| OCR Text |
Show Moin9 choic ferior but acceptable for some homemakers. However, for others . without the skills in preparation a convenience food might provide a better product than one which is made. The amount of energy required to prepare foods is another concern. It is simple to compare the amount of energy required in home preparation for two products. However, the energy required for the production, processing and transportation of those products in other than the home is important. Most convenience foods have a rather large amount of energy invested before they reach the home. By Georgia C. Lauritzen Extension Nutrition Specialist Utah State University The homemaker of today has an overwhelming responsibility to adequately supply the family members with the nutrients which are necessary for an abudnant life. She must have a variety of triats and knowledge which could classify her as an economist, nutritionist, and psychologist. Today a homemaker has to contend with busy schedules of family members coming and going at different times with little regard for the strict eating hours which were at one time strenuously enforced. Most individuals ex- j perience more catering to 1 likes and dislikes which is perpetuated by numerous 1 available foods. It has been estimated ! that approximately one-third one-third of the total meals Consumed by individuals in this country are now eaten away from home. The foods chosen for the away from home meal are at the mercy of the selector with little regard for a view of the nutrients and how it will fit into the entire day's food intake. The acquiring of the food itself is a challenge which requires skills formerly unnecessary. The supermarket super-market now offers many different products. The decisions which must be made are almost over- whelming. For instance, j the homemaker no longer j simply buys potatoes without concern. She must decide whether the bagged potatoes or the loose potatoes suit her need, j whether the dehydrated potates might save enough time to allow for the additional ad-ditional cost, whether the oven is too crowded to be used for warming the frozen potatoes or whether j the skills and knowledge j are available to prepare the potatoes from scratch in the form which is desired. ( The homemaker should j be knowledgeable about the j marketing system in a 1 grocery store. Stores j capitalize on the fact that 1 the shopper is more likely to buy products which are j at eye-level and within easy j reach. They know that shoppers are attracted to 1 prominent displays which j are usually at aisle ends, , have bright packing, special promotionals, contests, and advertised specials. None of these really indicate the best buy , for the nutrients contained. The use of convenience 1 foods is so much a way of life with us that the 1 homemaker frequently forgets about some of the 1 built-in service. Of course, this must be paid for in the j total price. 1 A saving of time may be j more important in many 1 instances than the ad- ditional cost. The quality of 1 the proudct might be in- 1 |
