7 Grocery Store Treats Kids Begged for in the 1970s
Every child of the 1970s knew the routine. Mom pushed the cart through the supermarket, and you trailed behind, scanning the shelves for anything you had seen on Saturday morning television. By the time you reached the checkout line, you had a mental list of treats you planned to beg for, and you were ready to plead your case.
The grocery store was full of temptations in that decade. Food companies spent huge sums advertising directly to children, and colorful packages were placed right at a kid’s eye level. Some mothers gave in once in a while, while others held firm and said the treats were for special occasions only.
Some of these treats are still sold today, though many taste or look a little different. Others have vanished entirely. Here are seven grocery store treats kids of the 1970s begged for, and what became of them.
1. Pop-Tarts
Kellogg’s introduced Pop-Tarts in 1964, and by the 1970s, they were a breakfast obsession for millions of kids. The toaster pastries came in flavors like strawberry, blueberry, and brown sugar cinnamon. Frosted versions, introduced in the late 1960s, were the ones every kid wanted.
Pop-Tarts were easy enough for children to make on their own. They were also perfect for eating on the run, which made them a favorite on busy school mornings. Many kids ate them straight out of the foil pouch without toasting them at all.
Pop-Tarts are still one of the best-selling breakfast items in America. But for 1970s kids, the frosted strawberry Pop-Tart was the ultimate grocery store prize.
2. Hostess Cupcakes and Twinkies
The Hostess display was a dangerous place for any mother with children in tow. Chocolate cupcakes with the white squiggle on top, golden Twinkies filled with cream, and pink, coconut-covered Sno Balls all called out from the shelf. Kids begged for them as after-school snacks.
Hostess advertised heavily on television, and its characters, like Twinkie the Kid, became familiar faces. Many mothers packed a Hostess treat in lunch boxes as a special surprise.
These snack cakes are still sold today. They are among the snacks every boomer rushed home to eat after school, and many Gen Xers feel the same way.
3. Candy Cigarettes
It seems shocking now, but candy cigarettes were common in grocery stores and candy aisles in the 1970s. They were thin sticks of chalky sugar candy, often with a red tip, packaged in boxes that looked like real cigarette packs. Some versions were made of bubble gum wrapped in paper that let kids “blow smoke” with powdered sugar.
Kids pretended to smoke them, copying the adults around them. Public health groups criticized the candy for encouraging children to see smoking as normal.
Candy cigarettes are still sold in some places today, though many are now called “candy sticks.” Several countries have banned them. They are a striking reminder of how different the 1970s were.
4. Pixy Stix
Pixy Stix were paper straws filled with brightly colored, flavored sugar powder. Kids tore off the top and poured the powder straight into their mouths. The candy was cheap, sour, and incredibly sweet all at once.
Pixy Stix were introduced in the 1950s and became wildly popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Giant versions, measuring more than a foot long, were especially prized. Many parents winced at the sugar content.
Pixy Stix are still made today. They are a classic example of the simple, sugary candy that kids loved and parents tried to limit.
5. Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies
Little Debbie snack cakes were introduced in 1960 by the McKee family, who named the brand after their granddaughter, Debbie. The first product was the Oatmeal Creme Pie, two soft oatmeal cookies with a creamy filling in the middle. By the 1970s, Little Debbie had become a household name.
The snack cakes were sold in multi-packs at a low price, which made them popular with budget-conscious mothers. Kids loved the sweet, chewy cookies and the friendly girl on the box.
Little Debbie remains one of the most popular snack cake brands in America. The McKee Foods company is still family-owned and based in Tennessee.
6. Fruit Stripe Gum
Fruit Stripe gum was famous for its colorful striped sticks and its zebra mascot. Each pack featured several fruity flavors, and the gum came with temporary tattoos on the wrappers. Kids loved applying the tattoos to their arms.
The gum had a famously short-lasting flavor. It burst with sweetness for a few seconds and then faded quickly. Many kids chewed several pieces at a time to keep the flavor going.
In 2024, Ferrara, the company that owned the brand, discontinued Fruit Stripe gum after decades on the market. Fans who grew up with the zebra mascot were saddened by the news.
7. Sugar Cereal With a Prize Inside
The cereal aisle was the heart of the battle between kids and their mothers. Cereals like Lucky Charms, Froot Loops, Cocoa Puffs, and Cap’n Crunch were advertised constantly on Saturday morning cartoons. Many boxes held a toy, a sticker, or a small record inside.
Kids begged for the cereal with the best prize, even if they did not like the taste. Some mothers agreed to buy a sugary cereal only if it was eaten as a weekend treat.
These cereals remain popular today, but the prizes are far less common. Many companies replaced toys with online games or codes. Breakfasts like these are among the breakfast classics that deserve a comeback.
Why Kids Begged So Hard
In the 1970s, food companies spent huge sums on television advertising aimed directly at children. Saturday morning cartoons were packed with commercials for cereal, candy, and snacks. Kids memorized the jingles and knew every mascot by name.
The Federal Trade Commission explored limiting children’s advertising in the late 1970s, but the effort faced heavy opposition and was largely abandoned. The debate over marketing food to children continues today.
Grocery stores also placed treats at children’s eye level, especially near the checkout lines. That strategy is still used today, which is why so many parents dread the checkout aisle.
Mothers Had Their Own Rules
Many mothers of the 1970s had strict rules about treats. Some allowed one special item per shopping trip, while others said no to anything sugary. Many children learned to negotiate, promising to eat their vegetables or clean their rooms in exchange for a box of Pop-Tarts.
Those negotiations are part of what makes the memories so vivid. Every child who won a box of sugary cereal remembers the feeling of victory. It is one of the things only people who grew up in the 70s will understand.
Which grocery store treat did you beg for as a kid, and did your mom ever give in? Many readers say they still remember the exact aisle where it was shelved.
