Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-13

Food Waste I'm American HOuseh0lds.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
In an article by Prof. Atwater In the Sep
TENDER Forum" under the above title Is a
table showing from chemical analysis the
relative value of various articles Of food
as sources Of supply for the repair of waste,
and for vital force and bodily warmth.
The Information set forth in the compart-
son is Of such value to every person. and
especially to every working man and wo-
man. that I reproduce the table somewhat
modified and extended with a view to ex-
hibit more plainly the actual value Of these
several articles In respect to the qualities
named.
The tables are constructed upon the basis
Of the current prices substantially as found
in our Washington market: say Is cents
The first table exhibits the relative cap
ability Of the articles named In supplying
materials for the reconstruction Of the
wasted and worn out tissues That is. II
for the purposes of comparison call 1t 1O0
then Is cents worth of each Of the follow
Ing articles. will have the percentage Of
n1srisiys value as given in the table; ,oo
wheat -four. "a; oat meal. 50: round
chicken. Is; milk. 2: sirloin. II: eggs.
L. pork. ham. bacon. 2: butter. 0; sugar. O.
A glance at this table shows the dietary
one must needs have to keep the physi-
cal system In proper working condition.
at moderate cost and also that fat meats
butter. and sugar are worthless for the
purpose of restoring an over-taxed and ex-
hausted system.
Corn meal. 100; wheat -four s.; oat meal
IS; sugar. B: potatoes. IS: pork. ham. bacon
81; cheese. II; butter. Is; round steak, II !;
milk. II; sirloin. g.; eggs. s; mutton, S; chick
en-, 4; tenderloin, 4; oysters. l.
Comparison Of these tables shows that
while some articles have good percentage
In one list only others hold fair rank In
both. This renders the consideration Of
rate estimate Of the absolute nutrient
value.
To this end the following table has been
prepared. and although not an entirely
scientific statement gives reasonably near
the actual economic value Of the articles
at Washington prices
Table Of economic values-Showing the
cost required to obtain an equal amount Of
nutrition from each article: Corn meal,
Is cents; wheat -four, IS cents; oat meal,
R cents; potatoes. 20 cents: cheese So cents;
round steak. 50 cents; pork. ham. bacon,
N.S; sugar. H.0S: milk. $50: sirloin. Sos:
oysters. 1910.
That is. rs cents expended in corn meal.
or 80 cents in wheat flour in Washington.
will bring into the house just as much nu-
triton for the family az would s.. 80 in ten
derloin steak or 1910 in oysters.
1t may be Of little or no concern to the
adequately sustain one man or child on
porterhouse steak or oysters as It does
ten or twelve on bread: but It is another
matter to the working man whose weekly
earnings must be allotted between rent,
clothing. food and all the additional neces-
stiles Of the household. To him and his
family extra cost Of food simply means less
Of something else.
The hard working man may, therefore.
comfort himself with the knowledge that
those articles which he has sometimes 80
much regretted his inability to procure for
beyond that which he procures at 30 much
less cost. And he may we'll reassure him
self In knowing that. in giving his house
hold good supply Of corn bread, wheat
bread oat meal. potatoes and bacon, round
steak. he is doing the right and proper
thing for the working members of his fam
lily. and especially for his growing children,
dicious and commendable way.
LAFAYETTE c. LOOMS