Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-01-04
NURSERY COOKERY.
THE SMALL CHILD'S DIET.
BY Christine Terhune Herrick.
Continued from last week.

Nohunued from last week.
, Few women start out on their mater
nal career with enough training prin-
eib.a TO last through an INDEFINITE Sc
Ties Of babies. They exercise unlimited
theories upoa the first child. If he sur
wives their experiments, they may stil
have sufficient energy 10 continue their
pet systems with a second and perhaps
even with a third child. II others
follow, the mothers are more
than likely to let their theo-
ries, like their piano playing and
their familiarity with foreign languages,
fan into innocuous desuetude. As one
over-taXed matron said OF her eighth
and youngest child. Il brought up the
others, let Octavia come up"
The mother has had unusual persist
ence who has brought up" an even
smaller number. Mothers clubs and
meetings do much 10 stimulate her fail
ing energies, even when the children fol
low each other into the world close upon
one another's helpless heels. The books
] and magazines written and edited eX-
| pressly for mothers are Of incalculable
| help. In spite of them all she probably
/ keeps but a small share Of the fanCies /
/ with which she set out on her course as I
a matron. And in many instances the |
babies are none the worse for f.
II is pity, however. when the mother /
reaches the point where she ceases 10 be- /
stow close attention upon the nature and I
preparation of the ehildren's food. Heed
less habits, careless speech and even
lack OF courage may possibly be cor
rected in life, but IL is another thing 20
attempt, in maNre years, to pull out the
faulty foundations OF the digestion and
10 raise a substantial superstructure
when there is practically no base. The
man who has been badly fed in infancy
must go softly all his days, so far as his
digestion is concerned, and in many
cases can only avoid dyspepsia by judi
cious abstinence and by constant care
In the choice Of his food.
II a mother would only grasp the fact ,
that because thing does not, in the ex-
IRENE sense Of the word, disagree with J
a child at the time he eats IL, il is no
sign that IL has not harmed hint Pa
rents who seem to believe that the d. Z
gestive powers OF their children rival 3
those of ostriches will calmly allow their C
four or FIVE year olds to eat unlimited
sausage and buckwheat cakes at break
fast. partake Of fried foods and salads
at luncheon, and wind up the day with
roast duck, pickles and pie at a late
dinner. Then because the victims sur y
vive the experience the deluded parents y
will triumphantly assert that the fare
has done the youngsters no harm. The T
fact is ignored that the child who I'M ii
poses the task of digesting such a meal 81
upon his tender gastric organs is draw
Ing upon his reserve forces to meet the
demand, and as a consequence will en-
such calls later In life with de- ci
pleted powers. bi
Remembering all this, the mother
mould not weary in well doing and re-
AK her efforts in her childs behalf by nd
he time he reaches his fifth or sixth q,
,ear. His dietary should still receive
Ter close and careful attention, and be-
ause 1t is more extensive now than
when he was younger it should be none sa.
he less thoughtfully guarded. m,
The cereal should still begin the break
asst Oatmeal, cornmeal mash. hominy,
.heaten grits, or something OF the sort.
makes better beginning for the first ~
heal Of the day than fruit This has %
andency to take the first edge from
hnds appetite. and 10 disincline him ,
Or the solid food that Is T. follow. AS ,
rule, he is better Off with no sugar on
Is porridge. or, as in some families suS
now. the sugar may be reserved for a
unday morning treat. Even then Il An
lould be put on with discretion. With Iri
he porridge cream should be given II
ossible, or at least, plenty OF milk =
iIk may also be served as a beverage.
Their pure. or mixed with hot water into er!
,ambric tea" or made into cocoa or Z
eak chocolate. Apropos Of these latter, so
may be said that they should never mu
made in the careless fashion that Sta
IMPLY stirs the prepared cocoa powder
10 the boiling water or milk and then :,
rves II at once. The compound should d
ways boil for from three to five min nm
es after the powder is added y
(To be continued next week. eth