Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-23
ChiId's Lack
Of Appetite
Big Problem
Condition Noticeable
at Feeding VI
BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING

BY DIR. LOGAN CLENDENING
THE greatest feeding problem
- in children is lack of appe-
tite.
In private families who have a
large variety of food, 1t Is esti-
mated that from 10 to 20 per
cent at least Of the children be-
tween the ages of 2 to S years
have TO be coaxed TO eat.
Some pediatricians have re-
ported II as high as from so TO
80 per cent.
A prominent pediatrician re-
ports:
with all our weighing and
measuring, and all our rules and
regulations a. to when, whore,
what and how much to feed chill
dren We have succeeded In doing
just one thing-we have taken
their appetite away"
This occurs indiscrininatefy,
whether children are in a good
condition OF nutrition or not.
In fact, the principal cause
seems to be psychological fac
tor 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
a day.
According to this, a 10-year-
old child would require approx
mately 70 grams of protein daily.
ONE quart of milk will supply
" half of this. an average serv-
ing of lean meat will furnish II
to Is grams of protein, an egg.
six grams. large dish of oat-
meal, 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 calcium requirement Is esti-
mated at one gram per day. This
may be obtained from one quart
OF milk.
II was found by DIR. Clara
Davis of Chicago. that when she
started with infants who were
eight months old and who had
been exclusively breast fed that
If they were allowed to select
their own diet from a table COW
cred 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 although
IL was on the tray.
A 1-year-old child often drank
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 conception 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 ac-
copied standards.
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
l. 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 dissatisfied IL that schedule
is interrupted.
Children will eat when they
get hungry and one of the best
slogans which every parent
should know and use for guild
ance is:
"Never coax and never urge
your child to eat"
Children should feed them
selves at the age OF Ia months.
After they have begun TO do
that, the parents should never
attempt 10 assist them.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERS
NJ. HIS pleurisy a stage OF
pneumonia Does il make
person 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 pneu-
monia In a certain number OF
cases and il also precedes tuber-
culosis.
My advice would be. II you
have had a definite serious dis
ease which has been pronounced
pneumonia, that you have the
advice of physician and an
| X-rav consultation nc 10 pbotbor