Ever Ready: Food on a Stick for Healthier School Lunches

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Food on a Stick for Healthier School Lunches

Wynken, Blinken and Nod
by Eugene Field

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe,-
Sailed on a river of crystal light
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring-fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we,”
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe;
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew;
The little stars were the herring-fish
That lived in the beautiful sea.
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish,-
Never afraid are we!"
So cried the stars to the fishermen three,
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam,-
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home:
'Twas all so pretty a sail, it seemed
As if it could not be;
And some folk thought 'twas a dream they'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea;
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle-bed;
So shut your eyes while Mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:-
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.
"Wynken, Blinken and Nod" by Eugene Field. Public Domain

It's the birthday of American humorist and newspaperman Eugene Field (1850) born in St. Louis, Missouri. Field claimed two birthdays, September 2 and September 3, telling friends if they forgot him on the first date, they could remember him on the second. Field is best known for his humorous, often sardonic poetry for children, like "Wynken, Blynken and Nod" and "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat."

I was intrigued by Field's life's story and backstory of the poem. While his poem Wynken, Blinken and Nod is well known the writer is not. To read more go today's posting for more information. http://writersalmanac.org/

Food on a Stick
Cook's notes: It's State Fair time in Minnesota. Foods served on a stick are the most popular edible items, with well over 75 items ranging from cakes, cookies, veggies, meats and fruits. Many are deep fried and anything wrapped in bacon or dipped in chocolate is a sure winner.

double wrapped bacon corn dog

While these foods on a stick are popular and fun to eat we'd agree most are not healthy. But how about school lunch on a stick because everything is better on the stick and can be healthier. The following links will get you started with some ideas.