Grits proposed as Georgia's official prepared food

ATLANTA - Grits are long overdue for a state honor, says one Georgia representative who proposed Monday making the Southern breakfast staple the state&#39;s official prepared food. <br> <br> Georgia has a long list of official symbols, many of them obvious. Peaches are the state fruit; the official song is ``Georgia on my Mind.&#39;&#39; Vidalia sweet onions and peanuts also are honored. <br> <br> But some of the 40 symbols are a little perplexing. Georgia has an official pork cook-off, the Slosheye Trail Big Pig Jig, and an official fossil, the shark tooth. The opossum character from the comic strip ``Pogo&#39;&#39; is named the state&#39;s ``official &#39;possum.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Rep. Doug Everett, R-Albany, said it&#39;s high time grits were on the list. <br> <br> ``I eat grits every day, straight, with nothing on &#39;em,&#39;&#39; said Everett, who then rattled off the many ways grits are served in the South with molasses, with honey, mixed with cheese, fried, boiled or baked. The dish is served daily in the Georgia legislative cafeteria. <br> <br> Making grits the official prepared food would make it clear that most Georgians stand firmly against oatmeal and cream of wheat, he said. <br> <br> ``I hate to borrow from Will Rogers. But oh, boy, I never have met a cream of wheat that I liked. I mean, really. It just doesn&#39;t compare,&#39;&#39; Everett said. <br> <br> His resolution was assigned to the House Health and Ecology Committee on Monday and could come to a vote later this session. <br> <br> ``I think it&#39;s got a shot,&#39;&#39; Everett said. ``Who in Georgia doesn&#39;t like grits?&#39;&#39; <br> <br>

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