This Was The Biggest Snack Trend The Year You Were Born

1951: Dunkin' Donuts I mean, Dunkin' still makes a mean donut to this day. But back in 1951, a year after the company's inception, everyone was snacking on those frosted doughy delights when the munchies hit. Alamy

1952: Cheez Whiz Developed by food scientist Edwin Traisman and sold by Kraft, Cheez Whiz became the processed, shelf-stable cheese sauce that everyone used to top hot dogs, chips, and more. Alamy

1953: Pepperidge Farm cookies Pepperidge Farm expanded from a bread company to cookie moguls in the '50s. People were snacking on these babies all day long for their crispy texture and great flavors. Getty Images

1954: Peeps Today you mostly think of marshmallow Peeps around Easter, but in 1954, these cute, sugary bunnies were a more everyday sort of treat. Getty Images

1955: Peanut M&Ms M&Ms were the go-to candy back in 1948 after they had been used as rations during World War II. But by 1955, the newest hit was peanutand for good reason, right? Alamy

1956: Good & Plenty These little bursts of licorice were super popularbut probably for advertising rather than taste. The "Choo Choo Charlie" character was spot on, as well as their jingle, "Charlie says, 'I love my Good & Plenty.' Charlie says, 'It really rings my bell!'" Alamy

1957: Refrigerated cookie dough An easier way to bake cookies? Everyone was on board once refrigerated cookie dough came on the market. Alamy

1958: Ruffles Chips are the ultimate snacking food, and in 1958, the Frito Company acquired rights to Ruffles, which were a major hit for their fun ridged or crinkled shape and amazing taste. Alamy

1959: Hagen-Dazs Whoever said ice cream was just for dessert was wrong. Reuben Mattus started marketing the brand in 1959, and everyone was digging into it with a spoon to satisfy their sweet snack cravings. Getty Images

1960: Pixy Stix Sure, Pixy Stix are basically just drinking sugar. Straight. But it was also the it snack that started the crazy sugar craze in the '60s. Jennifer Smith - Getty Images

1961: Goldfish Probably a universal favorite snack of all time, Goldfish were (and still are) the cheesy, fish-shaped cracker that every kid had in their lunch box. Getty Images

1962: Chips Ahoy! These chocolate chip cookies were so, so goodand they still are. With a glass of milk, you couldnt think of a better pick-me-up back in the day. Getty Images

1963: Pop-Tarts Oh yesthese were every kids favorite food even in the '60s. And beyond snack time, they were satisfying for a quick breakfast or dessert. Alamy

1964: Bugles These cone-shaped chips had a great salty flavor and light, airy texture. General Mills really hit the mark with these crispy corn snacks everyone was munching on. Alamy

1965: Jelly Belly jellybeans Originally known as Herman Goelitz Candy Company and Goelitz Confectionery Company (can't imagine how they ended up as Jelly Belly!), these colorful beans were the perfect gummy, sweet snack in a wide range of flavors. David Paul Morris - Getty Images

1966: Easy Cheese Okay, so there was canned cheese in the '50s, but by 1966, Easy Cheese was the ~new~ spreadable cheese. This spray can cheese was the stuff all the cool kids would spray right into their mouths and eat straight. Alamy

1967: Doritos Doritos made a splash on the market in 1967, but not the way you know them now. They were much plainer corn chips until they added the iconic nacho cheese flavor in 1972. Getty Images

1968: 100 Grand This bar was first known as $100,000 Bar, verbalized as "hundred thousand dollar bar," until 1985 or 1986. But the same flavor was there, thanks to the Ferrara Candy Company. Alamy

1969: Pringles Procter & Gamble (P&G) developed your current favorite Netflix snack in 1967, and they really blew up two years later. lovleah - Getty Images

1970: Orville Redenbachers popcorn By 1970, iconic popcorn master Orville Redenbacher had perfected his perfect kernel and light, airy popcorn became an instant snack everyone coveted. Get an RD's take on the health benefits of popcorn here. Getty Images

1971: Reeses Peanut Butter Cups Peanut butter and chocolate became the ultimate dynamic duo back in the 1970s after it rose to Hersheys best selling item in 1969. Its a candy icon for sure. Getty Images

1972: Quaker Oats Granola A healthier snack trend at the time, granola was easy, portable, and had crunch and sweetness for a morning or midday energy fix. People were eating it plain, putting it in yogurt, or making in trail mixes. Alamy

1973: Cup Noodles People today often joke about how its a staple in a college kids diet, but it actually rose to nationwide popularity in 1973. After all, its cheap, easy to whip up, and just as satisfying as a quick meal as it is a midnight snack. Alamy

