The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-11
THE ExPENsIvE SANDWICH.

THE EXPENSIVE SANDWICH.
The widespread interest in scientific
circles as well as In the ranks OF So
cial workers concerning some Of the
problems OF nutrition among the masses
is exemplified by current discussions
dietaries, economical menus for the
household, and the cost Of living. THESE
are constantly bringing out the face
that diet customs are subject to wloe
inequalities In character In dfnerent
parts OF the world and in different
strata Of society; and they further
make 1t clear that food habits aree not
SO fixed as was once supposed. out are
varied to most economic changes anu
alterations incident to the shifting OF
population. The changes in the nutri-
ton Of the masses lie in the cities. the
country districts adhering more closely
to the dictates of tradition. 1t 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. Fur
thermore. the questions Of diet in large
institutions almost always need to be
solved with reference to local market
conditions
Max Rubner, the eminent physiolo-
gist and hygienist Of Berlin. has lately
presented some interesting data on one
of the many transformations in dietary
xx,H,S 10 Ito Wv
in the cities Of Germany. He says
that the American sandwich is rapidly
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-counter scheme Of dietetics
among our own population must admit
that the sandwich is something more
than an accident. Physiologically, it
involves the experimenting Of bread
the common "staff of life''-with con-
siderable butter and meat. The sand
wich represents a step in the evolu-
ton Of bread-and-butter combinations.
Rubner believes that the growing use
Of the meat-laden sandwich is at
| tributable, IN Germany to the increased
employment Of tea and coffee, and to
the greater consumption Of sugar and
| alcohol. Added to these factors. is the
growing tendency, especially among the
unmarried classes, to eat outside of the
home and to patronize the rapid-ser-
vice. time-saving, sandwich dispensing
restaurants and eating-houses.
The advantage of the sandwich is
| that II furnishes oreat concentration ri
nutrients in small volume. The work
of mastication is reduced and the en-.
| tire makeup of the product encourages
rapid eating.
The sandwich is not as economical as
is popularity believed. is true that {
palatable sandwich can be purchased
for a few cents. but the same proper
Tomato expenditure in the household
or in the purchase of a warm mea
that deserves the name will procur
surprisingly more nutriment, even il
the more expensive type OF restaurant
The sandwich is frequently looked OF
as the poor mans lunch and curren
practice Is tending to increase it's use
If it is really desirable to increase tn
purchasing power OF a small daily in
come so as to increase the amount o
food, the reform cannot be institutes
by pointing to the supposedly inexpen
sive lunch counter. The boarding hous
and the home, says The Journal Of tn
American Medical Association, wisel
administered on the dietetic side still re
main the most economical as well a
most rational centers for food reforms