The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-16
What to Eat.

kEEUu4 b1u AAARHASsJ
The food question Is the Oldest in the
world, and the newest also. What shall
We eail has been asked by families and
nations from the beginning Of time. It
has been answered in all sorts Of ways,
but according TO the different tempera-
ments, tastes and circumstances Of differ
ent peoples. But, after all, every answer
thus lar has been little better than guess.
The true diet has yet to be discovered.
Science has solved many important prob
lens, hut It has not yet told the people
what to have for dinner. 1t has made 1t
absolutely certain that physical welfare
and Intellectual force depend largely upon
the character and kinda Of food taken into
the system, but as yet 1t has not told US
what articles TO eat IN order to keep the
body ut the highest point OF health and
enjoyment, and the mind most vigorous
and productive.
A Asingle point has been brought out
with considerable force by the recent re.
port OF the Massachusetts, Board oi Health.
It is, that variety Of food Is absolutely in
dlspensible to health. Experience has
proved that, Tor SOM reason unknown
TO science, variety of food iS essential to
continued physical Well.being. The appe-
tite tires OF the constant repilition OF the
best bill ol lare. The frequent recurrence ol
the same articles Of food destroys oil relish
for them, and their nutritfve power. The
sailor sickens on the wholesome and sub.
slantial tare the limited lSrder ol tho ship
supplies. Army ratlons often result In
acute diseases. The health OF the inmates
OF hospitals and prisons Is materially
lessened by the narrow range OF articles
consumed. The food Is good enough, but
the perpetual recurrence Of the same
dishes cooked In the same way produces
loss Of appetite and strength, and ends in
positive loathing debility, Il not In perma.
nent disease. Man Il omniYorous. All
the elements are represented in his body,
and the largest variety Of food Is needed
TO supply It's varied waste and keep 1t Wig
orous or even we'll OHe OF the worst
mIsiortunes Of the very poor Is that their
food Is so bad In quality and restricted to
such narrow range Of articles, cooked
in the same way, and always cooked bad.
ly. The crimes they eat have something
TO do with the crimes they perpetrate.
According to this report, the diet OF
Massachusetts and New England gener.
ally lacks variety, and It suggest as q
remedy large increase in the consump.
ton Of vegetables. It recommends that
the potato shall share the board with
turnips, carrots, tomatoes, cabbage, and
dozen other excellent articles. II urges
the eating Of more green things. This
Is unquestionably good advice, and, like
the old Farmers Almanac, though cal.
culated for the meridian OF Boston, will
answeFIor the adjoining States. A more
various and generous diet would doubt
less improve the health and increase the
efficiency OF our people generally. But
another point. Of equal Importance
should not be - overlooked. Good
cooking Is as important as whole
some articles oil food, and variety
Of cooking Is quite as Indispensable as
variety Of materials. Men who lunch
down town find It for their advantage TO
patronize different restaurants on differ
ent days, and occasionally vary their fare
BY visiting a German beer garden and q
French cafe, Their habit contains hint
Of practical value. Perhaps It Is too much
to ask, for the employment Of different
cooks IN private houses, on different days.
Perhaps It would be hardly practicable
to engage French cook tor one week, a
German for the next, and an Italian lor
the third, and an Engliah for the fourth.
But II would add materially 70 the whole
someness Of our food and the enjoyment
Of eating, were more variety introduced
into sIi6 cooking. The articles are riu-
merouB enough, but they need to be sery.
ed up with. some knowledge, skill, and
art. We shall never know what perfect
health and the luxury Of eating are, until
our dinners are prepared as surly old Opie
prepared his paintS-With brains.