Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-08-26
Prize Essay In Iowa MIX Contest.

Prize Essay In Iowa MIX Contest.
As part of the plan to increase the
consumption of milk they put on an
essay writing contest among the school
children OF Iowa. The essay winning
nrst place In the state was written by
huth Amundsen, an eighth grade pupil
OF the Decorah schools. Her essay was
entitled, "Milk, the Necessary Food for
the Growing Child" We print 1t be-
low:
"The nourishment of the children is
the first duty of our nation, because the
success OF any nation depends upon the
full development of its young. Lowered
nutrition in children means decreased
vitality and lowered resistance to disease.
II the young are deprived of proper food
for any length of time they will become
stunted in growth physically, intellect
ually, and consequently morally; and
the nation In time will be losing power
instead of progressing.
"Experience shows that il the nutrition
of the average child is to be maintained
and its normal growth in height and
weight is to be assured, whole milk in
some form must be furnished it. Every
child should be given quart of milk q
day, If possible; II not, pint should be
given without fail. Plenty Of milk will
give each child, big or little, the chance
for health they ought to have.
"Milk Is so important because it con.
tains all the essential elements necessary
for normal human growth and develop
ment. 1t is sometimes said to be com
plete food. Milk consists of 81 parts of
water, parts of protein, 1-2 parts of
carbohydrates, 8 2-3 parts of fat, and
part of mineral matter.
"Water is necessary to all life proc.
esses, aids in digestion, and helps to
regulate temperature, and carries food
and waste material.
"Protein helps to build body tissues,
muscle, blood and nerves, and furnish
heat and energy.
Carbohydrates and fats serve as fuel,
producing heat and strength, and furnish
bulk necessary to good digestion.
"Mineral matter is composed chiefly
of lime and phosphorus, which is valu-
able for the making of bones and teeth,
and has tonic effect upon the system.
Another element in milk is called
the vitamines. Not much is known
about them except that they are abso-
lutsly necessary for the growth of chill.
dren.
"Some people think that milk is too
expensive to use freely and that they
must economize in the use Of it, but
according to the amount of food value
in other foods compared with that of
milk, the latter is far the cheaper.
Statistics proving this are as follows:
In producing energy, one quart of milk
is equal to 9 eggs; and in supplying
protein, one quart of milk at II cents is
as cheap as sirloin steak at % cents a
pound, or eggs at 80 cents a dozen.
This shows that one should really econo-
mize on other foods and use much more
milk.
"Milk is easily digestsd and needs no
cooking or other preparation for the
table. At the same time, few foods lend
themselves so readily to cookery or are
capable of entering into the preparation
of so great a number of dishes.
"Milk can be used in q great variety
of ways besides as q drink, some of
which are mush and milk, cereals cooked
in milk, milk gravies, cottage cheese,
milk soups, milk chowder, sweet curd
and junket.
"Whole milk is more nutritious than
skimmilk and buttermilk, but these are
more valuable than are generally under
stood, and should be more freely used.
"If parents better understood the
value of milk and realized that the
future of ths-rsce depended upon the
Of the stamina of its chill
dren, more of this useful food would be
used"