Bisbee daily review., 1922-01-28
BY ELLA BATES School Nurse


 Fruits are the seed bearing portions of plants. These seed-bearing DOT tions are sometimes called fruits and sometimes vegetables.
 Fresh fruits contain from 75 torg5 per cent water. It has been suggest ed that those fruits containing 80 per tent or more water be classed as fla vor fruits and those with less than so per cent as food fruits-bananas grapes and fresh figs are the com monest examples of this latter class. In drying the percentage of water falls to 30 per cent or less and the proportion of nutrients correspond ingly is higher, so dried fruits fall into the class of food fruits.
 As a class, fruits contain little or no fat. The olive is a remarkable ex- ception. There is practically no pro- tein in any of the fruits. Sugars and starches are the chief nutrients pres ent. In ripe fruits this sugar is known as fruit sugar. Fruits contain charac- teristic organic acids and oils which give the peculiar flavor to bananas, strawberries and others. Digestibili- ty of fruits varies with the kind of fruit and mode of preparation. Stew ed fruits are more easily digested than raw. Oranges, lemons, grapes, and peaches are very easily digested.
 Orange Juice Is Fine
 Orange juice should be given all growing children and be frequently administered to babies that are arti- ficially fed. In fact, all artificially fed babies should have it daily, begin- ming with a teaspoonful of strained juice and increasing it to the needs Of the individual baby. In case it is difficult to obtain oranges. strained canned tomato juice may be given with equally good results. A great many babies with rough skins would be very much benefited by the use of either the orange or tomato juice and should have it daily as these contain minerals and vitamines so es- sential to normal growth.
 It is important to those who are obliged to exclude sugar from the die tary to know that the fruits contain ing the least sugar are the plum, peach, apricot and raspberry Those containing the largest amounts are apples, sweet cherries, grapes and pears. The apple is especially good in cases of acidity of the stomach The juice of the ripe pineapple con- tai1s a remarkable digestive ingredi- ent and is especially powerful in the digestion of proteins. Dates, figs. and prunes are high in food value and sweetness and are satisfactory to child as candy.
 The banana contains as much starch as the potato and therefore it is not easily digested and should ney, CT be given to children under twelve years uncOoked.
 Acids Help the Body
 Fresh fruits are chiefly O. valua for their refreshing and appetizing uuali- ties and for their mineral and vita> mine constituents. The organic acids help to regulate the body processes. Fruits are also valuable for bulk which is an essential factor in diet. lntelligently used, fruits are valu- able part of a we'll balanced dict and more general use of. them should be encouraged The dried fruits compare favorahlyl ] with bread, dried beans, and other foods as to energy value. Over-ripe or runTipe raw fruit should never be given children. All fruit should be thoroughly washed before serving.
 The fruits and vegetables best suit ed to be given children are spinach, chard, best greens, strained stewed tomatoes, stewed carrots, boiled on ions, lima beans, well cooked string beans, peas, mashed cauliflower, squash, stewed celery, asparagus tips