The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-03-14
The PROPER FOOD
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Washington, d. c., March 1O-Sim-
pie bills of fare, helpful recipes, and
practical directions for the prepara-
ton of foods for children between
three and six years of age contained
in Farmers Bulletin III, Food for
Young Children" just issued by the
U. S. Department of Agriculture. The
bulletin, which was written by Caro-
line L. Hunt, under the direction of
DR.. G. F. Langworthy, Chief of the OF
flee of Home Economics, is easy to un-
derstand and should be helpful to
mothers who are trying so to care for
their children that they will grow up
into stalwart and efficient men and
women 1t is issued at this time as
cooperative contribution to the Baby
Week" campaign conducted by the
Children's Bureau of the u. 5. Depart
ment of Labor.
The author has carefully avoided
the use of all technical dietary terms
or systems of grouping and has so
classified foods that any mother can
meet the following definition of sat
isfactory diet for a little child:
"A little child to 6 years of age
who is carefully fed in accordance
with his bodily needs (as these are
now understood receives every day
at least one food from each of the
following groups:
|. Milk and dishes made chiefly of
milk (most important of the group as
regards childrens Diet; meat, fish,
poultry, eggs, and meat substitutes.
2. Bread and other cereal foods.
3. Butter and other wholesome fats.
4. Vegetables and fruits.
>. Simple sweets.
The relation of food to the condi-
tion of the bowels is also an import
ant matter Grains, particularly those
containing the outer or branny layers
or coats, are laxative; so, too, are
such mildly acid fruits as apples,
oranges, and grape fruit. So far, there
fore, as the important matter OF pre-
venting constipation is concerned,
coarse grains and mildly acid fruits
serve the same purpose. When fruits
are to be obtained in abundance the
kind of cereal served Is not of great
importance When they are not, the
coarser cereals should be used.
A Quart Of Milk a Day
The basis of child's diet should be
clean whole mllk-at least quart a
day. Such milk, in addition to water
contains about half a cupful of the
very best food substances-bu
milk, sugar lime, and other mater
ials needed by the child to make mus
Gle, bones, and teeth. In addition milk
contains a substance thought to pro-
mote growth by helping the body make
good use of other foods. Where good
whole milk is not obtainable, clean,
fresh skim milk supplies these sub
stances with the exception of the but
terfat, and is, of course, preferable to
dirty or questionable whole milk. Milk,
however, contains very little iron and
therefore spinach and other green
vegetables and egg yolks, which are
rich in iron, combine well with milk
The child should drink the milk
with the chill taken off, or should
consume his full quart day with
cereals and in milk toast, cocoa, milk
soups and stews, in cereal puddings
egg-andmilk puddings, custards, jun
kets, or simple Ice creams. MilR
stews may be made with vegetables
| or fish, or to vary the diet these things
can be combined with cream sauce ant
served on milk toast. The bulletin
therefore gives large number of reci
pes for the preparation of various
milk dishes which will help children
consume the requisite amount of mill
without growing tired of this valuable
| food. Those for milk soups will b'
| found particularly useful, as they giv'
the mother an easy means Of prepar
ing many vegetables which are es
sentials in the childs diet,
Bread and Cereals
Well-baked bread and thorough.
cooked breakfast cereals are botl
good for children and with milk shoult
make up large part of the diet. Breat
and cereal mushes are to certail
extent interchangeable, but neithe
can take the place of milk, meat
eggs, fruits, and vegetables. An ol
dinary slice of bread is equal in foo
value to about half cupful of boile
or steamed cereal and about cupfu
of faked or puffed cereal Differen
kinds of bread may be used for variety
The yeast.raised bread given +
| Nnunp chiIdran shnulu he at least