Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-11
Children's Diet.

At this season of the year few words on
the subject of children's food during hot
weather may not be out of place. Children
are by nature the most elastic of human be-
ings, but in very hot weathertheir appetites
fall them quite as much us the appetite of
an older person, and they have Il craving
for things which are probably held to be un-
wholesome for them. They turn with abb
horrence from meat, but rich sweets and
pastry MI them with longng-a longing
which they know they cannot crafty. be-
cause such things arc not good for their in
trrnal economy, SO they are told. and right
ly enough. While, however, this fact is as
serted and dwelt upon, it seems to me that
often but few steps arc taken to set before
them things which are wholesome to tempt
the small appctitcs. Many people fear to
allow their children much indulgence in
fruit during the hot weather, because it in
duccs cholera. An utterly mistaken idea
founded on just Il few eases where unripc or
ovciripc ltlt-cithcr will have the same cf-
icct--llave been indugcd in to great en-
tent Bountlul nature supplies us with
cooling fruit and salads ut Il time when We
want them, and yet in nine cases out Of ten
we arc afraid to partake ofthem because
they might bring evils in their train.
Though child may take Il dislike to certain
vegetables, 1t is but rarely that fruits come
under the same category and these admin
lstered judiciously are food and medicine
They are not only satisfying and cooling
to the blood, but they act as gentle aperi-
ent, and are far preferable to any mixture
from the chemist.
In the early part of the day is the best
time to administer these things. In addi-
ton to the bread and butter at breakfast, let
the the child have fair supply of fresh
fruit, nice ripe gooseberries, currents, big
slice of mellon; nothing will hurt an ord-
narily healthy child, provided he has slice
OF bread to accompany the fruit. This is
the secret ofsuccess; the liking for the bread
may not come all at once. but it will in
time be so strong that the child will come
himself with request for it. This and Il
good mug of pure milk will satisfy and
sustain for many hours of Il hot morning.
As change now and then let them have a
thing for increasing the appetite, and
slice after slice Of bread and butter will
disappear under its influence when little or
nothing would have been eaten otherwise,
and the small mites would have risen from
breakfast or tea with weary, unsatisicd
look. Butter should be laid on sparingly in
summer time, as it has, in common with
most other fats; very heat giving properties
Bread and scrapc" will not he objected to
if there is something nicer to help it down.
We append y couple of recipes for cold sweets,
First-Wash teacupful Of rice, and simmer till
tender, IN about a pint and half of milk sweet
eli it to taste. Place thick layer of Sultana
raisns in the bottom of pudding dish, pour on
them the boiled rice; place two or three tiny bits
of butter on top to prevent burning, and bake for
thrce.quarters of an hour. When quite cold, it
should he firm gently discngagc it with IL knife
from the sides of the dish, turn out, when, if the
rice was carefully poured in, all the Sultanas will
be on the top. The pudding dish should be but
tered before using. Second-Pecl, core and stew
till quite tender half dozen or more apples;
sweeten and flavor with little chopped lemon
peel. When cooked, let them cool little, then
pour out into glass dish it should be barely
half filed. Now make a boiled custard in the Or
dinary way, but without navoring; let this also
cool, then pour on the apples when they are quite
cold. Stewed prunes or any layer Of firm jam
may be used instead Of apples. Let the children
eat slice of bread or dry biscuit with this.