Alas, we will never eat these 18 cereals from the 1980s again
We are serious cereal junkies. Breakfast of champions? Pshaw. It's the dinner of champions as well. Nothing pairs better with your favorite sitcom than a heaping bowl of crunchy rice, corn and oats.
Previously, we shared with you some of our favorite forgotten cereals of the 1960s and 1970s. Now, we take the Delorean back to the 1980s. It was an golden era when cereals became sweeter, marshmallowier, doughnuttier — and licensed by popular toys, games and movies.
Grab a spoon and dig into the past for the prize.
C-3PO's
Goldenrod got his cereal in 1984, a year after the first trilogy wrapped up. As for the shapes, they looked like Bs and 8s. Hey, why didn't they bring this back as BB-8's Cereal?
Image: Mr. Breakfast
Donkey Kong Junior
Naturally, there was a Donkey Kong Cereal, too. But we're spotlighting Junior because 1) it was fruity and banana-shaped and 2) Donkey Kong Jr. was a better video game. Debate! This hit stores in 1983.
Image: Tom's Heroes
Dunkin' Donuts
In 1988, it was time to make the cereal! This delicacy came in Glazed and Chocolate varieties. Look closely and note the three shapes — rings, holes and twists.
Image: Flickr / Gregg Koenig
E.T.
"Made with E.T.'s favorite flavors, chocolate and real peanut butter." These were brilliant, a sort of Reese's Krispies.
Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog
Ice Cream Cones
With its mascot Ice Cream Jones, these sugary servings from 1987 stopped pretending they were healthy. They even came with gumballs inside. Still too healthy? There was a Chocolate Chip iteration as well.
Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog
Marshmallow Krispies
Launched in 1982, this rather basic concept oddly no longer exists. The Fruity variation featured a young Fred Savage delivering stand-up comedy in its commercial.
Nerds
Now this was genius. Two cereals in two compartments, just like the candy. Though, let's be honest, this was breakfast candy. Orange/Cherry vied for your taste buds with Grape/Strawberry in 1985.
Image: Complex
Nintendo Cereal System
Another dual-compartment box! If watched cartoons circa 1988, there is no way this jingle was not stuck in your head.
Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog
Mr. T
We pity the fools who didn't try this in 1984. Well, okay, it was essentially Cap'n Crunch.
Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog
OJ's
Launched in 1982, this rather basic concept oddly no longer exists. The Fruity variation featured a young Fred Savage delivering stand-up comedy in its commercial.
Pac-Man
Fun fact: Former sitcom star Marty Ingels was the voice of Pac-Man. The video game icon became a marshmallow treat in 1983.
Image: The Nerd Filter
PB&J
This curiosity from 1982 never made it to mass market, despite the appeal of the explorer PB and his dog J. Would you try this flavor combination?
Powdered Donutz
Doughnuts — er, "Donutz" — were quite the rage. Probably because it was an easy way to rebrand Cheerios for sugar fiends. This 1980 launch also came in a Chocolate Flavor Donutz variety.
Image: Pinterest
Raisin Squares
See, it wasn't all about the kids demographic. These chewy nuggets from 1982, basically raisin-stuffed Mini Wheats, were quite tasty.
Image: Cereal Bits
S'mores Crunch
Launched in 1982, this rather basic concept oddly no longer exists. The Fruity variation featured a young Fred Savage delivering stand-up comedy in its commercial.
Smurf Berry Crunch
If the Strawberry Shortcake Cereal failed to provide enough berry variety, there was this two-tone spoonful.
Image: Mr. Potter's Funtime Blog
Waffelos
The sweetest of all cereal decades kicked off with the launch of this maple-rich crunch.
Image: Retroist