Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-01
.LAUDs SCHOOL LuNCHEONs
COOKING EXPERT DEFENDS
INNOVATION IN BIG CITIES
Cites Numerous Cases or Mnlnutrition
and Shows How better Eating
Habits Can lie Cultivated.
by LoREryru Z. LYNCH.

~ meaning woman mas written
me letter concerning the school lun-
chcon which many cities provide for
their little ones. The lady says that
this is an attempt 10 paupcriZe chill
dren and 10 relieve the parent of her
responsibility toward the child. She
tells me that ii gives the lazy, shift
the day EaddinG about, to the movies
or elsewhere. And il places another
burden on the already heavily taxed
public. And she ends by saying that
the children OF, the Last generation had
no school luncheon and they grew up
an nea ,qF1 5ady out vS very xwSsas - worry
elastic term. II. you mean that the
majority reached lets say twenty
ask any physician who sat on the
Draft Board how many men Were
physically UNI, for service when the
country needed any and all men hadly
and the answer Will astonish you.
Mark you. The little schoolgirls Of
the last generation who grew TO wo-
board for examination ut all. but the
numeer OF yours, men alone. unfit he
able 20 undernourish ment during the
growing period. was appalling.
Mninutrition Cnsc> Numerous.
large number OF cases OF malnutri,iou
among school children is attracting
wi.dssrrreod attention And his in
prosperity among the 'abor.nr classes
,--greater than II amy period in our
For ii is not always lack Of food
that causes nalnutrition Mainutri-
ton is often dne 70, wrong foods ana
fresh air. especially a; night and I'M IN.
sufficient sleep as we'll OF course as
some physical arrangement may cause
II, but large percentage or the cases
may be traced TO wrong foods. badly
prepared. and 70 incorrect food habits
IN the child, have done much set
and have both worked and lived
among the middle class in a numhcr
e. OF TeP r. .,t cites And have
n the average poor mans home is
cooRcd 70 ~ the needs OF tho adults.
.1d n? children have TO try 20 adapt
nsn"lly in1Do-or-,ate diet
The result is that re lit,le italian
with o'clock dinner OF highly soa-
soned s7aEhetti Gun OF strong coffee
or 9'.. tea an; and heavy sweet. He sins a
pachett and then drinks a little moro
Gc9ree and so on till the meal is done
habits 10 the detriment OF his physical
development
Can Create TASTES
average ncrson tn9Wn [hGt 'hat the
nrst time disl'kes them Later. from
practice; The habit OF olives comes 10
tant price 10 obtain these little anne
tiers. Just so II Is quite possible for
the welI-cor6ucted school lunch conn
ter to. create n liking for the simnla
nutritious foods that help build hone
and muscle and keep tho body we'll
The ruhlic. Willingly pays for jani-
tor service in its schools Surely it
IS not wise, economy 10 De unwilling
10 ray helners TO prepare and serve
foods. that will not only nourish the
growing school child hut also helm 10
create wise food habits \ rroperIy
SUPERVISED lunchroom has some ono n,
charge who gently insists uDon slow
eating. proper mastication and drink
ing after meals rather than with
The pennies taken In over the coun-
ter pay tor n little more tNan half the
food. Tn" dcncit will have 70 come
be issued free 20 the poorest kiddies
At the discretion Of some ono in charrc
The usual moor mother is not a
Stacker. She docs not cad about and
neglect her children She feeds a child
tea and bread and pickles for lun-
cheon because She does not know bet
ter. Eut let the child become ac-
quainted with delicious hot cocoa AT
the lunch counter and the poor mother
VIII irv - 0-Nride II tLa o-hn-
meals because Johnnie likes It so"
In every community everywhere
there arc few women as wEl as men
who abuse every privilege. There viii
be few who will abuse the school
lunch counter privilege. Rut they wili
be in the very small minority And
SO II the question ~ the lunch coun-
Ter in your community comes up. every
mother should use her influence n
have Il h"cor0e 4 reality for tho good
OF tho children.