Have you ever wished you could transport back into the 2000s? Well, you’re in luck! Here is a 2000s time capsule you can indulge in to feed your need for nostalgia. Let’s dive into some recommendations of classic shows, movies, priceless snacks, timeless music, and fun styles that can bring you back to our beloved era.
Television was something sacred in the 2000s. It was an era before smartphones and streaming services, so every episode was anticipated eagerly for an entire week. If you’re looking for a show to set you back in time for a while, here are nine different options: three each from the works of Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel. For shows on Cartoon Network: Ed, Edd, n Eddy, and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Total Drama Island. For shows on Nickelodeon: Drake & Josh, Spongebob, and Zoey 101. For shows on Disney Channel: Wizards of Waverly Place, Phineas and Ferb, and Hannah Montana. Now, if you’re looking for a movie instead, I’ve got you covered! Movies such as Scooby-Doo, Mean Girls, Napoleon Dynamite, Superbad, Legally Blonde, American Psycho, Twilight, Final Destination, and School of Rock, surely had their time in the spotlight.
Now that we’ve got our shows and movies picked out, let’s get into our nostalgic snack guide. Yoo-hoo, anybody home? Yoo-hoo, a chocolate drink that came in either a glass bottle or a small carton with a straw, was a drink of choice in the early 2000s. This drink still exists and you can try it yourself! Go-GURT and other renditions of squeezable yogurt were also huge back then. It was fun and easy to eat, and just the perfect amount of yogurt! They also came in exciting flavors, such as cotton candy. Another snack staple was Fruit Gushers, a sugary treat; they were colorful gummies filled with a fruity-juice center. You can pick these all up on your next trip to the grocery store! Now, Wonder Balls were hands down the best candy to ever exist. They were made of a hollow chocolate ball, filled with sour candies, small collectible toys, or even stickers. In the 2000s, you didn’t have to pick chocolate or sour candy, you could have both! These were discontinued but then brought back recently with a couple different themes, such as Super Mario.
While many of these beloved snacks still exist, unfortunately we have some fallen soldiers that have discontinued since, so we will give them a quick honorable mention. Dannon’s Sprinkl’ins color changing yogurt was groundbreaking to children of the 2000s. It was vanilla yogurt and you’d pour in the cap full of colorful, sheer sprinkles on top and mix them in. It was so delicious for no reason- I can still taste it. Kudos bars were also a favorite: granola bars covered in chocolate and M&Ms. Maybe they will be back someday, but today is sadly not that day.
Music can define an era, and lucky for us, the 2000s had some superb artists. Some rock bands, such as Sum 41, Simple Plan, Sugarcult, Linkin Park, Taking Back Sunday, Weezer, and American Hi-Fi have catchy, fun music that is perfect to play alongside a Tony Hawk Pro Skate game. Other pop artists, such as the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Justin Timberlake, and Avril Lavigne have some great tunes to sing along to in the car as well! You can also easily look up specific public playlists on Spotify and other music platforms for whichever niche 2000s genre or mood you’re looking for, which can come in handy when reminiscing on music.
Anyone who loved the 2000s fashion and styles must be thriving right now since many are back in style and readily available in stores. Many staple fashion items, such as graphic tees, tube tops, Uggs, and chunky shoes that were huge back then are now seeing a massive comeback- just take a look around next time you’re out and about! Target has been specifically rebranding lots of popular fashion styles from the 2000-2010 era, so be on the lookout for some cute finds. Juicy Couture is also still alive and well, and their tracksuits can still be considered timeless. The once so popular brand dELiA*s actually still exists through Dolls Kill, if that’s more your style. Youtubers and TikTokers, such as Jenna Barclay, have been rising in online fame due to nostalgia content, including how to style your clothes in 2000s fashions. If you’re looking to spice up your closet with some new — or even vintage — items, surely check out her videos for some help!
With this abundance of nostalgia and guidance, hopefully you can happily live out your 2000s dream. Reminiscing can be fun when you have the tools to live it out, such as through media, food, and culture. Make sure the next time you go out, you take a classic disposable camera with you, and be sure to comment below which iconic aspect of the 2000s that you miss the most!