Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-05-10
In Behalf OF the Children.

The chief business of child is to grow.
beautiful development of every part of
the body is the foundation of growth in its
broadcast sense which includes the mental
and spiritual nature. The food a child
eats is therefore a matter of vital import
ance. So, also, his sleep, his exercise, the
air he breathes-everything that affects the
bodily growth.
"Simple, nutritious food" How often is
this repeated in the ears of parents Yet
in a majority of households the arrange
ments are such that the children eat Just
what the adult members of the family eat
often most unsuitable diet. 1t is certainly
desirable for children, when old enough to
manage spoon and fork with moderate dex-
terity, to sit at the same table with their
parents. Half the pleasant family inter-
course is lost otherwise But unless the
dishes served are plain and simple or some
are denied to them, injurious results are
sure to follow. There must be great re-
form in the average American dinner before
children can safely eat of everything upon
the table. But until such reform parents
need to make special arrangements or re-
strictions.
IL children understand from their first
coming to the family table that some arti-
cles are not designed for them, they will sell
dom feel the denial hardship. We have
seen little girl of eight years, night after
night, happily take her bread and butter and
milk at the dinner-table and never think of
asking for anything else, or appear to want
anything different. Being delicate, her
more healthy meal was served at mid day.
"Carrie is seven," said very careful
nother, not long ago, " and she doesn't know
how pie tastes" Happy ignorance, as pie is
often made 1t is distressing to see pale,
puny little ones devouring rich pastry, which,
indigestible for any one, is little less than
poisonous to feeble child But pie is not
unwholesome because it is pie, nor cake be-
cause it is cake. Bread is worse than cake,
If the one be hot and heavy and the other
hot and plain. No mother-duty is more i'm
portant than the giving personal attention
to the food her children eat. One of the
very foundations Of comfortable family life
is the regular serving of wellprepared meals
1t is generally safe to satisfy the healthy
appetite Of a child with suitable food at
regular times. II some incline to overeating
this is ordinarily the result of early mis-
| management. Sometimes a delicate, pecu-
liarly organized child may need to be
adroitly coaxed to eat what he really re-
quires. Such cases are not rare, but the
difficulty, of course, arises from the general
health.
When young children need something to
eat between meals let it be systematically
given about midway between them-not
half an hour before the regular meal, when
it will surely take away the appetite. Nib
bling crackers, candy, and eating fruit all
along through the day is plainly harmful.
Even very young child can understand
and be interested in simple explanation of
the use of good food in making blood, bone
and muscle, of the necessity of mastication
and the intervals Of rest from work de-
manded by the stomach.
Respect the tastes of children about food,
while at the same time guarding against be-
coming fastidious. But they should never
be forced to eat what is really distasteful to
them.
Many mothers complain of the difficulty
OF providing suitable school lunches. 1t is
a problem. long intermissioD, giving
time for pupils to go home to simple din
ner, would remedy great evil. Step into
city bakery, near any school, between
twelve and one and you will find it crowded
with children hastily swallowing cake, buns,
tarts, pie. Isit strange that school children
are pale and delicate If mothers would
take the trouble upon themselves of putting
into little basket a wholesome appetizing
lunch, they would have their reward. The
child not knowing what is prepared will
relish it better. But variety is Important.
We have known boys and girls to acquire an
inveterate dislike for certain articles, sim
ply from having them, week after week, as a
lunch at school.
Immaculate neatness in person and in the
table service is indispensable, and there is
sometimes seen certain indescribable dain-
tiness in eating and handling food which is
most pleasing and worthy of cultivation.
Asnougn much eaIy Training IS generally
habit of eating nicely with little difficulty.