National Junk Food Day 2022: See which snack came out the decade you were born

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It’s National Junk Food Day, which means you may have the perfect excuse to enjoy some guilty pleasure snacks.

Junk food is usually high in calories and contains low nutritional value, according to WebMD.

Though it’s not recommended to eat too much junk food for various health reasons including obesity and heart disease, it is OK to enjoy treats like sodas, chips, popcorn, candy, cookies, sugary cereals once in a while, according to Healthline.

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National Junk Food Day may be the perfect excuse to indulge in something salty or sweet. (iStock)

Some junk foods have long, storied histories. So, in celebration of National Junk Food Day, check out which bites were released the decade you were born.

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1940

Though plenty of candies and sodas were invented and released in the 1940s – including Mountain Dew and M&Ms – one of the biggest snacks invented were Cheetos. 

Cheetos were invented in 1948 by Fritos founder Charles Elmer Doolin. (iStock)

M&Ms were first released in 1941by the Mars candy company, according to History.com. (iStock)

Cheetos were invented in Dallas, Texas, by Fritos founder Charles Elmer Doolin in 1948, the Dallas Morning News reported at the time.

1950

The 1950s brought treats including the Hot Tamales candies in 1950, Eggo Waffles and Cheez Whiz in 1953 and Trix Cereal in 1954.  In 1953, Kraft introduced Cheez Whiz, according to NPR.

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1960 

One of the biggest snacks of the 1960s that we still enjoy today are Doritos. The triangle chips were reportedly invented in 1966 at a Frito-Lay restaurant in Disneyland, according to Insider.  

Other treats invented in the 60s include Oatmeal Creme Pies, Starburst, Sprite and Pop-Tarts.

1970

In the 1970s, Wally Amos launched Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies and Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Jelly Belly also started making their own jelly beans in 1976.

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1980

The 1980s saw the launch of microwave popcorn, the release of Diet Coke and the invention of Bagel Bites and Sour Patch Kids.

General Mills received the first patent for a microwave popcorn bags in 1981, according to History.com. (iStock)

1990

Gushers were launched in 1991, while the famed Dunkaroos were first released in 1992 by Betty Crocker. Meanwhile, Hershey’s released its Cookies ‘n’ Creme bar in 1993. 

THE POPULAR CEREAL THAT DEBUTED THE DECADE YOU WERE BORN

2000

Major junk food innovations came in 2004 including the release of the Take 5 candy bar, according to the Daily Meal. That same year, the Mountain Dew Baja Blast drink was launched exclusively at Taco Bell restaurants.