New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-17
FOOD FOR CHILDREN.
DOMESTIC SCIENCE CLASS DISCUSSES
a SIMPLE DIET

In class Of domestic science on recent occa-
sion. a member asked what she could do with
child who insisted on keeping too simple diet
The instructor replied that she could hardly con-
ceive of diet being too simple
Well replied the mother, DIR. H. an au-
thor1ty on the care Of children, recommends GER
tain amount of meat and fruit for child of three
years L have three-year-old boy. who abso-
utely refuses TO eat anything but milk the various
cereal gruels, bread and crackers. I cannot induce
him to eat either meat or fruit and I don't know
whether 1t is good for him or not"
Perhaps that might be rather too simple,
Piled the instructor. 7 had nephew once who
ate no meat until he went away to school, boy
OF fourteen or fifteen. He obliged to conform
to conventional diet then. or go hungry; but
throughout his childhood he refused any meat His
parents were concerned about it. and tried 60 in
duce him TO eat the other children did But
so great was his dislike OF meat tGat he would
fuse to swallow 1t after it placed in his mouth.
But he was perfectly healthy. robust active in
all games, and, moreover. SO sweet tempered that
his parents finally decided that mis- diet SUITED
to him. and ceased to interfere with him. They
thought that. child he had a sweeter temper
and better disposition than any Of the Of the
children. and they disposed to credit It to his
vegetarian diet
Now that they are all grown however. he finds
that he is shorter than any of his brothers or sis
ters The shortest girl in the family is feet >
inches, and the tallest > feet inches. and the
other boys up feet and over. while this
boy is only feet inches. 1t gives him stunted
appearance, which is matter of regret. Whether
1t is due to his vegetarianism we. of course.
not tell but it seems possible. because in every
other way his bringing like that of all the
rest
And how about his disposition now" inquired
the listener
There is no apparent superiority now" said the
instructor smiling; they all nice boys"
Speaking OF indigestion the instructor said: IN
digestion may be compared TO a fit of the sulbs on
the part OF child. You the child pouting, but
you cannot tell the cause. He may have been
scolded. he may have been prevented from doing
something he likes. any Of a dozen things
may be the matter. So in Indigestion. you see
only result 1t may arise from disorder Of the
pancreas. or OF the liver. Of the intestines
or OF the stomach and of the latter troubles there
are six different varieties. Different constitu-
tons demand different diets and different modes
OF treatment You cannot follow dogmatic rules
as to diet You only know that II results are
good the treatment is good and that II there
IS trouble you must find out what II Is Peo-
pie who feed their children with exceeding care
are often concerned over the delicacy OF the
digestion of such children. 1 spent last Thanks
giving with a friend who had brought up her chill
dren according strctest hygienIc rules. That
day she allowed them have mince pie for the
first time in their Hves-just little finger pieces
They i'll all night, and feverish all the next
day And yet children who had been brought up
on the most unwholesorne food would consume vast
triangles of pie with impunity- But this only
showed that such food acts actual poison upon
the delicate organs OF a child brought up In a
5 the human system may be accustomed TO any
poison taken habituaIy. But when these children
hygienic diet in childhood will become apparent.
IN the years demanding the greatest toll ana pro
ton Feed child hygienically until he Is fifteen.
and after that you can give the stomach anything
Does that mean to restrict the quantity well
as the quality? My boys eat so much that some
times II really II their legs were hollow,
IF you have the qgaiity right You needn't mind
anything about the quantity" said the instructor.
bread and butter. l mean that Just long as he
bread and butter between meals: but never let him
have anything that tickIes the palate at such a
home from school DON'T let them go in the pantry
70 yog@se N tne cake box or a1qs 5 lar ,,
let them go without But growing boy needs a
feet safety. The developing muscles and tissues
viii use il all Let him eat plain food just as
long he will eat. but don't let him top on with
sppette Is really satished You can trust the ap
petite: can't trust the palate 1t is never the
appetite that makes gluttons and gourmands 1t
Some one asked as TO milk as a beverage for
Milk should never be regarded as a beverage
It reaches the stomach. and It should be taken &C
count Of as solid food IN the meal A child who is
eating heartily Of meat other nutritious foods
should not drink milk with his meals. II slips
and immediately becoming solid food. the stomach
IS overloaded. But If the child does not eat much
meat. or has a poor appetite. encourage him 20
use milk as a beverage IL Will supply the
quired nourishment, and he does not need to eat
much as other children. But teach him TO sip
it. little al a time. II should not be drunk IN
long draught, because then 1t forms great
Of curd an the stomach, which the gastric
Juices trouble in penetrating. and which there
fore often lie in the stomach an undigested mass.
Taken a swallow at time, IL makes small Curds.
which be readily acted upon by the gastric
juice. This is often the reason why dyspeptics and
others cannot take milk at all That's the reason
that lime juice brandy in milk renders 1t digest
ible- They cut the curds, and enable the gastric
juice get a them 1 would than a
tablespoonful Of brandy to a glass OF milk without
a physicians order. For child teaspoonful is
often sufficient"