There’s something about opening an old school lunchbox that takes you straight back to childhood. The sticky plastic lid, the slightly squashed sandwich, and most importantly, the treats packed with love (or last-minute panic). For many Aussie kids, school lunches weren’t just fuel for the day. They were a ritual, a status symbol, and sometimes a low-key trading economy in the playground. And at the heart of it all were the iconic snacks we still remember today: Shapes, lamingtons, Roll-Ups, and a few questionable choices that somehow became legends—true classic treats from Oz.
Shapes: The Crunch That United a Nation
Arnott’s Shapes have been a staple in Aussie lunchboxes since the 1950s. Whether it was Pizza, BBQ, or Chicken crispy, everyone had their favourite. They came in those crinkly foil packets, promising a mess of crumbs and flavour dust that would cling to your fingers for the rest of the day.
Shapes were more than a snack. They were a social tool. You could swap flavours, debate the best one (Pizza usually won), or crunch loudly to signal lunchtime superiority. If someone had the big box version, they were instantly elevated to royalty. And when Arnott’s briefly changed the recipe in 2016, the national outrage proved just how deep the love ran.
Lamingtons: The Sweet, Squishy Classic
There’s no snack more Australian than the lamington. A soft sponge square, dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut, sometimes with a layer of jam or cream in the middle. It was the highlight of many school canteens, bake sales, and lunchboxes. It was also incredibly messy, especially in the summer heat, when the chocolate coating would start to melt into sticky fingers and faces.
For kids with parents who baked, homemade lamingtons were a lunchbox flex. But even the supermarket ones, slightly stale and overly sweet, had their charm. They were the kind of snack you could trade up for. Maybe even score a packet of Tiny Teddies in return if you played your cards right.
The Roll-Up Revolution
Few snacks captured the imagination of 90s and early 2000s Aussie kids like the Roll-Up. Thin, sticky, and brightly coloured, Roll-Ups were more art project than food. You’d unroll them carefully, stretch them out, and maybe stick one to your face for a laugh. Some kids even made Roll-Up sandwiches by folding them over to double the sugar hit.
Parents hated them, teachers groaned at the mess, but kids couldn’t get enough. They felt like forbidden fruit. Pure sugar, wrapped in plastic, pretending to be fruit. And somehow, they passed for lunchbox-acceptable in households across the country.
Tiny Teddies, Le Snak, and the Rise of Packaged Snacks
As the 90s rolled on, the Aussie lunchbox began to fill with more and more packaged snacks. Tiny Teddies — those miniature biscuits shaped like bears — were a huge hit. Sweet or savoury, they were cute, crunchy, and perfect for nibbling one by one and or tipping the whole bag into your mouth when the bell rang.
Le Snak was the cheese dip and cracker combo that made you feel sophisticated at age eight. Never mind that the cheese was a little too shiny. It came with its own plastic spreader, which made it seem more fancy.
And of course, there were the muesli bars. Uncle Tobys and LCMs (the latter barely qualifying as cereal) gave the illusion of health while still being basically dessert. They stuck to the roof of your mouth and sometimes to your homework, but they were part of the daily line-up.
The Playground Snack Economy
Snacks weren’t just for eating. They were currency. Kids became savvy traders. A full-sized chocolate bar could get you a packet of chips and a Zooper Dooper. A rare flavour of Shapes might be worth two Roll-Ups. Lamingtons were gold at recess, especially if they were still slightly chilled from the fridge.
Lunchbox envy was real—the kid with the Nutella snack pack or the brand-name biscuits held power. And if your parents packed carrot sticks or something “healthy,” your best bet was to negotiate hard or hope for pity.
Still in the Mix
Today’s school lunchboxes have changed. More allergies, less sugar, and a lot more labels about what’s nut-free or low GI. But some of the old favourites still show up. Shapes are still going strong. Lamingtons make appearances during fundraising drives and at morning teas. Roll-Ups might have lost their luster, but their memory lives on.
For many Australians, these snacks are more than just food. They’re little time capsules. Open a packet of Shapes today, and you’re not just having a snack. You’re remembering sitting cross-legged in the sun, tearing open a wrapper with grubby fingers, and trading bites with your best mate.
Ultimately, it’s not really about the snacks themselves. It’s about the stories they carry: the friendships, the freedom of recess, the thrill of swapping something boring for something better. Aussie lunchbox culture was messy, nostalgic, and sweet in every sense of the word.