JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div id="nav">
  <div><a href="#">Menu Item 1</a></div> 
  <div><a href="#">Menu Item 2</a></div>
  <div><a href="#">Menu Item 3</a></div>
</div>

JavaScript

$("#nav").children().each(function(i, item) {
    alert($(item).find('*:not(:has(*))').text());
});