1974: Mrs. Fields cookies You havent had a cookie until youve had a Mrs. Fields. Classic but soft, chewy, and decadent, you cant imagine something so perfectly balanced. So it makes sense they were a huge hit when they came out! Alamy

1975: Yoplait yogurt Yoplait was a French company that arrived Stateside in 1975. Eating healthier was cool, and yogurt became a go-to snack. Yoplait

1976: Famous Amos cookies More cookiesare you seeing a trend within the trends? Famous Amos' little chocolate chip cookies were crispy and easy to pop into your mouth for a sweet snack. Getty Images

1977: Jawbreakers These hard (super hard!) candies were crazy popular by 1977. Also known as Everlasting Gobstoppers, they were inspired by Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Hayley Harrison - Getty Images

1978: Ben & Jerrys Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield became the new snack gods when Ben & Jerrys hit the market in 1978. serts - Getty Images

1979: Ring Pops If you werent sporting a Ring Pop on your finger, were you even living? These win for both hottest snack AND fashion accessory, for sure. Courtesy

1980: Jell-O Pudding Pops Pudding at school was the ultimate creamy, decadent snack. Unfortunately, you cant get them anymoreso youll have to just remember how amazing they were. Courtesy

1981: Tostitos Chips and salsa? Yes please! Tostitos came out as an even crispier alternative to the still-popular Doritos, and immediately spoke to the consumer's craving for "lighter" foods. Getty Images

1982: Bagel Bites Frozen. Pizza. Bagel. What kid didnt want to heat these up after soccer practice or a long day at school? And what parent didnt want to steal a few when they looked away? Courtesy

1983: Skittles Everyone wanted to taste the rainbow with a bag of Skittles. Consider them the new Dots. Getty Images

1984: Hot Pockets Another easy, frozen snack, Hot Pockets were invented by two brothers in the '80s. (Good luck getting the jingle out of your head now.) Getty Images

1985: Sour Patch Kids With a name inspired by the popular Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, these punchy dudes hit the market in 1985 and made a huge splash with their sour outsides and sweet, gummy texture. Mat Hayward - Getty Images

1986: Chex Mix People had been mixing their plain Chex cereal with pretzels, nuts, and spices as a party recipe for decades. But when Chex decided to sell a pre-packaged version in the '80s, the rest was history. Getty Images

1987: Dippin Dots The coolest ice cream everserved as multi-colored tiny dots, they were the best and most unique melt-in-your-mouth treat a kid could want in a cup. (Tell me you don't still crave them every time you see a stand!) TennesseePhotographer - Getty Images

1988: Hershey Kisses With Almonds Classic milk chocolate Hershey's Kisses had been a thing since 1907, but once they put an almond in the middle, it was THE preferred Kiss of 1988. Getty Images

1989: Lunchables Lunchables combined protein, carbs, and cheese in a handy to-go container, which made packing lunch easy (and snack time even easier). memoriesarecaptured - Getty Images

1990: Dunkaroos That frosting thoughit was so, so good. Dunking fun-shaped animal cookies into creamy icing was the sweetest snack anyone could find (literally). Courtesy

1991: Doritos 3D When youre successful with one Dorito, you have to keep the flavors and shapes going. And the 3D one really stood out when it was released in 1991 as triangular as a classic Dorito, but in a hollow, three-dimensional shape. Courtesy

1992: Gushers These fruit-flavored gummies were in every kids lunch box (and the sour juice was all over my fingers). Courtesy

1993: Warheads Having started in Taiwan, Warheads made it to the US in 1993. For those who thought Sour Patch Kids and Gushers were sour, they had NO ideajust look at the guy on the package. Getty Images

1994: Fruit By The Foot The long, long tape of fruity goodness was fun to unwind and play with, and it came in different flavors and colors. Courtesy

1995: Hersheys Cookies 'N Creme A white chocolate bar with tiny cookie crumbles inside, this was a new candy bar that felt richer and creamier than its milk chocolate counterparts. It was considered a major innovation for Hershey's. Courtesy

1996: Triple Power Push Pop Push Pops were already considered a leveled-up lollipop, and this Triple Power design, built to enjoy multiple flavors at once, became a novelty in 1996 when it was released. (Sorry, '90s kids: It's sadly discontinued.) Courtesy

1997: French Toast Crunch French Toast Crunch's cinnamon and syrup swirls were super popular as a breakfast cereal, but also as mini French toast bites you could snack on. It was discontinued in 2006, but fans had a fit, and the company brought it back in 2015, restored to its original version. Courtesy

