Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-01-03
BALANCED FOOD
FOR FAMILIES
ESTIMATE FOOD SUPPLY WEEK
LY AND INSURE 4 BAL
ANCED DIET

Housckccpers often feel the need or
son,e simple plan by which the foods
usd in their families can be com
pared in kind and in amount with
those really needed. This calls Tor
a standard or model that may DC
used as a guide in the selection Oh
foods for any family at any season oil
the year and under any market con-
ditionS.
The United States Department OF
Agriculture has just issued new
Farmers Bulletin, No. 1928, prepared
bv Caroline l.. Hunt. The subject OF
the bulletin is,'"A Weeks Food for
an Average Family" 1t shows how
all food materials arc classed under
five heads or groups, and how an
foods, with the exception OF the mix
for young children, may be replaced
by some other food or foods Wlthln
the same group. The text gives
suggestions for such substltutlons,
and method for comparing the cost
of similar foods. 1t shows also how
to adapt the allowances given IN the
sample food supply so as to meet the
needs of families larger or smaller
than the average. The bulletin con-
tains many illustrations, useful
tables and menus. 1t may be obtained
upon application to the United States
Department Of Agriculture.
An important point emphasized in
the bulletin is that balanced food
supply in the course of a week in
surcs a balanced diet, whether or NOT
the balance is carried out in each
separate meal. The five food groups
have been more generally understood
of late years Many houselSeepers
hav felt, however, that it was reces-
sary to serve at least one food from
each group at every meal, in order to
supply a proper balance. If the week
~ food supply is satisfactorily distrib
uted the exact make up Of the sepa-
rate meals is not important. \
breakfast Of toast and coffee (for an
adult is entirely acceptable if foods
from other groups are used later in
the day.
As rule the diet will be suffic-
iently bulky and flavorfu and will
furnish the right proportions of
starch, fat, and sugar if the vcge-
tables and fruits furnish about 20
per cent Of the fuel; the milk, meat,
eggs, and similar protcin-rich foods,
20 per cent; the cereal foods, includ-
ing bread, so per cent; sweets, 10 per
cent; fats and fat foods, 20 per cent.
A dict made up on those proportions
will also furnish satisfactory kinds
and amounts Of protein, mineral sub
stance, and vitamines. Tables of
sample supplies are given in the bull
letin, also weeks menus made
from these supplies
One feature of the bulletin which
many housekccpcrs will welcome is a
table of common foods in which the
number of hundred-caloric portions
in an ordinary unit OF weight is
clearly shown for foods il each
group. Thus, ordinary cheese pro-
vides 10 hundred caloric portions pcr
pound, while average beef provides
10 hundred calorie portions per pound
When cheese sells for IS cents a
pound it costs cents per hundred
calorie portion, and beef OF average
composition would have to sell for 20
cents pound to be equally cheap as
a source of energy.
The mythical average" family is
supposed to consist OF a father and
mother, both doing moderately active
muscular work. and three children
whose ages total from 20 to :! years.
Four average" adults is considered
an equivalent. The new bulletin
shows how to adapt average" food
requirements to any family by means
of table giving the number Of hun
dred calorie portions needed by Diff
ferent individuals IL a day or a week.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
nection that an active boy over -
may require as much or even more
energy food than a grown man.
With the knowledge given of the
amount of food from each group
needed for the ideal or average fam
lily, and a correct estimate of the ra-