The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-14
HOW THE POOR ARE FED
An Investigation Made in New
York's East Side.
INSTRUCTION is NEEDED
Prevalence of Intemperance Traced Di-
rectly to Poor Food-Slovenly and
Shiftless Habits-No Hard
and Fast Rules.

Washington, Feb. 13.-The result of
the investigation as to the food habits
of number of families in the congest-
ed districts of New York city in 1895
and 1896 have been made public by the
agricultural department in a report
entitled, Dietary Studied in New York
CITY" The report was prepared by
Prof. w. O. Atwater and c. d. WOODS,
under whose direction the investiga-
tions were conducted with the co-opera-
ton OF the New York Association for
the Improvement of the Poor. The gem
eral plan of inquiry consisted in visit
ing a number of typical families in the
worst congested portions of the city,
observing the kinds and amounts of
food which they bought and prices
which they paid noting whether they
obtained good weight and measure, and
subjecting specimens of the food mate
learning their nutritive values.
The work in New York was done
mostly by DR.. Isabelle de Laney. The
investigation consisted mainly of the
studies of diet of the families of the
poorer classes, the majority of whom
We're on the east side" near the juno
tion of Cherry and Catherine streets.
The people in whose families the stud
les We're made, reported large number
of occupations. In some instances they
We're slovenly and shftless and took
little interest in their homes. Other
families, though ignorant, We're willing
and anxious to learn how to improve
their habits of living. The main results
of each study are given with brief dis
cussion of the chief features.
Following this, some valuable sug
gestions are given regarding the i'm
provement of the food habits of the
city poor 1t is impossible, the report
- 1n 1n q araxr ta1y nd Qcst
rules which shall govern the purchase
of food by family, as this must to a
very great extent be determined by the
locations.
In many families there was no at
TENT made to spread an attractive
table. One of the most common observ-
ationS among those who are familiar
with the habits of the poorer classes OF
workers, the report continues, is to the
effect that a not inconsiderable amount
of the prevalence of intemperance can
be traced TO poor food and unattrac-
tive home tables. Throughout all these
dietaries there was shown very little
comprehension of the actual nutritive
value of the food purchased, the selec-
tion apparently being made according
to some whim or taste, the presence OF
certain food materials in the market or
because the housekeeper had been ac-
customed to purchasing certain kinds of
food. The larger number of families
spent more than they really could af-
ford for food and yet frequently re-
ceiVed insufficient nouriShment. The
question how these people could have
obtained more nutriment for the money
expenditure is answered only in the
most general terms. 1t is suggested
that one of the best and surest ways to
improve the conditions of the poor is to
give them practical instructions and
object lessons in the preparation of at
tractiVe, yet simple and cheap foods
The subjects upon which the women
should be instructed include lessons
upon The best and most nutritious food
materials and the best adapted in point
of cost and ease of preparation TO the
necessities and circumstances of the
family, and instruction such as shall
enable the housekeeper to prepare sim
pie, wholesome and palatable meals
from such food.