The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-23

AANSNANAAo Va kNAAeA a. AA4NlA Nob
only, and then only through
his column.
ages Of two TO five years have to
be coaxed to eat. Some pediatri-
clans have reported it as high as
from so to so per cent.
A prominent pediatrician re-
ports: with all our weighing and
measuring, and all our rules and
regulations as to when, where,
what and how much TO feed chill
dren we have succeeded in doing
just one thing-we have taken
their appetite away" This occurs
Unfortunately, whether children
% are in a good condition Of nutri-
ton or not. In fact, the principle
cause seems to be a psychological
factor of over anxiety on the part
Of the parents to see the child stuff
itself.
Certain fundamental principles
in regard TO children's diet should
be kept in mind: a child needs
about one gram Of protein per
pound Of ideal body weight day.
According to this, a l0-year-old
child would require approximately
20 grams Of protein daily.
One quart Of milk will supply
half of this, an average serving
Of lean meat will furnish ~ TO Is
grams Of protein, an egg, six
grams, a large dish Of oatmeal,
about four grams, and three slices
OF bread, about three grams. This
will total the desired amount.
Sugar and starches are a ready
source Of energy and are useful
for general body activity. The cal
cium requirement is estimated at
one gram per day. This may be
obtained from one quart of milk.
Food Experiments
1t was found by DR.. Clara Davis
Of Chicago, that when she started
with infants who were eight
months old and who had been ex-
clusively breast fed that if they
were allowed to select their own
diet from a table covered with
cooked and raw foods, they did
very well. They indicated the
foods they wanted by pointing to
them. They very seldom mixed
foods and never added sugar al
though it was on the tray.
A one-year-old child often drank
a quart Of milk at the noon meal
in addition to other food. The diet
selected was quite variable and in
direct contrast to our usual con-
ception of a standard daily diet.
Their protein and fat intake per
pound Of body weight was higher
and the sugar and starch intake
lower according to accepted stand
ards. They gained weight rapidly.
but none of them became over
weight. They never complained Of
lack Of appetite or constipation
and their blood count was higher
than the average for children Of
the same age.
These experiments indicate that
under natural conditions children
select what foods they need and
probably do better than under the
fussy direction and instruction
they get at home.
We do not realize how much Of
our eating is a habit. There is no
reason why we should eat three
meals a day. In England adults
eat five meals a day and are dis
satisfied IL that schedule is inter-
rupted. Children will eat when
they get hungry and one Of the
best slogans which every parent
should know and use for guidance
is: "Never coax and never urge
your child to eat"
Children should feed themselves
at the age Of IA months. After they
have begun to do that, the parents
should never attempt to assist
them.
QDESIIONS AND Ans W EhS
NJ. His pleurisy a stage Of
pneumonia? Does it make a per-
son more susceptible to pneu-
monia?"
Answer: The pleura being a
covering Of the lung, is affected
very often when the lung is af-
fected. Pleurisy may succeed
pneumonia in a certain number Of
cases and it also precedes tubercu-
losis. My advice would be, IL you
have had a definite serious disease
which has been pronounced pneu-
monia, that you have the advice
Of a physician and an X-ray con-
sultation as to whether or not
you have tuberculosis or the pleu-
risy which follows pneumonia.