8 Snacks Every Pennsylvania Kid Grew Up With In Their Lunchbox
Growing up in Pennsylvania meant more than just school days and playground games—it also meant having some of the best snacks in the country tucked into our lunchboxes.
While kids in other states reached for their own local favorites, we Keystone State kids enjoyed iconic treats crafted right in our own backyard.
From world-famous chocolate factory creations to the salty crunch of pretzels made in towns that perfected the art, these snacks became more than quick bites. They carried with them a sense of pride, tradition, and community, forming a delicious part of our childhood identity that still lingers today.
1. Tastykake Krimpets
Nothing said ‘Mom loves you’ quite like finding those signature butterscotch Krimpets in your lunchbox. I can still remember the soft, spongy cake and that sweet, sticky icing that somehow always ended up on my fingers and sometimes my homework.
Friends from other states never understood our obsession with these Philadelphia-born treats. They’d offer to trade their store-bought cookies, but no deal – Krimpets were worth their weight in gold in the cafeteria trading economy.
The individually wrapped packages meant they stayed fresh until lunchtime, though they rarely survived that long if I was having a tough morning at school.
2. Herr’s Potato Chips
Crunchy, salty perfection came in those distinctive Herr’s bags. The Nottingham-based chip company gave us something to look forward to when we flipped open our lunch boxes.
My personal favorite was the ripple chips – those ridges held just the right amount of salt and seemed designed specifically for dipping into lunch table trades of pudding cups.
The company started as a small family business in Lancaster County, and somehow knowing they were made just down the road made them taste even better. Opening that foil bag released a satisfying puff of air that announced to everyone nearby: lunch had officially begun.
3. Utz Cheese Balls
The telltale orange dust gave us away every time. One glimpse at our fingertips and everyone knew we’d been blessed with Utz Cheese Balls in our lunch that day. Made in Hanover since 1921, these airy, crunchy spheres of cheesy goodness were lunchroom currency.
Trading a handful could score you an extra dessert or guarantee friendship for at least the remainder of recess.
The big plastic barrel they came in at home meant Mom could toss a handful into a sandwich bag for lunch. By meal’s end, even the inside of the bag would be coated with that neon cheese powder – which, naturally, we’d lick clean when no teachers were looking.
4. Snyder’s of Hanover Pretzels
Pennsylvania’s pretzel heritage shined brightest with those little bags of Snyder’s pretzels. The satisfying snap between your teeth announced to the lunchroom that you weren’t messing around with snack time. Founded in 1909, Snyder’s turned our state’s pretzel obsession into portable lunchbox perfection.
The mini pretzel rods were my favorite – just the right size for a kid’s hand and perfect for dipping into those little containers of yellow mustard Mom would sometimes include as a special treat.
Living in pretzel country meant we took these twisted treats for granted, until friends visiting from other states would marvel at our pretzel abundance.
5. Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes
The holy grail of Tastykake offerings! Finding these chocolate-covered peanut butter discs in my lunch meant Mom was either having a great day or I’d aced that spelling test. These weren’t your everyday snack – they were special occasion material.
The thin layer of peanut butter nestled on a cake base and sealed with a chocolate coating created a flavor combination that out-of-staters tried (and failed) to replicate. Smart Pennsylvania kids knew to flip them upside down before eating – chocolate side down meant it melted on your tongue first.
Some kids claimed their family kept them in the fridge, sparking heated lunchroom debates about the proper serving temperature.
6. Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies
Soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet – unwrapping that cellophane to reveal an Oatmeal Creme Pie felt like hitting the lunchbox jackpot. Though not Pennsylvania-born, these treats somehow became a regional staple in our school cafeterias.
The two soft oatmeal cookies sandwiching that mysterious white creme filling were irresistible. Their appearance in a lunchbox often sparked a wave of envy across the table, though true Pennsylvania kids knew they still ranked below Tastykakes in the snack hierarchy.
Parents loved them because they were affordable, but we kids never thought about that – we just knew they were the perfect post-sandwich reward that fueled playground adventures.
7. Peeps Marshmallow Treats
Finding Peeps in your lunchbox meant Easter season had officially arrived! Born in Bethlehem, PA, these sugar-coated marshmallow chicks were a seasonal treasure that signaled spring was coming. Just Born company created these colorful treats that somehow tasted even better when they were slightly stale.
The bold parents sent them in lunches, creating a sugar rush that teachers surely noticed by afternoon lessons.
My friends and I developed elaborate Peeps-eating rituals – some bit the heads off first, others nibbled ears, while the truly patient kids let them sit open for a day to achieve that perfect chewy texture. Finding them in a lunch was rare enough to make you the envy of the table.
8. Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar
The iconic silver wrapper with brown lettering meant serious chocolate business. Growing up just a short drive from Chocolate Town USA gave us bragging rights no other state could match.
Field trips to Hershey Park meant we knew exactly how these bars were made, and somehow that knowledge made them taste even better. The distinct snap when breaking off a piece was the soundtrack of happiness in cafeterias across Pennsylvania.
Those rectangular segments were perfect for sharing with friends – or not, depending on how generous you felt that day. During summer months, Mom would freeze them so they’d stay solid until lunchtime, creating a different but equally delicious chocolate experience.