15 products that were in every parent's shopping basket in the 1990's
From Sunny Delight to Fray Bentos pies in a tin, this list is sure to bring back memories!
If you grew up in the UK during the 90s, chances are your childhood memories are sprinkled with the comforting sights, smells and sounds of the weekly food shop. Back then, the "big shop" was a proper family affair, often involving a trip to the local Stewarts or Crazy Prices, dodging those dodgy trolley wheels, and helping mum or dad stack up the conveyor belt with all the familiar bits. It was the era of BOGOF deals, cardboard loyalty cards, and aisles that felt like magical treasure troves for hungry little eyes.
The food that ended up in our cupboards and freezers wasn’t just about convenience. It was the post-school tea that greeted you after a long day of running around in your Kickers, the dessert you begged for after Sunday roast, or the treats you smuggled into your lunchbox, hoping no one would ask for a swap. These products were comforting, sometimes questionable, but always iconic.
So, whether you’re here for a dose of nostalgia or a reminder of how brilliantly bizarre 90s food could be, here are 15 items that were practically guaranteed to end up in every parent's trolley. How many of these did you grow up with? And more importantly, which ones would you still eat today?
1. Findus Crispy Pancakes
Golden, breadcrumb-coated and filled with mysterious molten centres. They were a dangerous yet delicious teatime classic.
2. Fray Bentos Tinned Pies
Open the tin, bake, and voilà: a steaming pie with flaky pastry, straight from a can. Pure 90s wizardry.
3. Birds Eye Potato Waffles
No freezer was complete without them.
4. Panda Pops
Bright colours, fake fruit flavours, and a sugar rush that could power a small village. Bubblegum flavour ruled.
5. Angel Delight
Whisk it up, pop it in the fridge, and suddenly you have pudding.
6. Turkey Twizzlers
Jamie may have killed them, but in the 90s, these spirals of questionable meat were school dinner royalty. The re-released version doesn't hit the same.
7. Heinz Alphabetti Spaghetti
Spelling rude words in your bowl was half the fun.
8. Sunny Delight (Sunny D)
The fridge jug that made you feel like you lived in an American sitcom (until someone turned orange).
9. McCain Micro Chips
Chips in a box, ready in minutes in the microwave. Slightly soggy? Maybe. But they were a handy snack.
10. Dairylea Lunchables
DIY cheese and cracker stacks that made for an elite packed lunch and they were even better when they came with a Capri Sun and some mini Daim bars. Is it any wonder our generation loves charcuterie?
11. Smash Instant Mash
Martian-approved powdered potato that fluffed up with boiling water.
12. Viennetta
Layers of vanilla ice cream and wavy chocolate. The posh dessert for birthdays, Sundays, and impressing guests.
13. Arctic Roll
A retro frozen dessert that somehow combined jam, sponge and ice cream and made it work beautifully.
14. Campbell's Meatballs in Gravy
Rubbery meatballs in thick brown gravy, straight from a tin.
15. Kellogg’s Variety Pack Cereals
A week's worth of breakfast choices in one glorious plastic-wrapped cube. Coco Pops always disappeared first.
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