The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1905-01-01
The Most Expensive Foods Not Best

Gates that fourfold mistake in food
economy is very commonly made.
First the costlier kinds of food are
used when the less expensive are just
as nutritious and can be made near
ly or quite as palatable. Secondly the
diet is apt to be one sided, in that
foods are used which furnish relative
ly too much of the fuel ingredients
and too little of the flesh forming ma
terials. Thirdly excessive quantities
of food are used; part of the excess
is eaten and often to the detriment
of the health part is thrown away In
table and kitchen wastes. Finally
serious errors in cooking are com
mitted.
For the well-to-do the worst injury
is that to health; but people of small
incomes suffer the additional disad-
vantage of the injury to purse, in
deed. to one who looks into the matter
it is surprising to see how much peo-
pie of limited incomes lose in these
ways. 1t is the poor mans money
that is most injudiciously spent in the
market and the poor mans food that
is most badly cooked at home.
A common mistake in purchasing
food is in buying the more expensive
kinds when cheaper ones would serve
the purpose just as we'll. This is Of
ten done under the impression that
there is some peculiar virtue In the
costlier materials, and that economy
in the diet is detrimental to dignity
and welfare Unfortunately 1T is too
often the case that those who are
most extravagant in this respect are
the ones who can least afford it. On
the other hand there is frequently
desire TO economize, but lack OF
knowledge of the best method OF DO
ing SO. Many housekeeper VINO SIN
cerely tries to do the best Tor those
to be provided for but whose every
cent must tell buys eggs at 25c a doz-
en- or sirloin at zoe pound, Wnen,
for the same amount or money, IL
would be possible to get twice as much
nourishment from cheaper cut Oh
meat. which with a little skill III
preparation and cooking, could pe
made into tasty dish such as per-
sons in far easier circumstances
would not hesitate to set upon thelr
tables. The difficulty is the Ignorance
of the simple principles OF nutrition.
That ignorance results In great
waste of money. The maxim thaI
the best is cheapest" as popularity un,
derstood to apply to the hlgner prlceu
materials is not true Of food.
The larger part of the price OF the
costlier foods is paid for appearance,
flavor or rarity. While the dearer
articles are more pleasing to the pal
ATE and are sometimes more easily
cooked or possess a finer flavor they
are no more digestible nor nutritious
than the cheaper ones.
People who can afford them may De
Justified in buying them but for per
sons in good health and with limited
means they are not economical, ana
often increase the cost of food out OF
all proportion to nutrients furnished.
Tn the course of some dietary studles
made in one of the poorer districts OF
Chicago it was found that woman,
whose husband was out of work ana
whose family was living on rev
cents a day, bought lettuce, an artl
Gle so innutritious that, at least when
out of season and high in price, IL is
a luxury even for the rich, whlie
she had to do without nutritious loou'
No one can object to the use OF lettuce
or anv other wholesome food when
the purse allows, but 1t is pitilully