The UK is home to all sorts of amazing meals, and sometimes, it feels like we don’t get the credit that we deserve. The rest of the world isn’t so impressed by our cuisine, but we love it, with many meals bringing back fond memories. Here are 19 nostalgic foods that take Brits back to their childhood.
Fish Fingers and Chips
When we were kids, there was nothing better than mum telling us we had fish fingers and chips for tea. They were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and they paired perfectly with a generous portion of chips. As The Guardian reveals, we still enjoy them as adults today, often in a sandwich with a generous squirt of ketchup.
Beans on Toast
The whole world seems amused at the quintessential British comfort food of beans on toast, but they don’t know what they’re missing. This easy, healthy, and affordable dish is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it’s super filling, too. It’s just one of those meals that hits all the spots.
Jammie Dodgers
British biscuits don’t get much better than Jammie Dodgers, with their sweet jam filling sandwiched between two shortbread biscuits. Famous for being Doctor Who’s favourite biscuit, they’re also a childhood staple for many Brits, and our parents often packed them in our lunchboxes for school. To this day, we still love having a cheeky Jammie Dodger with a nice cup of tea.
Angel Delight
While it’s not to everyone’s taste, most Brits find Angel Delight very nostalgic. This whipped dessert is made from a pre-packaged powder mixed with milk to create a fluffy mousse, and it was an absolute classic at British children’s birthday parties. It was available as part of our school dinners, sometimes with a side of jelly if we were lucky.
Wagon Wheels
Jammie Dodgers were pretty great, but Wagon Wheels were even better in the eyes of many. This iconic chocolate-covered biscuit with a marshmallow and jam centre was a huge playground hit. Sadly, anyone who has bought some Wagon Wheels recently will know that they’re now so much smaller than they once were.
Turkey Twizzlers
Before Jamie Oliver came along and got them banned from schools, Turkey Twizzlers were perhaps the absolute favourite school dinner item. Their unique spiral shape was fun to play with and the savory taste was very unique, much better than regular turkey. However, it was probably for the best that they got outlawed from schools because, let’s be honest–they really weren’t healthy like real turkey.
Sherbet Fountains
When you only had 10p in your pocket after school, this wasn’t a problem because you could still afford a Sherbet Fountain on the way home from school. These tangy sherbet powder sticks, paired with a liquorice dipping stick, will bring any Brit back to their childhood.
Fab Ice Lollies
Britain has a whole host of tasty ice creams and ice lollies, but Fab has to be one of the best brands. Every kid loved their colourful layers of ice cream, strawberry ice lolly, chocolate and sprinkles; now that is a great combo. They’re still around, but just like Wagon Wheels, they seem to have shrunk in size.
Arctic Roll
From time to time, your mum probably brought out an Arctic Roll after dinner, a scrumptious dessert consisting of ice cream wrapped in a sponge cake. It was often saved for special occasions such as family gatherings and Sunday dinners, squirted with a drizzle of strawberry or chocolate sauce. We haven’t seen it in the shops for ages, though.
Monster Munch
The only crisp that packed more of a punch than Space Raiders was Monster Munch; instead of aliens, these crunchy corn snacks were monster-themed, although the flavours were similar, consisting of roast beef, sweet ‘n’ spicy, and the most popular of all, pickled onion. If you got these in your lunchbox, you’ll remember all the kids crowding around you, hoping to scrounge off of you.
Spotted Dick
There was no doubt that Spotted Dick would evoke laughter around the dinner table due to its amusing name, but once that was out of the way, every Brit enjoyed this traditional steamed suet pudding with dried fruits, served with custard. It’s a truly nostalgic dessert, and it was often served at school, although not so much anymore.
Jam Roly-Poly
Most kids much preferred Jam Roly-Poly to Spotted Dick, although they were both pretty good. Instead of custard and fruit, this rolled suet pudding was filled with jam, once again being served in schools, as well as during special occasions at home.
Black Jacks and Fruit Salads
If Space Raiders and Sherbert Fountains were too intense for your taste buds, Black Jacks and Fruit Salads might have been more your cup of tea. These small, chewy sweets had some seriously distinctive flavours, and they were always available in penny-sweet jars. However, it must be said that Fruit Salads were much more popular than the controversial liquorice of Black Jacks.
Curly Wurly
Another nostalgic sweet that will no doubt take Brits back to their childhood is the humble Curly Wurly, a long, curly chocolate-covered caramel bar. This was a beloved treat for many British children, and its fun shape, chewy texture, and stretchiness made it a standout in the sweet aisle. However, it truly is outrageous how much smaller they’ve become over the years.
Corned Beef Hash
These days, corned beef hash feels a bit old-fashioned, but that’s precisely why it brings back so many memories. It’s a simple dish made from corned beef, potatoes, and onions, often served with a fried egg on top. Best of all, every parent had these ingredients in their food cupboard, so it was always an affordable and easy meal when time and budgets were stretched.
Tunnock’s Teacakes
Whenever we Brits visit our grandparents’ house, you can bet money that they’ll bring out some Tunnock’s Teacakes. These delicious chocolate delights, with their marshmallow filling and buttery biscuit base, were to die for, especially when accompanied by a nice cup of tea.
Angel Slices
The top hit at any British kid’s birthday party was always the Angel Slices, which were delicate sponge cakes layered with icing and filling. If you were lucky, you might have even found them in your lunchbox as an occasional treat, but most of the time, you’d find them right next to the party rings on the last day of school.
Fish and Chip Shop Pickled Onions
Undeniably, the most controversial snack on this list was the pickled onions that you’d get from fish and chip shops, with their tangy and crunchy bite. Many Brits love them, and they’re still a staple of takeaways, pubs, and ploughman’s lunches, although people are usually split 50/50 on whether they enjoy them or find them overly intense.