Food of the Eighties, Products Beginning with R

I've been asked a couple of times for information about what food was specific to the 80s, so I've started a small list which I'm sure will grow pretty rapidly. Cereals of the 80s have their own page.

This list contains items that were around before and after the 80s, I'm looking for stuff that was still popular in the 80s. So this list will contain items that were around in the 70s, and maybe earlier if they were still popular.

Please note! Zima and clear colas were a 90s fad, not an 80s fad! I know it might seem like a long time ago, but that's only because they tasted so awful and were marketed so heavily. (Somehow, Zima still persists, though no one has determined why).

This page currently edited by: 80s Cheerleader. Past editor: Banasy



Food beginning with: [Index] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [misc]
RC 100
One of the first caffeine free sodas--RC 100's got nothin--no sugar and no caffeine...nothin' but taste. there was also a version which was decaf but had sugar.
RC Cola
Royal Crown Cola (originated before the 80's, but it became big in New England around 1980-81.) It only sold in my area in discount department stores like Ames and Zayre's. Basically, they stepped up their advertising around the time of the "Cola Wars".
Rainbow Brite cereal
Based on the Rainbow Bright cartoon/dolls. Pretty much a generic(sp) fruit loops.
Ranch Flavored Doritos
Seems like around 1985 everything became "Ranch Flavored". I really like the Ranch Doritos, and still do, but the "Ranch Invasion" was a bit over the top.
Ranch dressing
Every party I went to in the 80's had a vegetable tray and Ruffles coupled with that good old Hidden Valley Ranch dressing.
Razcal Soda
Late '80s-It was a fruit-punch-flavored soda in a silver-ish can. I used to always walk up to CVS (drug store) after school and get one. Their slogan was "Nobody famous drinks it". I loved it.
Razzles
Another of those "is it a candy or a gum" foods. They may have come out in the 70's, but I remember them from the 80's They were little piece of candy that, when chewed, crumbled and if chewed long enough turned to gum (if you could call it that)
Red Fish Candy
They were small red, cherry-flavored, fish-shaped, gummy-type candies made by Malaco(?). They were my favorite and sold for a penny apiece. I have not seen them in years.
Red Rope Licorice
Laces-style licorice was around way before the 80's, but was popular and longer (like hair) in the 80s.
Reese's Crunchy Peanut Butter Cups
Pretty much a Reeses Peanut Butter cup, but with crunchy peanut butter. They used to come in a dark brown wrapper identical to the original orange one.
Reese's Pieces
E.T. phone home... Elliot needed to leave a trail of something behind, and Mars the makers of M&M's wouldn't let Speilburg use M&M's, so he used these instead. A peanut butter flavored candy in much the same shape and size.
The Reggie Candy Bar
Candy bar with peanuts and caramel covered in chocolate, named after the slugger 'Mr. October', Reggie Jackson.
Return of the Jedi Iceblock
It was dark blue and Purple and the middle was filled with a jelly type of iceblock.
Rice Cakes
Believe these were created in the mid-late 80s. Basically a bunch of rice stuck together in little circular disks. Not the greatest tasting food nor do they fly very well.
Ring Pops
The jewelry you can eat! These are lollipop type things that were on plastic rings. (predated the 80s)
Rinky Dinks
I think that is what they were called. They were small round hard candies that came in a box divided into two colors like nerds-- only the box was split horizontally instead of vertically and it was regtangular instead of square. Do you know what I'm talking about? I used to get them all the time when I was little.
Ripplins
Ripplins were potato chips that had--yep--ripples. I don't remember if there were other flavors. The commercial had something to do with R-R-R-rip open the bag I think. The bag was blue with Ripplins written on it in yellow I think with a picture of the chips on it. Nothing special really, just a potato chip, but they were super yummy. I really miss those. Ripplins and O'Boises were staples in my household. YUM!!! I so wish those would make a comeback.
Riunite (Wine)
Was a sweet wine, came in a sleek designed bottle. I remember 2 flavors, ed and white. It was aimed to appeal at the more sophisticated types at half the price. The slogan went, "Riunite on ice, that's nice." http://www.riunite.com
Rock'N'Roll Cookies
Flat 5" long ginger bread cookie with pink icing on top.Came two in a pack. The wrapper was blue&white with music notes on it.
Rockers and Rollers
It was macaroni and cheese that had the noodles shaped like musical instruments. There were trumpets and saxophones. This was my favorite kind of mac and cheese and I remember it was around in 1985!
Rockets
Those small, multi-colored SweeTart-like candies that came wrapped in plastic that was twisted on either end. It made up the majority of your Halloween candy bag, and the name made you think that you were eating real astronaut food!
Rocky Road Candy Bar
Marshmallow covered with chocolate and crushed nuts - candy bar
Rocky Road Cereal
It was a cereal with marshmallows mixed with chocolate and vanilla,real sugary and sweet.
Rodeo O's
Like Fruit Loops...only all orange in flavor and color. It had a cowboy on the box...the O's were suppose to resemble his lasso.
Roller coasters pasta
Roller Coasters were wavy like raviolli's probabably made by Chef Boy Ardee and came in a can.
Rolos
They were sold like a candy bar, but they were little, individual, caramel filled chocolate cups or bon-bons that were rolled up like lifesavers (on their sides). Very delicious.
Ron's Not So Hot Chili
I remember this chili was just around for a short while back around 1987 or 1988. I believe it was only sold on the West Coast. A local TV station had a 50s dance party show and gave away cases of this chili to winners of different dance contests. Personally I thought the chili was OK (I preferred Dennisons better).
Rondo Citrus Soda
Kind of like carbonated Lemonade
Rondos
Bite Sized- Dove Bars: "Two bites of heaven". Absolutely terrific!
Royals
The M&M's company put these out in the mid to late eighties. They were mint chocolate candies that came in brown and green colors. They were larger than M&M's and very delicious. This is one candy from the eighties that I really miss.
Rubble
It was a type of gum. It came in a little milk-carton shaped box. Little round pieces of gum, supposed to look like rocks, I guess. (Rubble)
Rumbles
A snack treat that was a cluster of honey oats and nuts. I don't remember too much about them, but I remember I loved them. I think there were a couple choices of flavorings, but again, I don't remember.
Runts
Fruit-shaped candies made by Willy Wonka.


Food beginning with: [Index] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [misc]
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