Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-01-09
Americans Eat Less.


Astonishing changes have taken place
In the diet of the American people in the
last three to four decades and they may
fairly be held to account to considerable
extent for farm distress. Although the
period has been one of steadily increasing
wealth and constantly higher standard
OF living, staple farm products have been
consumed in progressively smaller guam
titles.
People eat less than they did generation
or two ago. This is accounted for by the
development of labor-saving machinery.
In factories, even in Offices, tasks have
been made lighter.
The inevitable result has been a dimin-
ished consumption of muscle building food.
Tissue still is broken down by effort, but,
for the population as a whole, less is act
ually needed to carry ON the majority of
modern tasks.
Another element in diminished food con-
sumption is to be found in improved hous-
ing and heating facilities. No longer is it
necessary for the people to store I'D by
hearty eating reserves of heat-conservine
energy to fight off the cold. Houses are
constructed with more of an idea to COM
fort. The modern furnace, equally distribu-
ting heat throughout dwelling, has taken
the place of an open fireplace which scorched
the face and froze the back
Some of the figures which have Just been
compiled by the Foodstuffs Division, De-
partment of Commerce, are surprising. In
credible as it seems, the per capita con-
sumption of wheat flour has declined from
223.9 pounds in 1889 to only I'LL pounds.
Here is shortening of the yearly ration
by more than So loaves OF bread. This is
accounted for to some extent by change
IN baking methods. In 1853 the LOAF OF
white bread was OF much more solid text
ure than 1t is today. 1t contained more
flour. The method OF Initiating bread TO
something comparable to the texture of
Swiss cheese had not been adopted. Also
more homemade biscuits, some OF them
rather wel9hty, were consumed.
The decline In the consumption OF corn
meal is even more striking. In 1859 corn
meal consumption was III pounds per
capita. Now it is down to only 22.3. Corn
meal mush. fried corn meal cakes, spoon
bread and other dishes OF the type have
almost completely disappeared from the
American diet save in some sections of the
of the Southern States.
The buckwheat cake which in 1889
eraced millions of American breakfast
tables has almost completely disappeared.
whereas the 1889 per capita consumption
was 70 pounds. 1t has dwlndled to a mere
4-lO OF pound. Buckwheat consumption
never was comparable with white wheat
because II IS largely winter food and also
sectional. The buckwheat cake and maple
strip season runs approximately concur
rently with the incidence OF snow north OF
the Mason and Dixon line.
There have been important substitutions
for the old-fashioned cereal products, but
they do not make complete offset. Ex-
cept for plain rolled oats of the type from
which Scotch porridge was made, the pat
ented breakfast food was unknown 40 years
ADO. The force of ADVERTISING is inter-
estinely displayed by the manner in which
the American breakfastine public has been
educated into consumption of these patent
foods. However, the quantities consumed
90 but short way toward making I'D the
loss in nutriment represented by the fall
ing off in the breadstuff consumption.
Taking all cereal products into considera-
ton. il is reported that CONSUMPTION has
declined 1870 pounds for every man. woman
and child in the country since 1899.
During this period the population of the
United States has approximately doubled
and therefore, even with the sharply re-
duced consumption the total consumption
in terms of volume has increased, but had
consumption remained at the same rate
the demand on the American farmer for
cereals would be hundreds of millions of
bushels ahead of what it is now. Farming
presumably would be more profitable,
On the other hand, there has been an
increase in Der capita consumption of
meats, although only a small one when the
enhancement of wealth and the standard
of living are taken into consideration The
gain has been only 8 pounds per person
since 40 years ago. Then l42 pounds, it
has increased to las pounds a year.
Three items of diet, all nourishing, but
not of the same muscle building type as
meat and cereal, have revealed good gains.
The chief gain is recorded in dairy pro-
ducts. Per capita consumption now is
placed at 1,04O pounds, an increase of $50
pounds since 1885, The gain is chiefly
accounted for by the greatly increased use