Moving to the UK - What U.S. food or products would you bring / will I miss?

-Freezer/fridge bags with sliders.  I do a good deal of cooking, so I enjoy these for storage.  Most people in the UK use sealing containers and most of the plastic bags are of inferior quality in comparison and use clipping systems.  But I recently found a good equivalent to the freezer bags with sliders at Lakeland, so I might stop importing them now!  

Most supermarkets sell Zip-Seal freezer bags - Tesco, Sainsbury's, etc. These all have 'sliders'.

-Bar soap.  The last is probably the biggest for me, and the only thing on this list that I couldn't live without.  I have NEVER been able to adapt to shower gel.  Bar soap in the UK is at the extremes, it's either super mild and fragant, or it's industrial strength and strips off your skin (like Detol).   I always bring back a Costco sized pack of Lever 2000 with me from the States.  

I won't use shower gel either, but I have no problem buying lovely bar soap. I stock up every time I go to TK Maxx. You can get a box of luxury soaps (I don't like things like Lever) for next to nothing.

This is absolutely not what you asked, but my advice would be to NOT focus on these things at all.  Don't try to bring America to the UK.  Come with an open mind and think about all the great, new things you will be introduced to instead of the things that may not be available (even though most of these things are available somewhere).
I think the people who anticipate homesickness in whatever form are setting themselves up for a harder time, personally.

Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Speaking for myself, there is absolutely nothing I want from the US that I can't buy here. Nothing.

Scratch that - the only thing I ever get sent over is large industrial-sized bottles of ibuprofen. But in terms of food products, nothing. Nothing.

But be careful what you mention you miss, because you might end up with more than you can handle or really want.  I mentioned on Facebook that I was craving Circus Peanuts (you know those disgusting orange coloured, fake banana flavoured, peanut shaped   marshmallows).  And I ended up with about 10 big bags!!!  

But be careful what you mention you miss, because you might end up with more than you can handle or really want.  I mentioned on Facebook that I was craving Circus Peanuts (you know those disgusting orange coloured, fake banana flavoured, peanut shaped   marshmallows).  And I ended up with about 10 big bags!!!  

Circus Peanuts!!  When I went back to the US in November it was the first thing I showed my hubby when we were in Rite-Aid.  I had no need to buy any though!

Scratch that - the only thing I ever get sent over is large industrial-sized bottles of ibuprofen. But in terms of food products, nothing. Nothing.

This is the one thing I buy whenever we're in the US. Industrial-sized bottles of ibuprofen and tylenol. One bottle lasts FH and I around a year (probably more now that I've had hip surgery and have less pain, yay!), and saves us trips to the chemist.

FH also stocks up on underwear as he likes Fruit of the Loom (I forget whether it's available here or just way more expensive). We stocked up last summer and my mom mailed us more, so I think he's good to go for a while now that he has 30+ pairs.

TravellingFrog - They have actual Golfish at the ASDA by me and I know I've seen them at other stores as well.  I think they are usually the Flavor Blasted ones which for me is a bonus.

You'll definitely find there are things from home that you can't find here or you can buy here but aren't willing to pay the price.  I totally use GBP when buying things (I know other Americans who always put the price of something into dollars in their head), but I do find if I see an American product I work out how much I'd be paying in dollars and most of the time I find I don't miss it THAT much!  

My favorites that I do buy when I'm home:
Hidden Valley Ranch LIGHT - you can get the regular at American Food Stores
Manwich
Smuckers sugar-free syrup

Things I buy at American Food Stores here but pay a premium for:
Old Bay Seasoning
BBQ Sauce
Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Bisquick

And you will find that more than food products, it will be other random products you'll miss.  I like the continuous spray sunscreen in the US and cannot find an equivalent here.  Also my favorite skin care products are not sold here and neither is Cover Girl (their mascara is my fave).

But if I moved back to the US today, there would be loads of products from the UK I would miss.  You adapt though.

But be careful what you mention you miss, because you might end up with more than you can handle or really want.  I mentioned on Facebook that I was craving Circus Peanuts (you know those disgusting orange coloured, fake banana flavoured, peanut shaped   marshmallows).  And I ended up with about 10 big bags!!!  

That's the thing! I went off Triscuits & graham crackers for awhile when I got a big huge box of them that I struggled to gobble up finish off in moderate amounts before the 'Use By' dates (or shortly thereafter).

And also, before I moved here, I probably had not eaten a graham cracker in ten years. And then once I got here, I had to have them!

Yeah, the underwear thing has come up before. If you have a favourite brand/style in the US, you might want to stock up & bring them. It could take you awhile to find something comparable you like here - a lot of folks have mentioned this in the past.

I found myself fondling a can of B&M Boston baked beans in the supermarket yesterday. I haven't eaten them in years but I grew up with baked beans and hot dogs every single Saturday night! I put them back on the shelf 

I found myself fondling a can of B&M Boston baked beans in the supermarket yesterday. I haven't eaten them in years but I grew up with baked beans and hot dogs every single Saturday night! I put them back on the shelf 

 

Give me a graham cracker & I'm five years old again on a camping trip in the Colorado mountains. 

