# Shortnin' bread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640 "2014-10-18T00:06:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/1 "2014-10-18T00:06:06Z")
Why would a doctor prescribe that sick children be fed shortening bread? To coax them to eat because it’s yummy? (:smack: Mods, can you add the missing “n” to the title?) ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/2 "2014-10-18T00:16:01Z")
I assume that it’s because Mammy’s little baby loves shortnin’ bread. And it made the one jump up, dance, and sing just to hear about it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/3 "2014-10-18T00:17:18Z")
Pretty bland, flour, sugar, and short’nin’. Basic nutrients, so yeah, to get them to eat something. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/4 "2014-10-18T00:19:26Z")
Shortenin’ bread = cookies = concentrated calories for sick children. Or because mama’s little baby loves 'em. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/5 "2014-10-18T01:51:04Z")
Since this has to do with both food and song lyrics, let’s move it to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/6 "2014-10-18T01:53:02Z")
Note that [Shortnin’ Bread](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortnin'_Bread) isn’t originally a plantation folk song, but was written by white poet [James Whitcomb Riley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitcomb_Riley) about 1900. As such, I think that the accuracy of any medical advice is about on a par with putting lime in the coconut to cure your bellyache. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/7 "2014-10-18T03:55:03Z")
I remember one time on the old Steve Allen Show when a woman in the audience brought him some short’ning bread as a gift. **STEVE:** Is this the same short’ning bread that mammy’s little baby loves? **WOMAN:** Yes, it is. [_Steve takes a big bite, like he’s always wanted to see what short’ning bread tastes like, and immediately gags on it_.] **STEVE:** Yeccch! Mammy’s little baby can keep it, for all I care! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2014, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shortnin-bread/701640/8 "2014-10-18T21:54:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Note that [Shortnin’ Bread](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortnin'_Bread) isn’t originally a plantation folk song, but was written by white poet [James Whitcomb Riley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whitcomb_Riley) about 1900. As such, I think that the accuracy of any medical advice is about on a par with putting lime in the coconut to cure your bellyache. That doesn’t surprise me too much. I’m sure I’ve seen more white than black people use the word “mammy.”