I still clearly remember some of the junk food brands I ate as a kid back in the 80s. There are three in particular that I miss: Wonderboy, Chickadees, and Barbeque Curls. All three are no longer available on the market.

Wonderboy were thin garlic chips that could give you garlic breath for hours. The pack contained, I think, two or three round chips. I clearly remember eating two to three packs for my afternoon snack, the crunch they made when you bit into them, and the garlic taste that lingered in your mouth.

Chickadees were another favorite. I’m not entirely sure if they were round in shape and yellow in color, but what I loved most about them were the freebies that came with each pack. There was the little plastic dome that would pop up with a satisfying click, and the tiny grasshopper toy that hopped when you pushed its butt. Opening a new pack of Chickadees felt like unwrapping a little surprise each time, with the toys adding an extra layer of excitement to snack time.

Barbeque Curls were the sibling of Chiz Curls, but with a smoky barbeque flavor that was simply irresistible. Each curl was perfectly seasoned, and I can still taste the sweet, tangy barbeque coating that made them so addictive. They were the kind of snack that you could never have just one of – before you knew it, the whole pack would be gone, leaving your fingers covered in that delicious seasoning.

Eating the snacks was not just the fun part. It was also choosing from the many snacks my two pesos could buy from the sari-sari store. It was not just a battle among the three, but you also had Clover Bits, Starkist, Pee Wee, and even sweets like Tira-Tira, Bazooka, Tarzan, and Big Boy.

I wonder if it is as simple for kids today to buy chips as it was back in the 80s, with all the health concerns, environmental considerations, and activism involved in brands today. While they won’t have the same simplicity, it saves them from health concerns in the future, at least from the health aspect.

I can’t help but feel nostalgic thinking about these snacks. They were just snacks then, but they are a part of my childhood today. Maybe not just mine, but also yours. Each bite was a taste of joy, a moment of carefree simplicity.