1998: Baby Bottle Pop Move over Push Pop, this new lollipop was the one to chooseobviously because you could dip it in sugar. Yes, it was delicious, but it also had a super catchy jingle , which helped. Courtesy

1999: Go-Gurt Eating yogurt with a spoon was so out by 1999. Instead, get some protein and calcium on the go with portable yogurt tubes you could squeeze right into your mouth. Courtesy

2000: Milk N Cereal Bars Think Honey Nut Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunchthese bars were a convenient way to get your cereal and milk on the go. Courtesy

2001: Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans Jelly Belly went in for the Harry Potter craze, releasing jellybeans to mimic wizards' favorite snack in the books. They came in good and gross flavors, like lemon and vomit. (Have fun guessing which is which.) Alamy

2002: Smoothies Since Jamba Juices opening in 2000, smoothies were the go-to drinkable snack of choice, as people tried to get away from processed foods and eat more fresh produce. Getty Images

2003: Low-carb bars Thanks to the rise in popularity of Atkins and South Beach Diet, consumers wanted low-carb snacks. Pre-packaged bars made making a transition to a low-carb lifestyle easier. (If you're interested in starting a low-carb diet, read this first .) Alamy

2004: Yogurt Goodbye, fruity, sweet yogurt; and hello, plain yogurt. In 2004, market research firm NPD found that yogurt was the highest food to have increased in the American diet that year. Getty Images

2005: Cupcakes With cupcake-specific bakeries like Sprinkles popping up and hotspots like Magnolia Bakery becoming bona fide tourist destinations, it suddenly became common to dig into a cupcake for a snack. Getty Images

2006: Frozen Yogurt Like standard yogurtbut ice-creamier. Fro-yo blew up as a lighter, less-sweet alternative to the ice cream you know and love. Getty Images

2007: 100-Calorie Packs Want cookies? Chips? Chocolate? What about in a tiny, throw-in-your-bag-and-go packet? Alamy

2008: Ramen Eating ramen is fast and easy, and people loved digging into a warm bowl of noodles for a snack (and a sodium overload). Getty Images

2009: Hershey's Thingamijig As a limited-edition version of the Whatchamacallit, it had cocoa rice crisps and a strip of peanut butter as a layer, all covered in Hersheys decadent chocolate. Yum. Courtesy

2010: Reese's Take 5 The chocolate bars keep getting more complicated (and delicious). This one is salty, sweet, and oh-so-chocolatey, to level up the Reese's peanut butter cups you know and love. Courtesy

2011: Hummus Move over, salsa. Hummus is a spreadable delight for sandwiches and a perfect dipping sauce for chips and pita. Here are 14 more delicious ways to use it. BURCU ATALAY TANKUT - Getty Images

2012: Kale chips Everything in 2012 was kalechips, smoothies, salads, and more. Crunchy kale chips, in particular, felt like a healthy version of potato chips that could be topped with anything from a dash of salt to fun spices like ranch. Getty Images

2013: Cronuts Chef Dominique Ansel changed America on Mothers Day in 2013, when people lined up bright and early at his bakery to taste this croissant-donut hybrid. Getty Images

2014: Quinoa Anything Need a hearty snack? Grab a quinoa bowl, eat some quinoa chips, enjoy a quinoa cookieit was the new grain that made all snack foods seem way healthier. Here are 6 reasons you should start digging in if you haven't already. Magone - Getty Images

2015: Avocado toast I dont know if this will ever not be a universally loved snack food, but avocado toast became a thing in 2015 for any and every meal of the day. Dorling Kindersley: Stuart West - Getty Images

2016: Chickpea puffs Chickpeas no longer just go on salads from a canthese crispy puffs are kinda like Cheez Doodles, but packed with plant protein. You can still find them in tons of flavors. Courtesy

2017: RXBars These chewy bars with a simple ingredient list blew up in 2017, and theyre still one of the more innovative snack companies today, with various flavors (check that limited edition Pumpkin Spice!) and even a line of nut butters and oat cups. Alamy

2018: Plant-based jerky So, beef jerky is still huge, but plant-based jerky started making quite the statement last year. Or really plant-based anythingthink burgers, sausages, jackfruit snacks, and moreand its still booming in 2019. Hello, Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger! Courtesy

2019: Low-carb anything Its the year of keto, so any low-carb ice cream, low-carb protein bars, or naturally low-carb snack foods, like jerky, string cheese, and avocado, are this years go-to resource. Read up about the keto diet here. Chris Clor - Getty Images