Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-10
HOMEMAKERS COLUMN.


Correspondence on topics of interest to the ladies
CoTUHN. Oxford Democrat. South Paris. Nc
School Lunches Adapted to all
Grades.
Do mothers realize the importance OF
the school luncheon? 1t is served at
time when the child should have his i'm
portant meal, and yet too often 1t con.
sists of mesger sandwich and . bit OF
cake. If possible, the child should come
home for hot substantial midday meal.
The commonly advocated school session
from eight to one O'Clock in the after
noon is all wrong from the standpoint of
the child's physical development. Es-
pecially for the sake of the younger chill
dren, mothers should see that these
hours are not adopted, for too often the
start is made after hurried breakfast,
and only q light luncheon is obtainable
at school. The children reach home too
late for the midday meal of the family,
and the lukewarm remnants left for
them are unappetizing. However, II 1t
is impossible for the child to come home
to hot lunch, he should be givenHa we'll
planned, attractive luncheon, put up In
convenient way to take with him.
The luncheons for the primary, inter
mediate, and grammar-school grades de-.
mand very different treatment, but all
young persons require goodly amount
of tissue-building material. For children
in the primary grades, the mother may
depend largely upon milk and eggs to
furnish this type of food material, OBJ
tanning variety by favorings, different
methods of cooking, and most impor-
tant, by varying the kind Of homemade
bread used. Custard, junket:, and
blanc manages are all good for kinder
gartuers. Plain milk of good grade,
stored ice cold in thermos bottle, is ex-
cellent, or this same milk may be flavor
ed with weak COCOA and stored hot
for the sake of variety. A young child
does not like condiments or relishes un.
less the habit has been taught him, and
it is far better for him to have only salt
and very little pepper, II any.
LUNCHEoNs FOR PRIMARY GRADE
Monday
Chopped-Eg Sandwiches
Little Sponge Cakes Dates Milk
Tuesday
Plain Chicken Sandwiches
Gingerbread Apple Milk
Wednesday
Brown. Bread and Raisin Sandwiches
Unsweetened Graham Crackers Orange
Weak Cocoa
Thursday
Thin Corn Bread Split and Buttered
Halved Hard. Cooked Egg seasoned with Salt
and Butter
Steamed Figs Milk
Friday
Crackers with Peanut Butter
Custard Molasses Cookies Cocoa
EGG SANDWICHES
Chop the hard-cooked egg fine, season
only with salt and very little pepper
and spread on buttered bread.
CHICKEN SANDWICHES
Slice the chicken very thin, but do not
chop, place 1t between buttered bread
slices.
RAIsIN SANDWICHES
Steam the raisins for few minutes In
the double boiler, then put them through
the food chopper. Season with lemon.
juice and spread between thin slices of
buttered brown bread. -.
Cut the bread very thin, and there will
be no necessity for removing the crusts
and with them the most nourishing part
of the bread. Moreover, crusts play an
important part in warding off the dread
ed visits to the dentist, 80 take special
pains to serve them on school sandwiches
and yet keep these dainty. Use bread at
least twenty.four hours old and wrap
each sandwich in waxed paper to keep 1t
fresh. Most attractive strong crepe
paper napkins are now available OF q
soft buff color. They will prove excel
lent for packing the school luncheons.
Care must be taken not to make the
box or basket too heavy for the small
person to carry easily. Pupils of gram
mar school and high school age will not
object to taking in addition to the Their.
mos bottle box in which small cup or
jar has been placed. Certain light des-
serts may be baked or nodded directly 10
the cup, while the small glass jar with q
screw top will be found invaluable for
carrying salads, buildings and other
healthful dainties.
As the child becomes older, meats,
fish, and cheese may be used more free
ly, and for the boy or girl of high school
age, condiments may be added In order
to tempt the appetite.
In addition to the tissue building food,
see that some small sweet finds its way
into the luncheon. The most natural
ones are fruits, especially the dried ones,
molasses cookies, and sponge-cakes.
Richer cakes may be provided for the
older children, and few pieces Of very
good candy are an excellent addition to
grammar and high school pupils lunch
box. As dessert, candy is by no means
bad for the child, aud good candy pre-
vents the cheaper grades at the corner
"penny store" from having their other
wise certain fascination.
Fruit should never be omitted. 1t 10
especially important when impossible
to provide for drink other than water.
But as almost all fruit comes in contact
With the dust of the street, at some time
during the journey, 1t should be thor
oughly cleansed before packing. Peel
the orange, then separate the sections,
starting from the stem end, but leaving
them all clinging together at the oppo-
site end. Wrap the whole in waxed
paper to retain the juices.
Money spent upon simple, strong,
but attractive luncheon outfit for the
children's use is money we'll invested.
They can be found now. at practically
any price, and with service for one or
more. Weight is no disadvantage when
transportation is provided, but If the
box must be carried any distance secure
the very lightest equipment. The variety
of foods will often depend upon the kind
of lupcheon-box.
LUNCHEONs FOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL GRADES
Monday
Rolled. Ham Sandwiches