But be careful what you mention you miss, because you might end up with more than you can handle or really want.  I mentioned on Facebook that I was craving Circus Peanuts (you know those disgusting orange coloured, fake banana flavoured, peanut shaped   marshmallows).  And I ended up with about 10 big bags!!!  

This!  I asked my mom to send me some Taco Seasoning once (the stuff in the UK tastes different and I don't like it).  Now she sends me Taco Seasoning ANYTIME she mails ANYTHING.  I have like 20 packets now...  how many tacos does she think I eat?!?

I second the taco seasoning ^^
Bring over a huge bottle of it from Costco. It will last you 6 months-1 year. I'm having my mom bring me over a bottle when she comes to visit. Taco seasoning in the UK only comes in small packets, which can get expensive. Not many Mexican restaurants here, so we make our own mexican meals at home.

My fiance(UK citizen) really likes French's Honey Mustard for sandwiches and I have brought him bottles of it before

There is not a TON of grocery store items that I miss from the US. I never really eat "junk food" or canned food. So I don't really miss any US brand candies, desserts, soda, chips, crackers, ect.

I do miss things that can't be brought over, like going to my favorite restaurants at home- Lebanese, Greek, Mexican, sushi. They are hard to come by here :/
I also really miss Garden Fresh chips and salsa which is made in Michigan and sold in the grocery stores there and around the country. Hands down the best salsa I have had in my whole life, I miss it dearly.

This is absolutely not what you asked, but my advice would be to NOT focus on these things at all.  Don't try to bring America to the UK.  Come with an open mind and think about all the great, new things you will be introduced to instead of the things that may not be available (eventhough most of these things are available somewhere).

I didn't bring anything with me food-wise when I moved over. The only thing I brought were a few containers of a face cream I use because it's literally the only thing I've tried that works for my dry skin. So, I didn't want to being adjusting to a new country and be worrying about how my face will react to new products.

In hindsight, I wish I did bring some food over with me. I got really homesick despite trying to embrace my new country and one of the things that helped me get over it was when my mom sent me care package. I rationed it out and when I had a bad day, I took something from the care package and I think that little bit of home helped.

Obviously, everyone will have a different experience because everyone is different, but I don't think completely giving up things from the US and totally embracing UK things is the way to go. On the other hand, I think it's dangerous to be reliant on being able to get products from the US and not being open to trying new things. I think there needs to be a balance. So, if I were to do the move over again, I would bring some things that I absolutely love and only eat them as a sort of treat.

Regarding specific products, I would bring Cheezits or Fishies (Gold Fish crackers).

TravellingFrog - They have actual Golfish at the ASDA by me and I know I've seen them at other stores as well.  I think they are usually the Flavor Blasted ones which for me is a bonus.

You'll definitely find there are things from home that you can't find here or you can buy here but aren't willing to pay the price.  I totally use GBP when buying things (I know other Americans who always put the price of something into dollars in their head), but I do find if I see an American product I work out how much I'd be paying in dollars and most of the time I find I don't miss it THAT much!  

My favorites that I do buy when I'm home:
Hidden Valley Ranch LIGHT - you can get the regular at American Food Stores
Manwich
Smuckers sugar-free syrup

Things I buy at American Food Stores here but pay a premium for:
Old Bay Seasoning
BBQ Sauce
Lipton Onion Soup Mix
Bisquick

You know you can buy Bisquick at most major grocery stores. I just bought a box from Tesco's and made chicken and dumplings with it...it's the same stuff as from home.

I agree completely about not bringing too many American things and learning what you like among British things instead.  However, I do like Hidden Valley Ranch dressing and Cheetos.  There's an American store near me that sells both, but they are outrageously priced.  Also, I bring back big sticks of deodorant (the kind I use is available here, but it's tiny and runs out too fast), big boxes of Q-tips, and NyQuil.  Because as comforting as Lemsip is, sometimes you just want something that knocks you out, and I've never found NyQuil's equivalent in that regard. 

Personally, I'm glad there are things you can't get in the UK.  Different countries should be different, and if you want everything to be the same, stay in the US (not saying that's what the OP wants, just a general statement).  The last time I went to visit my family I brought back some Nutter Butter cookies for my colleagues, and it was hilarious to watch their reactions.  "Peanut butter sandwich cookies!" one of them exclaimed "How exotic!" 

You know you can buy Bisquick at most major grocery stores. I just bought a box from Tesco's and made chicken and dumplings with it...it's the same stuff as from home.

Really?!?  I saw the product by the same name but it had a picture of the thin English pancakes on it and I just assumed it was different.  I will have to try!   

Oh yeah, I like my Secret brand stick deodorant - the cucumber/aloe variety. I bring that back too.

I don't like or use liquid cold meds, but I find NightNurse capsules to be more or less the same as their Nyquil counterparts - whether they really are the same, I don't know.