The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-10-16
Victory Through Health Is Goal of Americas Army In Aprons
By NEA Service

ny ANASfA SNANAN%
 Mansaeld, o.-America's Army m Aprons" has no drills, salutes or
 natty uniforms. It isT1't identified by a set of euphonious initials, as
 ere the wAACs, WAYS and
 WAVES. But in spite of lack of
 fancy trimmings 1t has thousands of members, vitally important lob, and an efficient-if unofficial commander.
 It's members are American house. Rives-the women behind the men ln war industries. And their duty Is to see that their husbands and sons stick to their places on the production line, lnhampered by the AvOidable illnesses that slow ly the vital and supplies.
 HEALTH CLUBS STARTED
 IN 800 FACTORIES
 Their commander, and the wo- man who gave the Army in Aprons" it's name, is Mrs. Julia Kiene, manager of the Westing- house Co.'S Home Economics h. stitute. Since Pearl Harbor she has been leading a fight against poor nutrition and consequent poor health, touring the country as an organizer of Health for Victory" cl...,..3. Today the wives, mothers and sisters of workers in 300 war plants have joined this campaign for better nutrition as victory weapon.
 The first Health for Victory" club was organized at the Vest dnghouse plant in Mansfield, on Feb, 26. In the two months pre- ceeding Mrs. Kiene had been doing some thinking. She had learned that between Nov. "A and Dec. 20 of last year, 3,200,O00 man-days in war-esSential industries had been lost through avoidable sick ness.
 BETTER DIET IS
 HEALTH WEAPON ...
 She decided to do something about it, and that the something" should be an improvement in workers diet. She not only stud- jed the nutrient values of food, she also studied the contents of workmens' lunch boxes, and watched what housewives bought at the corner groceries.
 These purchases, Mrs. Kiene found, had plenty of ingredients for the meat-and-potato-and-ple meal, but too few of the protec- ted foods. So she introduced her apron army to vitamins at their first meeting.
 Mansfield housewives had heard of vitamins before, but apparent ly the knowledge hadn't taken hold. So Mrs. Kiene injected a little humor into the subject. and wound up with some cooking demonstrations.
 Her job grew with the spread of the health club ic'ea. Soon she was putting out books with menues for every day of the month-in- the lunch-pail meal. She preunxed recipes to fit into $14- a-week food budget for a family of five.
 Results at the end of the first six meetings of the Mansfield Heath for Victory" club con- vinced Mrs. Kiene that she was on the right track. She sent out a to club members and got back, unsigned their re- ports on family health which up as follows:
 Ninety-one, per cent of the reported that the men in their family had lost less time from work because of colds, head aches and indigestion since the health flor victory menues had been used; 92 per cent said their health" was better, and In 90 per cent of the reports, the themselves reported better health, less fatigue.
 Now, with volunteers for the 'sArnly in Aprons" still pouring fin, Mrs. Kiene is confident that her kitchen brigades have the forces of bad diet on the run.