As hard as they try, cafeteria managers often have a hard time getting hot lunches to appeal to the masses. I remember one year that the Central Office administration in my public school system decided to serve breakfast for lunch hoping to increase the number of students buying lunch. They created what looked like a corn dog by putting sausage on a stick and wrapping pancake batter around it. before cooking it The bread was supposed to taste like a pancake anyway. The very first time it was served in our cafeteria sticks in my mind.

As one little boy moved down the serving line he started jumping up and down. He kept repeating how much he loveddddddddd corn dogs. I had to slow the child down long enough for him to give the cashier his lunch number. He made a beeline to a table and plopped down beside two friends. "I love corn dogs!" he told his friends. "I mean I LOVE corn dogs!" he repeated with emphasis. He took a huge bite and then a look of utter shock crossed his face. The way he grimaced, I was afraid he wasn't going to be able to swallow it. The children seated on either side of him must have had the same thought because they leaned away from him. When the poor kid could finally speak again, he said "What is this? Ewwww.!! This ain't no corn dog. This is just plain NASTY! Even my dawg wouldn't eat this thang and he eats everythang!" I couldn't have agreed more.

34 comments

  1. Theresa Milstein // April 28, 2010 at 8:13 PM  

    That kid's reaction is hysterical. Pancake dogs is more like it. Can't call it a corn dog if it doesn't have cornmeal in it. That said, I HATE corn dogs.

    My children look forward to breakfast for lunch. For them, it's french toast sticks, breakfast sausages, and fake maple syrup. Sometimes it comes with tater tots. Because the school is trying to be healthy, it's only offered once a month.

  2. VKT // April 28, 2010 at 8:15 PM  

    I hate corn dogs too but those pancake sausage dogs really were awful....ewwwwwwww!!

  3. Small Burst // April 28, 2010 at 8:24 PM  

    This sounds horrible but such a funny story. Poor kid. I bet he thinks twice before he eats another corn dog again.

  4. Tracie // April 28, 2010 at 8:24 PM  

    I love kids' honest reactions. My husband and I were just (literally seconds ago) having a conversation about the status of our kiddos' school cafeteria. Apparently, my son has been eating honey buns and cereal bars for lunch every day.

  5. Robin // April 28, 2010 at 8:26 PM  

    Nothing worse than anticipation completely deflated. It's the equivalent of getting socks or underwear for Christmas when you're a kid.

  6. jayayceeblog // April 28, 2010 at 8:31 PM  

    I'll bet the look on his face was priceless! For a kid who probably eats just about anything to say it was nasty, it had to be really bad!

  7. Raising Z and Lil C // April 28, 2010 at 9:10 PM  

    That is soooo funny! My favorite hot lunch item was the government orange cheese that our school served. The poor kids would look at it with horror and say, "What is that?". Nothing like a big hunk of velveeta to chew on :)

  8. Ms. A // April 28, 2010 at 9:13 PM  

    For a kid like my granddaughter, who doesn't eat anything... this will be tragic. I'm afraid she would do more than the normal gag.

  9. Elizabeth // April 28, 2010 at 9:21 PM  

    Have you been reading Fed Up with Lunch?? LOVE this blog. Except it has scared me into my kindergartener having cold lunch every day now. http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com

  10. Lauri // April 28, 2010 at 9:31 PM  

    Poor kid. I know how it is to have your mouth set for something and then be disappointed.

  11. Teachinfourth // April 28, 2010 at 9:39 PM  

    Sad, but true. Sometimes the offerings at the cafeteria at my school are just as 'non-tantalizing' as this was. However, come Hawaiian Haystack day, I'm there with my tray along with my students.

    Glutton for punishment…

    I do have to add, my own lunches are really the best, and Mr. Z day brings a smile anytime: http://teachinfourth.blogspot.com/2009/02/mr-z-day.html

  12. Anne // April 28, 2010 at 10:07 PM  

    There is alot to be said about school lunches. Kids buy them and half the time, they don't eat it for the same reason, it tastes nasty. I often wonder why, kids keep getting it. Perhaps it is easier on the parents-They don't need to make lunch.

