Published: 21 November 2024
Authored by L. Frank Baum with illustrations by W.W. Denslow, the first edition of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was published in 1900. The tale explores the magical adventures of an orphaned girl named Dorothy who is suddenly transported to the enchanting Land of Oz after a cyclone hits her home in Kansas.
This beloved children’s classic delves into timeless themes such as courage, self-doubt, hope and the longing for home. Additionally, the theme of friendship is beautifully brought to life through Dorothy’s interactions with her newfound companions.
The story highlights the power of dreams, with each character embarking on a journey to see the Great Oz, driven by their own heartfelt wish: Dorothy yearns to return home while the Scarecrow seeks the gift of intelligence, the Tin Woodman dreams of having a heart, and the Cowardly Lion aspires to gain the courage to become a true King of Beasts.
And yet, amidst all these trials and travels, one can’t help but wonder : What foods sustained our intrepid adventurers while they journeyed along the yellow brick road?
Dear reader, without further ado, let’s leap forward into the foods and drinks found in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum.
Did you know? L. Frank Baum dedicated “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” to his wife, Maud, following the heartbreaking loss of their newborn niece, whom Maud cherished as the daughter she never had. Baum named the story’s protagonist, Dorothy, after the baby.
Fruits
In Chapter 2, Dorothy wakes up in a land full of trees bearing delicious-looking fruits. A sight as magical as the land itself!
“There were lovely patches of green sward all about, with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. “– Chapter II (The Council with The Munchkins).
“Toto ran over to the trees and began to bark at the birds sitting there. Dorothy went to get him, and saw such delicious fruit hanging from the branches that she gathered some of it, finding it just what she wanted to help out her breakfast.“– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
This bounty of fruit is emphasized once more in Chapters 7, 8 and 9.
“‘On the other side of the water they could see the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful country, with green meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road bordered with trees hanging full of delicious fruits. They were greatly pleased to see this delightful country before them.”– Chapter VII (The Journey to The Great Oz).
“It was a lovely country, with plenty of flowers and fruit trees and sunshine to cheer them, and had they not felt so sorry for the poor Scarecrow they could have been very happy.'”– Chapter VIII (The Deadly Poppy Field).
“‘After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken; and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by, which she ate for her dinner.”– Chapter IX (The Queen of the Field Mice).
In fact, the fruits are so plentiful that, by Chapter 10, Dorothy grows tired of them and wishes for different foods.
” ‘I should like something to eat besides fruit,’ said the girl, ‘and I’m sure Toto is nearly starved. Let us stop at the next house and talk to the people.’ “– Chapter X (The Guardian of the Gate).
That said, in Chapter 4, we learn that the fruits are not evenly distributed throughout the enchanted land.
“The farms were not nearly so well cared for here as they were farther back. There were fewer houses and fewer fruit trees, and the farther they went the more dismal and lonesome the country became.”– Chapter IV (The Road Through The Forest).
Peaches & Plums
You might be wondering what fruits grow in the Land of Oz. Well, Chapter 8 reveals that peaches and plums are among the sweet treats Dorothy enjoys on her journey to see the Great Oz.
“Our little party of travellers awakened next morning refreshed and full of hope, and Dorothy breakfasted like a princess off peaches and plums from the tree beside the river.'”– Chapter VIII (The Deadly Poppy Field).
Bread, Butter & Water
Bread and butter serve as a staple for countless adventurers in literature, with Dorothy being no exception.
In Chapter 3, water, bread, and butter provide the sustenance Dorothy needs as she prepares for her journey to seek the Great Wizard of Oz in the City of Emeralds.
“When Dorothy was left alone she began to feel hungry. So she went to the cupboard and cut herself some bread, which she spread with butter. She gave some to Toto, and taking a little pail from the shelf she carried it down to the little brook and filled it with clear, sparkling water.”– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
“Then she went back to the house, and having helped herself and Toto to a good drink of the cool, clear water, she set about making ready for the journey to the City of Emeralds.”– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
After eating, Dorothy makes sure to pack extra bread for the long journey ahead.
