South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-24
Feeding the Body
Feeds the Mind
More About the School Lunch,
Which Increases the Child
ren's Efficiency and Parent
al Responsibility Well.
BY Woods Hutchinson, VI. ID.
The Worlds Foremost Writer OF
Medical Subjects

$1,000 e'N-bgNNNos
A short time ago a commission
was formed in Chicago to see il it
were possible, by careful buying of
foods and balancing Of meals. TO
keep up the working efficiency of
husky adult on S5 cents a day.
A diet squad was formed. the ex-
pertinent was made, and il was tri-
umphantly announced to the world
that the impossible hac been &C
complished and the feat achieved.
Not to be outdone. New York de-
cided TO repeat the experiment. and
lowered the amount by dime. The
test has given the most unmixed Joy
and undiluted satisfaction TO orig
inators of the scheme and TO out
side observers, but members of the
diet squad will, upon its release, flee
its lady-like diet and rush to emu
late the example of Rex Beach's
Alaskan miner.
After several months Of existence
IN the frozen wilds of an enforced
I'D almost exclusive diet OF canned
sam on. he struck it rich" and re-
turned to Seattle.
Entering the finest restaurant in
the city. he ordered every one of the
dishes that he had been yearning
for. and then ordered two dollars
worth of canned salmon.
He had il brought in on a huge
platter. placed it in the center of
the table. and surrounded it with a
double row of steaming viands.
Triumphantly glaring at the sal
mon over a large, juicy steak, which
he was about to devour he re-
marked: Now, damn you, watch
me eat!"
The miners sentiments toward the
canned salmon can be readily appre-
ciated. because salmon. like many
other things, is attractive in small
quantities, but wearying TO the soul
palate and stomach when used as a
staple article of diet.
Variety is Necessary.
1t is the same with our own bod
les as il is with our beloved autos;
the seldom mentioned oil is just as
important as the much-talked of
gasoline.
1t was to help out the unfortunate
another. were not being properly
rOurished. that the school lunch was
originally planned.
After a number of methods had
been tried, the simplest was found to
be the best, and that was to provide
in some convenient room In the
school a good, warm, appetizing
lunch on the counter, Of cafeteria
plan, either at 1890 or 1890, or
both, according 10 conditions. Pay
ment is made by means OF tickets,
either for the various individual
dishes or for a stock lunch" which
are purchased by the children of
well-to-dO families and quietly sup
piled by the teachers at their dis
erection, free or for a nominal sum.
TO the poorer children. This re-
quired judgment, but has been found
IN actual practice far less trouble
some and difficult than was feared
in advance.
All but a small proportion of the
children thus helped soon began to
take a special pride in paying at
least something for their ticket, and
while here and there a parent of the
ne'er-do-well type will calmly inn
pose upon the school. on the other
hand the teachers report that at
least as many parents will come to
personally express their thanks for
the kindness shown their children
during periods of sickness or unem-
ployment on their part, and an
nounce that they are ready TO pay
their own way in future and even in
sist upon repaying the school for the
tickets which have been issued TO
their children. So far from lessen
ing parental responsibility. school
lunch quickens and stimulates it,
And many an unframed or over
burdened mother comes in TO get
advice or assistance from the teach
ers or the department of domestic
science as TO how TO better feed and
care for her household.
Most present-day school buildings
are built with a considerable part
OF one floor devoted especially TO a
handsome, well-lighted and carefully
planned lunChroOm. or cafeteria,
with kitchen and serving room at
tached, where children OF all ages.
conditions and classes can get any
! thing from light but wholesome
and digestible lunch in the middle Of
the morning to a substantial hot
meal in the middle of the day. or
where afternoon sessions are held.
i'm the middle OF the afternoon. The
modern standard remedies for rest
| lessness. discomfort and wandering
attention are. in the order OF their
application: first, 10 open a window:
second. TO send the child for I'VE
minutes run around the play
I ground: third. something hot TO eat
i'm the cafeteria: fourth. call the doc
tor or school nurse. And one or the
other is absolutely certain TO reach
the spot.
just Wholesome Food.
As for the ingredients" OF the
lunch. there is little practical diff