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You can identify a generation by a number of different things.

Technology, for instance. Millennials remember logging on to the Internet on the family computer via dialup. They transitioned from having a Walkman to wishing for an iPod (or a Zune!),  and their school's computer labs were filled with clunky iMac G3s.

You can also define a generation by the headlines. Millennials grew up in the era of Bill Clinton's election (and impeachment), the Y2K problem, and September 11, 2001.

But today, we're going to define the Millennial generation by something else. Food, to be specific. As you scroll through the following images, you'll instantly be transported back to your school's cafeteria, where you opened your lunchbox and rejoiced to find one of the foods shown here. If you were lucky, that is.

However, if you're not a Millennial — anyone under the age of 26 or thereabouts — you might just think we made these foods up completely.

Handi-Snax

from nostalgia
You can still find Handi-Snax at the grocery store these days, but they don't have the spreading stick anymore! I would argue that that spreading stick is the handiest part of the whole arrangement, so they should probably change the name.

Miner's Gold Nugget Gum

It basically turned to grainy dust after approximately 15 seconds of chewing, but those 15 seconds were fun they lasted.

Nestlé Quik (in the metal container)

Sure, you can still buy this chocolatey powder (although it goes by "Nesquik" these days), but you can't enjoy the distinct pleasure of prying the lid off with a spoon.

Altoids Sours

from nostalgia
Just looking at this photo is making my jaw hurt. In a good way, though.

Bubblicious Cotton Candy Gum

from nostalgia
This picture also makes my jaw hurt. Did anyone else find it absolutely exhausting to chew this giant gum?

Candy Cigarettes

from nostalgia
I don't know who decided making candy cigarettes was a good idea, but, like...they could have at least made them taste good, right?

Snapple Elements

Rain was the best one. Don't @ me.

Doritos 3D

from nostalgia
Doritos are very good. Doritos 3D were too good. That's why they took them away.

String Thing

from nostalgia
Each package featured a fruity rope wound into a different shape. Look, it was a simpler time.

P.B. Crisps

Bring these back, you cowards! Never has there been a better peanut-butter-flavored food in the history of time.

Dunkaroos

Come on. You knew Dunkaroos were going to be on the list, right? We couldn't have a list without Dunkaroos.

Kudos

from nostalgia
These were great because you could pretend to yourself that they were healthy (granola!) but they were really just an excuse to eat more candy.

Yogos

from nostalgia
They did some pretty amazing things with yogurt back in the day. Yogos may have been the most impressive.

Soda-Licious

The root beer ones tasted just like root beer. Also, such a good pun!

Butterfinger BB's

Why struggle to consume a full-size Butterfinger bar when you can simply pop the BB's in your mouth? This is another snack I'm passionate about bringing back.

Ice Breakers Liquid Ice

from nostalgia
You haven't lived until you've popped like 10 of these into your mouth all at once on a dare. Me? I've lived.

Fruit Wrinkles

I'm not saying every snack has to have The Best Name of All Time, but...Fruit Wrinkles? Really? That's what you went with?

Potato Sticks

from nostalgia
Like chips. But sticks. I don't know. It was a weird time, as we've already established.

Heinz EZ Squirt

Out of all the foods we could have focused on improving, they went with ketchup. Ketchup! It was already perfect, but they just had to make it "better."

Baby Bottle Pop

If you didn't instantly start humming the "Baby Bottle Pop" song from the commercial as soon as you saw this picture, you're probably too young to be on the Internet.

Oreo O's

Great cereal, or greatest cereal ever? (Besides Rice Krispie Treats cereal, that is.)

Swoops

from nostalgia
I remember when these came out and I thought they were chocolate-covered potato chips. They were not. They were just chocolates shaped like chips. Kind of a disappointment, if I'm being honest.

Lucas

from nostalgia
Lucas was huge when I was in elementary school. It came in several different flavors and the preferred method of consumption was to dump some of the salt into your hand, lick your finger, stick it in the powder, and then suck on your finger. I know. We were weird.

Lucas Crazy Hair

from nostalgia
There was also this type of Lucas, which you just licked straight from the dispenser. Now that I think about it, so many candies of my youth involved licking something in order to eat it. Fun Dip. The aforementioned Baby Bottle Pops. This stuff. It's honestly a little concerning.

Scooby-Doo Fruit Snacks

from nostalgia
I had a friend who hated the blue pieces. They were a good friend to have around.

Trix Yogurt

They still make a Trix yogurt, but the two-flavor swirl is no longer available as far as I know. (Please let me know if I'm wrong! I do miss it so!)

Fruit Powder

from nostalgia
Powdered candies were also a big deal. Why? I have no idea.

Squeeze Pop

from nostalgia
Yet another candy you had to lick from its container! So weird.

Wonder Ball

from nostalgia
Before all the various pieces had to be separately packaged. Those were the days.

Gushers

from nostalgia
Yes, I know you can still eat Gushers...but you can't eat them while feeling a little worried that your head is about to become a gigantic fruit. Share this with someone who grew up in the golden era of foods!