Entertainment Swindon

After a horrid weekend of weather caused by Storm Burt, I fancied something warm and cozy, you know that food that not only warms the belly, but gives you a smile on your face thinking back to when you first tried them.

Back in the summer, I remembered there had been a national survey done by refurbished device marketplace Back Market, asking people what foods instantly reminded them of childhood.

Top of the list was definitely one of my favourites, Angel Delight, with 36% of those surveyed, followed by jelly & ice cream and Mr Whippy in equal second place with 30%, just slightly ahead of fish & chip shop scoring 29%.

Other nostalgic foods that made the list, included fish fingers (28%), soft boiled egg & soldiers, salt & shake crisps, wagon wheels gaining 27%.

Of 2000 British adults surveyed, 95% agreed that certain foods instantly remind them of their childhood, with 70% believing certain flavours can be more nostalgic than looking through old photos. Just under half (47%) feel that food has the ability to transport them back to a specific time and place.

I am a huge fan of everything retro, I’m a GenXer, born in the 70s, a child of the 80s and a young raver of the 90s. For me, there’s no better decde than the 80s, we had TV shows like Knight Rider, Air Wolf, Miami Vice and the A-Team, it was a decade that saw slasher movies and action hero movies hit the big screen and the 80s was the decade that saw home computers enter our living rooms with the iconic Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K, along with its rival, the Commodore 64.

Walking around the aisles of Tesco the other day, I came across Kelloggs Pop Tarts, I’ve not seen or tried these in over two decades! I remember everyone burning their tongue as they bit into a Pop Tart after they had popped out the toaster. To be honest, Pop Tarts aren’t the only food that I’ve noticed make a comeback and Im not the only one that thinks this.

The survey showed 83% thought that retro foods are making a comeback, with 79% of those surveyed purchasing foods from their childhoods to introduce to their own kids.

Most loved British childhood foods:

Angel Delight – 36% 
Mr Whippy – 30%
Jelly and ice cream – 30%
Chip shop fish and chips– 29%
Fish fingers – 28%
Soft boiled egg and soldiers – 27%
Salt and shake crisps – 27%
Wagon Wheels – 27%
Cola Bottles – 26%
Rice Pudding – 26%
Flying Saucers – 25%
Arctic Roll – 25%
Custard – 25%
Curly Wurlys – 24%
Beans on toast – 24%
Walls Viennetta – 23%
Fairy Cakes – 22%
Nesquik – 22%
Chocolate Cornflake Cakes – 22%
Jam Roly Poly – 22%
Sherbet Lemons – 21%
Swiss Roll – 21%
Rhubarb and Custard sweets – 21%
Candyfloss – 20%
Sausage and mash – 20%
Dolly Mix – 20%
Toffee Apples – 19%
Sponge puddings with custard – 19%
Pear drops – 19%
Alphabetti Spaghetti – 19%
Spaghetti on toast – 18%
Findus Crispy Pancakes – 18%
Crumpets with butter – 18%
Potato smiles – 18%
Eggy bread – 18%
Toad in the hole – 18%
Potato waffles – 18%
Victoria Sponge cake – 17%
Knickerbocker Glory – 16%
Sausage rolls – 16%