The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-02-02
The Noon Meal at Home

There is no reason why the ordi-
nary family dinner should not be
suitable for school children or served
in a way that adapts it to their needs.
The usual first course of meat and
vegetables contains nothing, except
the meat, which can not be given
even to the youngest children. The
vegetables, providing they are care
fully prepared by simple methods,
are specially needed and: can often
be made attractive, to children by be-
inc served with a little meat gravy.
AS a substitute for the meat itself,
milk can be provided in the case of
the younger children. These articles,
with the bread and butter, provide
most of the food needed.
The desert course is suitable for
children as well as for grown people
unless it consists of rich pastries or
buildings. The latter are not con-
sidered wholesome for children, if
for no other reason than that they
are likely to lead to overeating. Such
desserts as fruit, fresh or cooked,
with cake; cereals with milk or
cream, and sugar; custards and Gust
ard puddings; gelatin dishes; simple
ice cream; water ices; and other
simple desserts may be given.
Whether or not the family meal is
healthful for children depends not
only on the food materials selected,
but also on the way in which they
are cooked. Simple methods are to
be preferred from the standpoint OF
health as we'll as from that of the
housekeeper's time. All dishes that
are likely to contain overheated and
scorched fats. such as foods carelessly
fried in pan in small amount Of
fat, should be avoided. Deep-fat
frying is open to fewer objections
since, if properly done, foods will alb
sorb little fat and the fat will not
scorch. Vegetables cooked in water
or in their own juices and seasoned
with salt and little butter or cream,
are easier to prepare than those that
are served with white sauce, seal
loped, or cooked in other elaborate
ways.
What is said above applies equally
to all meals. There is, however, one
special precaution that applies to the
noon meal when it is hurried This
refers to though, hard foods that are
likely to escape proper mastication.
1t is mistake to think that the foods
given to children must always be
soft or finely divided, for children's
teeth need exercise quite as much as
their muscles do. When time for eat
ing is limited, however, it is we'll to
omit foods that are difficult to chew,
and in extrme cases it may be neces-
sary to serve only soft or finely di-
vided foods-sandwiches made from
crustless bread with finely chopped
filings, for example. Before resort
ing to this, however, it is we'll to
make sure that the time for eating
and for insistence on good table man
ners Is not unnecessarily cut short.
The advantage of putting the meal
on the table promptly and of having
foods served in individual portions,
or at least ready to eat when they
are brought to the table, should be
kept in mind. To have the meat al
ready sliced and the dessert in cups
instead Of in one large dish from
which individual portions must be
served, and to follow the same gen.
eral plan with other foods may
change hurried meal into one at
which there is plenty Of time for at
tention to details essential to health
and good manners.
If special lunches, different from
those prepared for the family in gem
eral, are to be given to school child
rem, the following are suggested as
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