The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-03
HOME HEALTH CLUB

ADEQUATE DIET: Continuing our studies in practical every-day useful diet, we find in the Department Bull letin two more articles which every family should carefully study in con- nection with the two previously giv- en in these columns:
 'sIt is very hard for 8 3housekeeper to know exactly how much of each of the food substances or nutrients her family needs or exactly how much of each she is giving them. The exact amount which each person needs de- bends upon age, sex size, and amount of work done with, the muscles. An elderly person. or one of quiet habits. needs less food than a vigorous one: a large person more than c small one; a man more than a woman; grown persons more than children; and a farmer working in the haydeld, 8 me- chanic or a football player more than a man who sits at his desk all day.
 In order to calculate exactly how much starch, sugar, fat. protein, etc.
 Cor, what is equivalent to this, how much protein and energy) the family needs one would have to know exact ly how mHch muscular work each member was performing and also ex- actly how much of the different nu- trients each food contained and ex- actly how much each person would eat This, of course, would mean a great deal of figuring Fortunately such exactness is not necessary in or dinary life If a little too much or too little of one nutrient is provided at single meal or on a single day a healthy body does not suffer, because 1t has ways of storing such a surplus and of using it's stored material in an emergency. The danger would come If the diet taken week in and week out always provided too much or too little of some one nutrient Against this danger the housekeeper can more easily protect her family
 Habit and custom help greatly be- cause they usually are based on what the experience of generations has proved is wise and hea1thful, though of course, there are bad habits and outgroWn customs in food as in every thing else Good food habits, 1t must be remembered, include more than cleanliness and order, in everything that has to do with food and meals and 1esiurely ways of eating. Equally important are liking for all kinds of wholesome foods, even if they have not always been used in one's home or lneighborhood, and eating reasonable l amounts, without being either greedy or over-dainty. Every effort should I be made to train children in such good food habits If older people have not | learned them, they should try to do so, for such things are very impor- | ,1+ 0,,lr fn 11n hut fr economy. To refuse to eat some whole some dish simply because one is not
 accustomed to it may prevent the use
 of some very desirable and economi- cal food. To feel that there is any virtue in providing more food than is needed shows poor taste as well as 1 poor economy
 The health and appearance of the
 family are a good test of the whole someness of their diet. If they are
 strong, well developed for their ages free from ailments, and full of energy
 and ambition, one may safely say thei1 | food agrees with them But If they are 1ist1ess and ailing or not as vel
 developed either physically or mental Ky as they should be, and if com petent physician finds that there is nc special disease to account for these
 bad symptoms, a mother may well ask herself if the food is right and if not how she can make it so.
 In such cases she might, for in
 stance. apply for information on fooo and diet to her State leader in agri
 culture and home economies and tt the home department ot her State agricultural college.
 CLUB NOTES.
 will gladly answer all inquiries fol