Milford chronicle., 1930-07-04
35 PER CENT OF
SUSSEX CHILDREN
SUFFERING FROM
POOR NUTRITION
Just What Does This
Mean And By What
Signs Do We Recognize
The Condition?

In the medical inspection OF
school children in Sussex county
for the year 1928-1929, about $3.50 OF
the children are reported as suffer-
ing from faulty nutrition.
Just what does this mean and by
what signs do we recognize the con-
dition known as faulty nutrition or
malnutritiOn?
There are various contributing
factors in child growth and devel-
opment which bring about the con-
>ditiOn spoken of as faulty or NAL
nutritiOn-such as-nOt enough
sleep and rest; too little fresh air
and play Out-of-doors; decayed
teeth, adenoids or enlarged or dis
eased tonsils or other physical han
dicap. However, poor nutrition is
quite largely a matter of food. 1t
does not mean that a child has not
had enough food to eat. Few chill
dren in this county actually suffer
from lack of food. But medical and
other examinations and studies of
children show that many childl en-
suffer from not having enough of
the right kinds of food to build and
maintain fine, strong bodies.
All farm men and women, boys
and girls, are familiar with the judg-
ing of farm animals-calYes, pigs,
ehickens-at fairs and community
days. They have learned certain
points by which to judge an animal.
They have learned that three things
are essential in order to have a prize
winning animal so to speak, namely,
good stock, right food and care.
Now, the principles for good nu-
triton and good health as applied
to the fine development of children
are the same as those used in grow
ing fine farm animals.
What are some of the most i'm
portant signs of good growth and
development in children?
Clear, bright eyes-alert, happy
expressiOn-strong, we'll enameled
teeth-glossy, pliable hair-clear,
smooth skin-straight, we'll built
bones with strong, timber arches in
feet-straight back-even shoulders
good chest cavity-fat. not sag
ging, abdomen-frm, uniform mus
cles-goOd appetite--go digestion
bowels regular.
The opposite of these would indi-
cate a pOOrly-nOurished child.
Study the children whom you meet
and see how many you think have
attained a fine physical body.
How many children attain the
best possible physical condition so
fundamental to health and happi-
ness?
First-take the child to a good
doctor for a thorough physical
check-up to make sure that there is
no defect in the body machine to in
terfere with nutrition and growth, |
such as, enlarged or diseased ton
sils or adenoids, or decayed teeth,
or defective eyesight, etc.
SecOnd-train the child in the .
fOllowing-lo hours of sleep and
rest with windows Open-plenty of |
play and exercise Out-of-dOors-reg-
ular meals sufficient water every
bowel movement every
day-teeth kept clean and free from
cavities.
Third-train him to eat foods that
will supply enough of the right ma
terials to build bones, teeth, mus
cles; regulate the work of the body;
promote growth and general well-
being.
And what foods meet these needs?
The following is recommended by
leading nutritionists to meet the
1aily food requirements of growing
boys and birls and accepted by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture as a standard for the All
1lub boys and girls. For each grow
ng child every day:
Three-fourths to one quart of
vegetables besides pota-
Oes-sOme leafy vegetables and to-
natoes each three or four times
veek-sOme raw fruit or vegetable
very day-fruits once or twice
lay-whOle grain products once or
vice a day-One or two servings of
,heese, eggs, meat, dried peas and |
to six glasses of water ,
no tea or coffee and no sweets be- I
ween meals. ,
If this ration were adhered to ev- !
ry day by every child, we would
Don see a vast improvement in the q
,hysical cohdition of our children '
nd medical school inspection would I
lot show thirty-five per cent of our /
hildren suffered from faulty nu- J
rition. This is a real challenge to f
arents and those interested in the '
est development of our children. /
or further information and help, @
all upon your County Home DEM
Agent. 7
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