Healthy snacking didn’t start with kale chips, and just to be clear, we’re not here to hate. Instead, we’d like to take you down the memory lane and rediscover retro snacks that weren’t just feel-good, but literally good for the health. Yup, we’re talking about bites straight from the 50s and beyond, proving that nutritious (and delicious) go way back.
10. Popcorn Balls
Those of you who are old enough to witness homemade snacks during Halloween parties, you might have seen these popcorn balls. While they require some effort to make, they’re definitely healthier than packaged candies. Think: a crunchy cousin of a rice crispy treat, made with popcorn, sweetener, and maybe some butter. No preservatives or mystery chemicals here.
9. Cinnamon Toast
It’s a well-known fact that cinnamon is like a warm hug for the taste buds. But did you know that it also has health benefits? Balancing blood sugar and helping digestion, just to name a few. It’s likely one of the reasons why cinnamon toast is popular back in the day. Another reason? It’s easy to make. Just toast a slice of bread and top it with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. A splash of vanilla is also welcome!
8. Pineapple Mayo Sandwich
This sandwich seems like an oddball today but really, it checks a lot of boxes. Fruit = healthy, easy to make and budget-friendly, and there’s protein (and fat) from mayo. This sandwich is exactly what it sounds like: rings of canned pineapple and mayo placed in between slices of bread. This healthy retro snack was popular back in the 50s and 60s.
7. Shake-a-Pudd’n
Shake-a-Pudd’n was perhaps the most fun snack from the 60s and 70s. This came in a little cup with powder inside, which you can turn into a ready-to-eat pudding in minutes. All you had to do was add milk and shake it, hence the name. While this snack didn’t scream “healthy,” parents bought it for their kids because of the added calcium and protein from the milk.
6. Ham Banana Hollandaise
Mid-20th century America had another oddball recipe called Ham Banana Hollandaise. It requires wrapping whole bananas with slices of ham and adding hollandaise sauce before baking. The result is a sweet, savory treat with fruit, meat, and creamy sauce. It has characteristics that people from the era considered healthy: protein-packed, homemade, and fruit-forward.
5. Keebler Munch ‘Ems
This vintage snack from Keebler can be described as a hybrid of chip and cracker. In the 90s, this snack was part of the health-conscious wave, wherein brands focused on producing snacks that are “lite” or “smart.” The Keebler Munch ‘Ems were a lighter alternative to potato chips as the former were oven-baked but stilled packed a lot of flavor.
4. Plain Rice Cakes
Plain rice cakes were widely popular in the 80s and 90s, the time when low-fat dieting boomed. Each cake packed around 35 to 50 calories, so they were considered an ideal diet food. Additionally, the cakes were only made with one ingredient (rice), and so they were praised for being clean and unprocessed. Their versatility also stood out; you could top them with peanut butter, avocado, and other healthy toppings.
3. Pear Salad
Looks like back in the 70s, the term “salad” was used loosely, and you can see that very well in the way pear salad was made. Think pear halves on a bed of lettuce, topped with mayo and shredded cheese. Sometimes, there’s also a cherry on top. Calcium from the cheese and fiber and vitamins from the peach helped the “salad” climb to the list of healthy retro snacks.
2. Graham Crackers
Before the processed food took off, graham crackers stood out as a serious health food option. To be clear, we’re talking about the original recipe of graham crackers, created by Sylvester Graham in 1800s. It was made from whole wheat flour, with no sugar or additives. The original graham cracker was also part of the “Graham Diet,” which focused on vegetarianism, whole foods, and moderation.
1. Celery with Peanut Butter
For the first spot, we have a retro snack from the 70s that packs a crunch and creaminess. Celery brings fiber, water, and crunch, while peanut butter adds protein and healthy fats. The combination of these ingredients makes a balanced, satisfying snack, plus it’s mom-friendly and kid-approved due to easy prep and fun factor. Yup, anything with peanut butter is always fun!