Show WHAT AT to EAT and WHY TV y e clouston fl ton aau fondle aen if M e I 1 a I 1 ad ike ta e nutritious values of the BANANA explains how our most satisfying food fruit helps to maintain health at all ages ky C HOUSTON GOUDISS a 0 east street new york city tile the discovery of tile the vitamins and before wo we know B BEFORE so much regarding tile tho blodys mineral requirements interest in food was centered around proteins carbohydrates es and fats fruits which in ill general supply little protein and fa fat t and widely varying amounts of carbohydrates received scant consideration as a source of essential nutrients but with our steadily increasing knowledge of vitamins and of tile the importance to the body of a long list of cs S C fitial mineral elements fruits have assumed a commanding place in nutrition and those who follow tho the primary rule nilo of a 0 well balanced diet and alid servo fruit twice dally daily have hava been rewarded with increased health art and vigor in addition to their minerals and vitamins fruits ore are valued because of their bulk or cellulose which helps to insure regu regular health habits tho most moat economical fruit many homemakers consider that fruits as a class are arc among the m more 0 r c expensive items included in the food budget but that statement Is far too general and indicates a lack of information concerning the comparative nutritive values of tile the different kinds of fruit for example it has been said of the delicious and economical banana that it gives more nutritive as well as money value than almost any other food fruits in general are frequently divided into two classes they are known as flavor fruits when they contain 80 per cent or more of water and as food fruits when the water content is less than 80 00 per cent bananas are a food fruit of the first order ripe bananas are arc rich in carbohydrates and furnish the body with ith splendid energy values with a minimum tax on the digestive system r double fuel value when fully ripened this fruit P provides quick energy because a certain amount of its sugars ore are almost immediately absorbed by the body on the other hand several hours must elapse before the remaining sugars ore are completely assimilated thus eating bananas provides a continuous supply of energy for a considerable period they not only help to promote note rapid recovery from fatigue but also furnish a continuing I 1 supply of energy which keeps one from becoming hungry again too soon after a meal the edible portion of one over aver age sized banana weighs about 3 ounces and provides calories it takes almost the same weight of white potato to yield the same number of calories bananas a protective food bananas take an important position among the protective foods because they are a good source of four vitamins A B C and G and contain a total of 11 minerals they leave an alkaline osh ash following digestion fully ripened bananas are easily digested and ore are mildly laxative valuable in childs diet bananas deserve a prominent place in the childs diet from infancy to maturity some baby specialists prescribe mashed and strained ripe bananas as one ot of the first solid foods to bo introduced in the infants diet tho the baanna Is considered to be L specially especially valuable vol nt at tile the time when sugar Is withdrawn from the formula and tile the baby la Is given whole milk for the first time the calories co lories in the take the place of the calories previously y received from the sugar and thus weight goins gains ore are steadily maintained holp help children Ch Ildron gain weight because of their high alch calorie caloric value plus their content of minerals anti anil vitamins bananas may well be used regularly throughout childhood bananas and milk make an excellent food combination because tile the milk supplements the fruit with gitil protein tat fat minerals and vitamins this combination Is often used us os a supplementary lunch for underweight children and carefully conducted studies have indicated its usefulness in helping youngsters to gain weight almost all children like the taste of bananas and they do not seem to tiro tire of this bland and pleasing fruit and though the banana is regarded as a solid food it can it if desired be mashed and whipped into liquid form and combined with milk to make a healthful and nourishing beverage Ide ideal alfor for tho the elderly it if elderly individuals aro are to maintain top health fruits should bo be given a prominent place in their diet but many fruits are avoided by individuals past middle age either because their add acid taste Is displeasing or because they present in bastl cation itice bananas however practically melt in tho the mouth belli ing easily digested they are arc ft a fortunate cholee choice for elderly persons providing necessary energy values with a nihil minimum mum of digestive effort most Vor Vors saulo aillo fruit bananas are arc always in season and are usually most inexpensive it is desirable of course that only fully ripened bananas bo be eaten raw that is because their con vary with the degree of 0 ripeness bananas oro are picked when they aro are green and hard and tile the carbohydrate bo content is almost entirely starch As aa they ripen tho the starch march is converted into easily digested sugars in fully ripened bananas those in which brown flocks appear on tho the yellow skins tho starch has hag almost entirely disappeared and the flavor has been developed to its highest point tile tho all yellow banana is also ripe enough for eating and it la Is likewise firm enough for cooking Part partially laUy ripe bananas those which ara ar a yellow with a green tip may bo be cooked and served as a vegetable or as dessert considering their heir availability case of digestion high food vain and economy bananas deserve t to be classed as one of the staple foods to in every well planned dietary boutton 27 41 |