The Coolidge examiner., 1938-12-15

ly traceable to
faulty habits of
eating and faulty hygiene during
the holiday season.
The person who is forewarned
IS usually forearmed. Therefore,
every homemaker who has the in
terests of her family at heart
should plan, now, to arrange ac-
tivities so that strain and fatigue
will be reduced to a minimum.
And more specifically, she should
see to it that she formulates a
sound eating program. Far too
many people, at this season of
the year, suffer the i'll effects Of
lowered resistance brought about
by unwise eating and by over
eating.
Overeating of a poorly chosen
diet is inadvisable at any time be-
cause it tends to Overburden the
digestive system. But it is par
ticularly undesirable during the
winter season when almost every
one tends to stay too long indoors,
frequently in Overheated rooms,
and to take too little outdoor ex-
ercise.
Regularity in eating a carefully
balanced diet, containing suffi-
cient bulky foods to help promote
regular health habits, is of the ut
most Importance if resistance is
to be maintained at a high peak
during the holiday season.
Keeping Body Machinery Efficient
One should always remember
that the body is a machine work
ing as regularly and as accurately
as a clock. Any good mechanic
knows that a fine mechanism re-
quires the same type of care day
in and day out. Homemakers,
too, should remember that the
body does not function differently
just because we celebrate a holi-
day with age-old customs. Thus,
to keep every member of the fam
lily well and rested, try not to al
low the holiday celebrations to up
set the ordinary routine of your
household.
Late breakfasts, heavy dinners,
and suppers taken at odd hours
do not constitute the best possible
menu-planning. The unfortunate
Over-emphaSiS on rich foods on
special occasions may easily re-
suit in digestive disturbance, un-
less great care is taken to avoid
dietetic indiScretiOns, and to
maintain always the ideal of a
balanced ration.
Child's Diet Especially Important
During the dark days of Decem-
Der, the children's diet requires
extra thought and care. Too close
confinement indoors and the lack
of sunshine may easily have an
adverse effect upon the temper
and vitality of young children.
Then, too, the excitement of an
ticipating Christmas is bound to
add to their general fatigue.
Children seldom complain of ia
tigue, which makes it all the more
necessary for mothers to be on
guard against, or to look for, the
first intimation that it may exist.
A child who is tired is very apt to
be irritable. More than likely his
appetite will be poor, and when
he does eat, he may not be able
to care properly for the food he
takes. You may find, if you al
low him to become overtired or
feed him unaccustomed foods,
that it will be struggle to get
him to bed, and even then he may
not sleep soundly. And it is gen.
orally recognized that disturbed
sleep, plus unwise eating, may
have most unfortunate conse-
quences.
The Ideal Holiday Diet
Holiday or no holiday, both chill
dren and adults should have at
least two fruits daily, one Of which
should be a citrus fruit or toma-
toes, to help provide adequate
vitamin c; there should be two
vegetables besides potatoes, one
of which should be of the green,
leafy variety; an egg daily, or at
least three or four weekly;
quart OF milk for every child, and
a pint for each adult.
If your meals are built on this
foundation, there will be less room
for the rich heavy foods which
should only be taken in modera-
finn and a ftar unI1 hava haInad 70