Milford chronicle., 1934-02-23
PROGRAM FOR THE
UNDERNOURISHED CHILD


government the statement is made
that millions of children-probably
as many as 7.5OO,O0O-are suffering
from undernOurishment because of
the depression" quotes Miss Pearl
Macdonald, Extension Service. Uni-
versity of delaware.
This, being interpreted. means
that these children are not having
enough food of the right kind to
build healthy, vigorous bodies. The
child can only grow or build body
once i'm life time and that is from
birth to twenty or twenty-five years.
IL the work is not well done. the
child cannot turn back in ten or
twenty years, when the body is
showing up the results of its def
ciencies, to grow another body. I'm
dernOurishmcnt during the growing
years. further means lowered cndur-
ancc. greater susceptibility to such
diseases as tuberculosis. poorer
teeth and similar physical cCndi
tiOnS.
The Children's Bureau continues
Miss Mac Donald, has just published
Program for the Undernourished
Child to 16 Years of Age" This
program is outlined under five head
ings as follows:
The diet must include the follow
ing protective foods:
Milk
One quart of whole milk daily
either fresh or prepared by dilutins
evapOrated or dried milk. To this
may he added other milk products.
such as dried skim milk, cream and
cheese. Milk is Indispensable in The .
cbild's diet.
Butter
On bread or other foods.
Eggs
Vegetables
At least one serving daily ni u I
green lcafy vegetable and one scrv-
ing of some other cOlOrCd vegetable. i
Spinach, turnip tops. beet tops. cab
bage. kale. chard Carrots, green
beans. peas. heets, tomatoes tfrcsh
or canned). squash. Many vegetables
may be used raw such as cabbage,
carrots (aratcdl. lettuce. celery, wa
tercrcss. tomatoes. Other vegetables, :
such as turnips. onions, parSnipS' !
caulidower. may be used. hut not to .
the exclusion of green leafy or other
cOlored vegetables.
Fruit
A. least one serving daily oG
fresh fruit. Oranges. bananas. ap-
pies. or other fresh fruits in season.
Cooked dried fruits. such as raiSinS.
prunes. apricots and peaches are
valuable foods and should he used
frequently in addition to fresh fruits.
Other cooked fruits may he given.
Cod Liver Oil
Two to four teaspOOnfuls daily.
In addition: Other Energy aud
Body Building Foods
Bread
Two or three times a day: whole I
grain bread AT least once Il day.
Cereals
Hot cooked cereal once or twice
day. served with milk or cream.
Starchy Vegetables
Potatoes sweet potatoes. rice. bar
ley. macarOni. or hnminy once Il day.
Meat or Fish
Fresh lean meat or fish once day
if possible.
The foods recommended for I'M
dernourished children are the same
for any group. hut the older child.
especially the child in his teens.
needs larger quantities of each food
than does the younger child
Sleep and Rest
An nndcrnourished child should ,
have more sleep and rest than the
well-nourished child of the same
age. From > to 6 years of age he
should rest at least 12 hours during
the day and should have - tn IL
hours of sleep at night, going to bed '
at or $50 or, toward the end of
this period. in some cases. at Z; dur
ing school years he should rest af- 4
ter lunch for half an hour and
should have at least II to II hours
of sleep. going to he'd at 1880 or
O'Clock. A child in his teens who is .
undernourished needs 10 to IL
hours Of sleep and also should rest
daily after lunch.
Exercise and Outdoor Play
An undernourished child should
play outdoors in the sun for part
of each day Except at midday in
hot weather.. Little is gained how
ever, by outdoor play on cloudy days
in very cold weather If the temper
ature is below freezing, young chill
dren cannot exercise enough TO keep q,
warm. Moderate play and exercise
are recommended, but strenuous .
games and exercises may have to be
avoided until the child's nutritional =
condition returns to normal. Pur-
poseless running about indoors y,
should be discouraged by providing
some quiet amusement The physi-
clans advice should be sought with Y
respect to the amount of exercise
that is desirable. Y
Habits Of Eating
MalnutritiOn is sometimes due
solely to poor eating habits. If your Y
,hild is finicky eater and refuses
iOods that he needs, especially milk 3
and vegetables. consult your physi-
ian as to how you may help him
overcome the habit. II
Correction Of Physical Defects
Certain physical defects, as dis Fl
,ased tonsils. adenoids, decayed
eeth. ETC.. may interfere with v
.hild's nutrition and will have to be
corrected before the child's eondi-
ion improves. A careful physical Fl
by a physician will be
to discover these defects.