Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-09-06
HEALTH DEFENSE
CLASSES URGED
AS NEED in U.S..
BOTTLED VITABINS NOT REAL
SUBSTITUTE FOR BAL
ANCED DIET


should be set up Immediately in pub
lie and vocational schools, to teac
the American wife and mother no,
to keep the family fed in spite Q
rising food prices and possible scarci
ties, warns a study by Northwestern
National Life Insurance Co.
Bottled" vitamins are not a sub
stitute for a balanced diet Of health
full foods, In spite of their specifi
values, and there is a real hazard &,
public health If the layman gets ex
aggerated ideas of what they win &C.
complish, the study states. Injectin,
these products into common staple.
such as white flour can correct Ger.
tain important deficiencies, but sucf
measures can do only one part Of the
job.
Prices On Rise
With food prices on the rise, and
growing need to share our food sup
plies with other nations, moderate and
low-income families are liable to be
badly pinched ON their food budgets
before the emergency Is over, the study
warns. The usual mistake made In
such circumstances is to substitute
with too large a proportion Of starchy
foods, which are cheaper and give a
feeling of fullness. This error can
have widespread Ill effects on health,
as the British have already learned.
Simple, technical instruction In
common food values Is needed, so the
American housewife can learn quick
ly how to substitute without cheating
her family of food elements absolute
ly necessary to maintain health. This,
the study says, means instruction that
does not bewilder her with complicated
tables of calories, international units,
lists of vitaminS, and
of minerals-but instead
deals In pounds and cupfuls and tea
spoonfulS-in terms and ingredients
with which she Is accustomed to work.
Meats, eggs and dairy products,
known as the animal protein group,
and the fresh fruit and vegetable |
group are the sections of the menu
which suffer most when the food
budget is pinched. Though starchy |
foods are relatively cheap, and have
a large and necessary place IN the
diet, they cannot take the place Of |
the other essential groups too, how
ever much they are fortified with
added vitaminS and minerals. The
whole alphabet of vitamins, the study
cautions, cannot offset a lack of pro-
einS-the stuff from which the body
S rebuilt And proteins are getting
more expensive.
Therefore the American housewife
leeds immediate training, the study
continues, in wise choice of those
cheaper foods which are often fully
equal to more expensive articles in
actual food value. Also she needs
raining in the tasty preparation of
hose cheaper foods so the family will
ccept them.
Cheaper cuts Of meat, and some of
he animal organs-hearts, livers, kid
eys etc.-furnish just as much pro-
Elm, and oftentimes more OF the
aluable fats, while the hearts, livers,
to-, also furnish extra vitamins and
Minerals not found so richly in many
expensive cuts of meat. Powdered milk
nd evaporated milk are relatively low ,
ost sources of animal protein for
Ody- building.
Inexpensive Foods
Whole wheat flour, and potatoes
18th the skins on are examples of G
foods that are rich in c
)od values, and in natural vitamtns ;
nd minerals, too, the study points t
ut. Mother Nature is still the best {
best way for the body t
} get such elements is from foods in
hich they grow, the report declares.
he value of the soy bean-inexpensiv
1T extraordinarily rich source of pro- v
ins and fats-iS another example of I
le kind of practical information
hich should be contained in sim $
lifted course in family health de- Il
nse, the report observes.
Past analyses of low-income family \
cts have shown, the study states, :,
lat IS percent of low-income fam =,
es waste a considerable part Of their N
cd money by unwise choice Of foods ,,
Family health defense" instruction, n
provided now in this emergency
n help solve a long-Standing prob
m of peacetime, and will continue Al
bear fruit after the emergency is 81
er, the study points out, by showing h
,me managers how to spend their In
nited food budgets more skillfully. s.
great many inadequately nouriShed m
miles today could be properly and
fed on the money they are
w spending, by better selection of eS
e food products they buy. at