Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-13
SANDWICH NOT CHEAP FOOD

l DAN u "1Sl NOl SI16A1 WI
The widespread interest in scientific
circles as well as in the ranks of social
workers concerning some Of the pro
bIems OF nutrition among the masses
is exemplified by current discussions
regarding school lunches. institutional
dietaries. economical menus for the
household. and the cost OF living
These are constantly bringing out the
fact that diet customs are subject 10
wide Inequalities in character in dif-
ferent parts of the world and in differ
ent strata of society: and they further
make il clear that food habits are not
so fixed as was once supposed. but are
varied to meet economic changes and
alterations incident to the shifting OF
population. The changes in the nutri-
ton of the masses lie in the cities,
the county districts adhering more
closely to the dictates OF ira
dition. II is in the cities that
the most noticeable of the modern
changes in dietary customs, such as
the increasing consumption of meat
and the introduction OF ready-to-eat
foods. have first taken hold on greater
numbers of individuals. Furthermore,
the questions of diet in large institu-
tions almost always need to be solved
with reference TO local market condi-
tons.
Max Rubner. the eminent physiolog-
ist and hygienist of Berlin. has lately
presented some interesting data on
one OF the many transformations in
dietary custom which is peculiarly con-
spicuOus in the cities OF Germany. He
saws that the American sandwich is
ra pidly becoming popular in Germany.
Anyone who observes carefully the
eating habits of working men in this
country and who has followed the
enormous increase in the lunch-coun
ter scheme of dietetics among our own
population must admit that the sand
wich is something more than an acct
dent. Physiologically. il involves the
supplementing OF bread-the common
staff of life"-with considerable but
ter and meat. The sandwich represents
step in the evolution of bread-and-
butter combinations. Rubner believes
that the growing use of the meat-laden
sandwich is attributable in Germany
to the increased employment of tea
and coffee. and TO the greater cor
SUMPTION % Sugar anu etiGOhOl- Auutu
TO these factors is the growing ten
dency. especially among the unmarried I
classes, TO eat outside of the home and
20 patronize the rapid-service. time /
saving. sandwich-dispensing rstau- I
rants and eating houses.
The advantage of the sandwich is I,
that it furnishes great concentration !
OF nutrients in small volume. The 4
work of masticstion is reduced and the .
entire makeup OF the product encour- (
ags rapid eating.
The sandwich is not as economical /,
as IS popularity believed. II IS true
that A palatable sandwich can be pur-
chased for a few cents, but the same I
expenditure in the /
household or in the purchase OF a !
warm neal that deserves the name
viii procure surprisingly more nutri- I
ment, even in the more expensive type
OF restaurant. II has been calculated.
for example. that twenty-five cents
will buy:
In a public eating house. 1890 calor-
les: containing 1OS GIN. protein.
In "A good restaurant $50 Galleries:
IS GIN. protein.
In the form OF sandwiches LAO cal
Dries: containing 30 GIN. protein.
The sandwich is frequently looked
On as the poor mans lunch" and cur
rent practice il tending TO increase
IL use. II il is really desirable 10 in
.rease the Dur chasing power CT a small
Tally income so as 10 Increase the
amount OF food. the reform cannot be
instituted by pointing 10 the supposed
y inexpensive lunch-counter. The
and the home. says
The Journal OF the American Medical
association. wisely administered on
he dietetfc side still remain the most
economical as well as most rational
enters for food reforms II