“She took a little basket and filled it with bread from the cupboard, laying a white cloth over the top. Then she looked down at her feet and noticed how old and worn her shoes were.”– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
In Chapter 4, Dorothy takes a break with Toto and the Scarecrow to grab a bite. While the Scarecrow doesn’t need food, Dorothy certainly deserves some bread after all that walking!
“At noon they sat down by the roadside, near a little brook, and Dorothy opened her basket and got out some bread. She offered a piece to the Scarecrow, but he refused. “I am never hungry,” he said; “and it is a lucky thing I am not. For my mouth is only painted, and if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat, the straw I am stuffed with would come out, and that would spoil the shape of my head.” Dorothy saw at once that this was true, so she only nodded and went on eating her bread.”– Chapter IV (The Road Through The Forest).
The bread eventually goes stale by Chapter 5, prompting Dorothy to search for water to make it easier to eat.
“”We must go and search for water,” she said to him. “Why do you want water?” he asked. “To wash my face clean after the dust of the road, and to drink, so the dry bread will not stick in my throat.” “– Chapter V (The Rescue of the Tin Woodman).
“They left the cottage and walked through the trees until they found a little spring of clear water, where Dorothy drank and bathed and ate her breakfast. She saw there was not much bread left in the basket, and the girl was thankful the Scarecrow did not have to eat anything, for there was scarcely enough for herself and Toto for the day.”– Chapter V (The Rescue of the Tin Woodman).
“What worried her most was that the bread was nearly gone, and another meal for herself and Toto would empty the basket. To be sure neither the Woodman nor the Scarecrow ever ate anything, but she was not made of tin nor straw, and could not live unless she was fed.”– Chapter V (The Rescue of the Tin Woodman).
And by Chapter 7, the last of the bread is consumed.
“She and Toto ate the last of their bread, and now she did not know what they would do for breakfast.”– Chapter VII (The Journey to The Great Oz).
Fruits, Nuts, Pies & Cakes
On Dorothy’s first day of adventure, she discovers the home of Boq, one of the richest Munchkins in the land, who invites her to join a feast in celebration of their freedom from the Witch of the East. Fruits, nuts, pies, and cakes are laid out, ready for everyone to enjoy!
“On the green lawn before it many men and women were dancing. Five little fiddlers played as loudly as possible and the people were laughing and singing, while a big table near by was loaded with delicious fruits and nuts, pies and cakes, and many other good things to eat.”– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
“Dorothy ate a hearty supper and was waited upon by the rich Munchkin himself, whose name was Boq. Then she sat down upon a settle and watched the people dance.”– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
In Chapter 7, when Dorothy runs out of bread, the Scarecrow steps in to help by collecting nuts from a nearby tree. Brainless yet brilliant!
Did you know that most nuts grow on trees and bushes? However, some nuts, like peanuts, actually grow underground!
“And the Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy’s basket with them, so that she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this was very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at the awkward way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts. His padded hands were so clumsy and the nuts were so small that he dropped almost as many as he put in the basket.”– Chapter VII (The Journey to The Great Oz).
Although grateful for the nuts, Dorothy quickly grows tired of them. Luckily, a tree full of delicious fruits soon appears to them by the riverbank.
“‘So the Woodman took his axe and began to chop down small trees to make a raft, and while he was busy at this the Scarecrow found on the river bank a tree full of fine fruit. This pleased Dorothy, who had eaten nothing but nuts all day, and she made a hearty meal of the ripe fruit.“– Chapter VII (The Journey to The Great Oz).
Nuts and fruits also seem to be favourites for the winged monkeys, who once lived free from slavery…
“‘Once,’ began the leader, ‘we were a free people, living happily in the great forest, flying from tree to tree, eating nuts and fruit, and doing just as we pleased without calling anybody master. Perhaps some of us were rather too full of mischief at times, flying down to pull the tails of the animals that had no wings, chasing birds, and throwing nuts at the people who walked in the forest.”– Chapter XIV (The Winged Monkeys).