  13. Debbie // April 28, 2010 at 10:14 PM  

    ha ha ha! Funny..but sad!!!!!!! Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog..I had actually never thought about submitting an article to a magazine..!! maybe.:)

  14. Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥ // April 28, 2010 at 10:30 PM  

    I LOVED school food when I was in school, especially Shepard's Pie, but the stuff they have now IS nasty! :0) Plus, the nutritional standards just don't appear to be there anymore. This generation of students and beyond are going to be 'heart attacks waiting to happen' by the time they are 30, perhaps sooner. It is sad.

    Is your button working now?

    {{HUGS}}

    Teresa <><

  15. Brenda Susan // April 28, 2010 at 10:34 PM  

    Poor little guy! Your mouth is all ready & wham...major disappointment! Fun story!

  16. Marlene // April 28, 2010 at 11:02 PM  

    LOL!!! Your story was well written. Visuals came easily!

    I love corn dogs...but I probably would have had the same reaction as that little boy. :)

  17. Kat // April 29, 2010 at 12:33 AM  

    hahahahaha...the little boy's too funny!!!

  18. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com // April 29, 2010 at 2:50 AM  

    I love corn dogs but hate that sausage on a stick thing too. I would've had the same reaction as that poor kid.
    This is a cute, fun blog. I'm here thanks to Ms. Anthropoy and am following.
    Cheers,
    Robyn

  19. Unknown // April 29, 2010 at 11:49 AM  

    There is just really nothing good to say about school lunches.

  20. Kelly // April 29, 2010 at 11:58 AM  

    It sounds like it would taste like the McDonalds McGriddle. Well, I guess without the syrup in it. Then it would be too plain. Maybe if they provided ya'll some syrup to sip it in? Poor child though!

  21. Adrienne // April 29, 2010 at 5:13 PM  

    kids will tell it like it is everytime!

  22. Kyrstin // April 29, 2010 at 7:29 PM  

    Ohh - how disapointed he must have been. I really don't miss school lunch!!

  23. mrs. c // April 29, 2010 at 8:28 PM  

    We have that now for breakfast...it's called "pancake on a stick". There are several of my kids that love them. I don't eat our lunches, I always bring stuff from home. It is usually "stinky tunafish" with crackers. Easy and good for me and I don't have to go heat it up which takes most of my time.

  24. Unknown // May 1, 2010 at 2:08 PM  

    I enjoy your stories about school life, and I really wish school lunches would get better across the country. But besides the budget issue, there are other barricades, like government standards that actually require unhealthy or unbalanced foods.

  25. Anonymous // May 1, 2010 at 8:36 PM  

    LOL!!! My Aunt recently started working as a cafeteria cook at a local school and said she would sooner starve than eat the food..whaaa! Def. not a good sign!

  26. VKT // May 14, 2010 at 11:52 PM  

    Why aren't the cafeteria people monitoring what the students eat?

  27. VKT // May 14, 2010 at 11:52 PM  

    I have no doubt you are right Small Burst!

  28. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:20 PM  

    Good point Robin! Yuck!

  29. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:21 PM  

    It was worse than bad Jayay..

  30. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:21 PM  

    Raising Z,

    I used to love those sandwiches....lol...go figure

  31. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:22 PM  

    I have had kids do that too Ms. A!

  32. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:23 PM  

    Thanks for sharing Elizabeth. I did not know about that site. I will definitely go and visit it.

  33. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:24 PM  

    Lauri,

    Kinda like when you think you are getting chocolate ice-cream, and your husband brings home vanilla....like mine did last week...sigh

  34. VKT // May 15, 2010 at 7:25 PM  

    Teaching In 4th,

    I know just what you mean.....been there, had that for years! sigh