Milk-Bone

Milk-Bones are a brand of treat food for dogs. They are essentially wheat flour and fish protein dried and molded in a stylized "bone" shape. Dogs seem to love the things. Oddly enough, human children have been known to eat Milk-Bones. Something about the Milk-Bone seems to appeal to their undeveloped taste buds. Around age four or five, though, human children's tastes seem to change, and they loose their previously indomitable passion for Milk-Bones. This might be due to a change in brain chemistry induced by eating paste in the first year of school.

Milk-Bones are "bone" shaped biscuits for dogs, marketed to pet owners who want to keep their dogs' teeth healthy while dispensing a treat at the same time. The biscuits are mostly cornmeal/wheat flour, contain calcium (and other vitamins & minerals), come in a tartar control variety, and are manufactured by Nabisco.

Coincidentally, Nabisco also manufactures Zwieback, which tastes just like Milk-Bones, just a little sugary - perhaps this is why kids gnaw on them? I know I was happiest at age three with a large sized Milk-Bone in my maw.