Hostess Choco-Bliss
Hostess had a winner with Choco-Bliss, a decadent layered chocolate cake with frosting and filling that felt indulgent even by snack cake standards. It hit shelves in the ’80s and quickly gained fans who loved its rich flavor.
Boomers often compare it to rival snack cakes but insist nothing else has quite matched it. When it disappeared, many hoped for a comeback, but aside from nostalgic chatter, Choco-Bliss remains a memory.
13. Chicken Tonight
Who could forget the catchy jingle, “I feel like Chicken Tonight!”? This line of simmer sauces hit grocery stores in the ’90s, and commercials showed families dancing around the kitchen. It was supposed to make dinner prep easy by just adding chicken.
Boomers remember how heavily it was advertised, even if the sauces themselves didn’t quite live up to the hype. Still, the brand is part of grocery store nostalgia, mostly because of how unforgettable that ad campaign was.
14. Space Food Sticks
Inspired by the space race, Space Food Sticks were chewy, energy-packed snack bars marketed as astronaut food. Kids thought they were futuristic and cool, and they were especially popular in the ’70s. Parents liked the idea of giving their kids something “scientific” to eat.
Though they weren’t the tastiest snack on the shelf, they stood out for their novelty. They disappeared quietly, but they still come up in conversations whenever people talk about the foods of the space-age craze.
15. Alpine White Chocolate Bar
Hershey’s Alpine White was a unique candy bar with white chocolate and little bits of almonds. It had a sophisticated look compared to regular chocolate bars, which made it stand out in the ’80s. Some remember the commercials with snowy backdrops that gave it a classy feel.
It didn’t last long, but the fans it did have still talk about it today. Whenever discontinued candies come up, Alpine White always makes the list of treats people wish they could find again.