Evening star., 1940-05-01
Constant Care Very Necessary Books Remain Best Condition
Youngsters
OBest on
Right Diet
Child Health Day
Forces This on
Our Attention
BY Bureau Of Home Economics, United
States Department Of Agriculture.

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Today is Child Health Day
throughout the Nation. But in
homes where there are young chill
dren, the family takes part in q
child health program every time it
sits down to q meal.
BY the time child eats at the
family table or at q little table of his
own-hes growing up. He's small
in size, it's true. But he's ready to
eat grownup food, If it's wholesome
and nutritious.
Children growing fast and playing
hard, need foods that will produce
strong bones and teeth, build tissue,
make red blood, and furnish energy.
But children's tummies are small
and quickly filled. So every bite
they eat must be as full of food
value as possible.
Milk is the most economical source
Of the materials needed for growth.
From three to four glasses during
the day are needed. Most children
like to drink milk-but it is often
best to give the milk at the end of
the meal, so it will not crowd out
other foods that are also important.
Some milk can also be included in
cooked foods-cereals cooked in milk,
vegetables combined with milk in
cream soup, and milk in custards
and sherbets.
Eggs are also excellent body
builders-rich in protein, vitamins,
and minerals. Give the child at
least four or five eggs q week. Serve
them soft-cooked, poached, shirred,
or baked. Or use the eggs in Gus
tards or in soufles, with vegetables
or cheese.
"At least four servings of fruit and
vegetables q day." is q good rule to
follow for the entire family. It's
easy to include them If you serve q
fruit for breakfast, a vegetable at
noon and again at night, and a fruit
dessert at one meal. It's . good
plan to add more vegetables to both
the noon and evening meal.
Choose one of these fruits or vege-
tables to supply vitamin C. Citrus
fruits and tomatoes are rich in this
vitamin; 50 are green's and the
vegetables of the cabbage and tur-
nip families. When planning the
days meals, also remember that
the green vegetables are valuable
for vitamin A and iron, as we'll as
for vitamin c. Potatoes and sweet
potatoes give good returns in food
value for their cost. Prunes and
other dried fruits, dried peas and
beans, as well as canned fruits and
vegetables are useful in rounding
out the list.
Children enjoy chewing carrot
strips and crisp green cabbage or
lettuce leaves rabbit fashion. A
sandwich filling Of butter creamed
with chopped lettuce, cabbage,
watercress, or parsley is . way to
tuck in some extra vitamins and
minerals.
Cereals are another must" in the
well-planned diet. Whole grain
cereals, including whole-grain flour
for bread, are especially important
for their vitamins and minerals.
But don't forget to count rice, grits.
macaroni, spaghetti, and noodles as
cereals that supply energy.
Lean meats are quite suitable for
children once day: and sometime
during the week. the child's meat
dish should be liver or kidney or
sweetbreads. Coarse stringy meat
is hard for a child to chew, 50 it is
best to grind it or chop it fine.
Broiling is a good method to use
for tender chops, steaks, and liver,
and for ground meat patties. Roast
the tender cuts of meat, and braise
the less tender ones. Braising
means browning the meat in a little
fat and then cooking it slowly until
tender in a covered pan with a little
moisture added
A piece of candy or other sweet
is certain to delight a child. And
if desserts do not take the place
of more important foods, they may
be served as special treat at the
end of the meal Desserts that the
entire family will enjoy are custards,
puddings. ice cream. fruit sherbets.
plain cookies, and plain cake.