Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-14
FOOD AND HEALTH
By WINIFRED STUART GIBBS.
Food Specialist.

II is so fatally easy TO generaliZe.
One must needs be very well inform
cd indeed as to the chief properties
of all food groups before he is equip
ped to pass upon any generalization
as il applies to diet
Are any dietary congratulations
safe?- Certain dietary CONGRATULATIONS
are safe in the mouth of one VINO
knows the subject.
The type of generalization along
dietary lines that is safe has TO do
with such statements as the follow
| ing:
The diets of children should he
planned to suit their ages. Children
digestions will not take care OF com
plex, rich" dishes. Every one re-
! ouiras an aII-round mixed diet il he
| is to remain in perfect health.
So much for concentrations as re
lated 10 the fundamental facts OF nu-
triton which have been known 10
scientists for a considerable period
What about those that relate to the
| newer knowledge of nutrition, TO
use Dr. McCollum's descriptive
phrase?
Among those who are helping US
answer lust such questions DIR. Nc
Collum himself stands out as Strlk'
ing figure. lie points out that Whlle
we are accustomed to tell seekers
after dietary truth that mixed
diet. is a fairly safe guide. this state
ment, like most others, needs quah-
ficatlon.
For example. the mere selection Of
variety for variety's sake. VIII not
1 turn the trick.
The housewife who gave her fami-
~ meals made up from the following
list would no doubt think she was
serving a real variety, yet. IN the
light Of the newer knowledge the
| ration might be decidedly deficient in
some OF the Vitally important elements.
Here ;s suggested by way of illustra-
tions: Wheat. peas rye, harley. beans,
potatoes. lentils. radisneS. parsuips.
| and lean meat.
AS has been pointed out, the aver
age woman. gIancing at such II list,
: might say 10 herself: We'll, there
/ are wheat and other cereals. meat,
| beans and a fair assortment Of Win
| ter vegetables. II is not luxurious
| list. but we shall certainly not starve.
especially as there are vegetables, and
every one seems to think those are
more important than anything else
| these days"
SO the housewife would go blitbrly
about preparing piping hot cereals.
steamin-; potatoes and beans. soups
! of either or all Of the various Nege-
| tables on the list. suCculent meat.
| even if from the cheaper cuts. Be
| cause Of her skill the family would
! probably be prefectly satisfied. es
pecially because there would be tea
| and coffee for every one. True, Dad
might grumbIe about the lack of
milk and butter. but bacon fat will
| help considerably in fiavorine the
J vegetables and in frying OF cakes
made from the -four or cereal prod
uctS.
In spite of all this. however. the
| children don't seem 10 he growing
! as they should, and their father is
| that irritable"' Such may be Mrs.
Housewives wall to a sympathetic
| neighbor. She makes due allowance
/ for the lack of palatableness in
| dietary deficient in butter, milk. eggs
and leafy vegetables. hence her low
! ing care in regard TO making plain
| dishes attractive. but as she tells the
neighbor: The childrens college fund
! is growing and plain food never hurt
! any one yet
| This is but one illustration Of nu
| merous possible complications that
may result from a good variety OF
plain food" The generalization. then.
| in regard 70 a mixed diet being safe
should include the statement: Pro
vided it contains plenty of milk. butter
| and green vegetables"
! Learn to qualify every generaliZa.
, ton you make about diet,
Copyright. 1896