The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-01
Varied Diet Urged
 For Growing Child
Beatrice Hall, Democrat Writer, Makes Recommends
 tions-Pint of Milk Day Minimum Requirement

"A varied diet B the thing for children as well as for adults" sayB the bureau of home economies. That means weli-balanced diet, hclud- ing different types of food. to fur nish the essential food materials for all the different needs Of the childs growing body. The materials arc the same that everybody else re- oiireS-but with more generous portion of milk and eggs, because these arc foods richest in substances the child needs most
 The child probably does not, at first, ask for much variety, but he may be taught and easily taught, because the very young child has no food prejudlccs. Food likes are largely matter of habit, built up through repeated happy experiences in tasting. Introduced to new foods one at a time and in small portions the child soon accepts them and wants them if they are offered In attractive form. He will be eager for his greens, his tomato or orange juice, his eggs, meat and potatoes. as well as his milk and cereals, ana his buttercd toast.
 This applies, course, to children old enough to take solid food-aitcr their first IS months or eo. The one qualification is the matter of pre- pairing the food 10 suit the little childs requirements ~- In small pieces, or of a consistency which can be managed with hls child -BiZc tools, and in portions tempting to the childs appetite.
 MIX is the best starting point In planning the child's diet. and he should have at least q pint Of mix day. and preferably quart. Eggs and meat are good building foods The child needs Il whole egg or some meat a8 often as once day To furnish protein in addition to the protein he gets from milk. Liver iG one of the best meats for chil- drcn because of the VitaminS and the iron it furnishes. Cereals. bread and potatoes are important energy foods because of the large amount of starch they contain. Every meal may we'll include some bread. The child who drinks plenty of whole milk, eats variety Of fruits and vegetables and gets grain cereals in some form. may have either Wholc-grain or white bread, With less variety Of other foods, tn. entire-grain cereals and whole wheat bread arc recommended for growing children. Vegetables and fruits are valuable for the miner als and vitamlns they supply and also for the variety of their color and flavor. In addition to potatoes, the child should have at least two servings of other kinds of vegeta- blcs every day. Fruits, both raw and cooked, are good for children. Bananas, too are good if ripe which means when the skin has begun to dnrken, the seeds are black, and the pulp is mcaly. Sweets are c0nccn- tratcd fuel foods. They add inter cht Lo the diet, but must be used with discretion. Fats are the most | concentrated body fuels, furnishing more energy than sweets and starchc8. Butter. which is milk fat, Is also q good source of Vitamin A and the child should have iL every day. Not much other fat, however. should be used in the child'S diet.
 All hard foods such nS bread crust and toast, and also meat that has not been ground or 6craped, encourage chewing and are valuable Foods of this kind should be given for eXercl6lng the gums and teeth. very early in life, but not too often or in such large amounts that eat ing becomes slow and laborious. Contrast of consistency in the same meal serving some hard. crisp, or dry foods and some that are soft, makes meals interesting and nppc- tlzlng.
 In presenting an unfamiliar food, it k best to start by giving only n teafpOOnful and increasing the p0r- ton gradually. A serving of two lnblegpoonfuls of familiar, we'll liked food lH plenty aL one time. Give the child more if he wants it when he has cleared hB plate.