Corn
After leaving the Munchkins in chapter 3, Dorothy heads for the Great Oz and comes across a scarecrow in a cornfield.
“When she had gone several miles she thought she would stop to rest, and so climbed to the top of the fence beside the road and sat down. There was a great cornfield beyond the fence, and not far away she saw a Scarecrow, placed high on a pole to keep the birds from the ripe corn.”– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
“On the feet were some old boots with blue tops, such as every man wore in this country, and the figure was raised above the stalks of corn by means of the pole stuck up its back.“– Chapter III (How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow).
In Chapter 4, the Scarecrow recounts how an old crow, unbothered by his presence, boldly strutted into the cornfield to feast to his heart’s content. After all, an old crow is far too clever to be hoodwinked!
“By and by an old crow flew near me, and after looking at me carefully he perched upon my shoulder and said, “I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy manner. Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with straw.” Then he hopped down at my feet and ate all the corn he wanted. The other birds, seeing he was not harmed by me, came to eat the corn too, so in a short time there was a great flock of them about me.”– Chapter IV (The Road Through The Forest).
Deer meat
In chapter 7, the Cowardly Lion suggests hunting down a deer for sustenance after Dorothy runs out of bread.
“‘If you wish,’ said the Lion, ‘I will go into the forest and kill a deer for you. You can roast it by the fire, since your tastes are so peculiar that you prefer cooked food, and then you will have a very good breakfast.‘ ‘Don’t! please don’t,’ begged the Tine Woodman. ‘I should certainly weep if you killed a poor deer, and then my jaws would rust again.’ But the Lion went away into the forest and found his own supper, and no one ever knew what it was, for he didn’t mention it.”– Chapter VII (The Journey to The Great Oz).
Porridge, Scrambled eggs & White Bread
After a long and tiring journey, the group finally reaches the Land of Oz, where they enjoy a proper meal for the first time in days. A much-welcomed relief after scraping by on nothing but stale bread, nuts, and fruit!
“‘The woman now called to them that supper was ready, so they gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some delicious porridge and a dish of scrambled eggs and a plate of nice white bread, and enjoyed her meal. The Lion ate some of the porridge, but did not care for it, saying it was made from oats and oats were food for horses, not for lions. The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman ate nothing at all. Toto ate a little of everything, and was glad to get a good supper again.“– Chapter X (The Guardian of the Gate).
Green Candy, Green Pop-Corn & Green Lemonade
When Dorothy and her companions finally reach the Emerald City in Chapter 11, they’re overwhelmed by green—green sun, green clothes of all sorts, even the green food! Never-ending St. Patrick’s Day party?
“Green candy and green pop-corn were offered for sale, as well as green shoes, green hats and green clothes of all sorts. At one place a man was selling green lemonade, and when the children bought it Dorothy could see that they paid for it with green pennies.”– Chapter XI (The Wonderful Emerald City of Oz).
Three Kinds of Cakes, Four Kinds of Cookies & A Bowl of Milk
As the four travelers near Glinda’s castle, they stop at a farmhouse where they’re offered cake, cookies, and milk. This moment in Chapter 22 symbolizes the importance of kindness and community, showing that help, even in small forms, is often available when needed most.
“It was opened by the farmer’s wife, and when Dorothy asked for something to eat the woman gave them all a good dinner, with three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies, and a bowl of milk for Toto.”– Chapter XXII (The Country of the Quadlings)
Milk is mentioned once more in Chapter 23 as Dorothy returns to her sweet and simple life in Kansas with Uncle Henry and Aunt Em.
“Uncle Henry was milking the cows in the barnyard, and Toto had jumped out of her arms and was running toward the barn, barking furiously.”– Chapter XXIII (Glinda The Good Witch Grants Dorothy’s Wish)
Cabbages
Last but certainly not least are cabbages, a staple of the farmhouse diet, which appear in Chapter 24 as Dorothy and Toto reunite with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.
“Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.”– Chapter XXIV (Home Again)
