Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-28
School Lunch
Holds Great
Possibilities
Becomes Significant Unit
in U. S. Dietary
BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING

THE proportionate number of
Il pupils in our public schools
who are provided with lunch
under the supervision of the
school authorities on the school
grounds varies in different cities.
1 should judge that the larger
the city, the larger the proper
ton of pupils who require this
service.
OF course, in any city the
proportion varies, depending
upon the location of the school,
whether or not it is in a resiS
Dental neighborhood of high or
low economic level.
The general movement for
school lunches has grown and
certainly holds great possibili-
ties, both immediate and future.
A committee of the American
Medical Association has re-
Gently released an official state
ment concerning this increas-
ingly significant unit in the
American dietary.
In adapting the school lunch
10 the needs of the child. one
must recognize and correct the
principal nutritional deficiencies
most commonly found in Amer
lean diets.
These are calcium, vitamin
B, and, in certain areas, iron,
iodine and several minor vita
minis.
Where money is lacking for
the purchase of food in the
home, or the adequate provis-
ion of lunch for the child, a de-
ficiency in all these essentials
may exist.
THE food sources from which
Il these deficiencies can be
made up are: milk for calcium
and vitamins; eggs for phos-
phorus and iron; cheese for CAL
cium and phosphorus: vege-
tables, fruits and meats for
many minerals, including iron
whole grains and peas and
beans for vitamin B.
The proper feeding Of a vast
multitude, whether in an army
or in a nation. constitutes an
appalling problem.
Not only must a suitable diet
be furnished, but the difficulties
of transportation and preserva-
ton must be observed.
The school lunch. as we'll as
the army food, has tremendous
potentialities for good, not only
because it provides a balanced
diet. but also in the education
OF the individual: These chill
dren and soldiers should have
learned. for the benefit of their
health and their future families
health Of what A completely bal
anced, nutritious diet consists.
besides this. there is a pos
- sibility for emphasizing the
Importance OF taking time &c
eat.
A few years ago the Harvard
University Memorial Hall was
forced TO close its kitchens be-
cause the students, too i'm.
patient to sit, preferred TO take
their hamburgers and chocolate
malts on one foot with the
other on the rail.
The possibilities for good OF
school lunches are so important
that the management of all the
cafeterias in all the public
schools should be placed in the
hands of single director.
Certainly the sale of unde-
sirable foods. such as candy and
tones, in the cafeteria or on
the school premises should be
stopped.
In order 10 sidcStep this par
ticular problem, the school
children should not be allowed
10 leave the school premises
during the lunch hour and no
one should be allowed 10 boot
leg candy or other foods 10
them.
QUESTIONS. ANSWERS
NIL. HI have heard that
rhubarb was hard on the kid
neys. Is this true?
Answer-On the contrary
rhubarb has no especial effect
on the kidneys whatever; like
most vegetables, it tends ia
make the urine alkaline and Ia
this extent is good rather than
bad.
l.. 3. w. Is phenobarbital
habit forming and is ii injuri-
Gus for one to take il for a
length of time?
Answer-The opinion. Of the
medical profession is not unani-
nous on this. Any drug which
is as powerful an hypnotic as
phenobarbital is bound TO be
habit forming in people with ar
unstable nervous system. In
the sense that abstinence from
its use produces serious with
drawal symptoms, it is not habit
forming.
/ have known people to take
IL for a long time without form
ing a habit or without its do
ing them any harm.
On the other hand. I have
known many cases of habit for
nation. 1t may cause skin
rashes and partial, temporary
dirnneSs of vision.