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Show Protect Health of Child By T. B. Beatty, M. D. There is ample evidence that malnutrition, underweight and rickets are increasing among chil-, chil-, dren due" to underfeeding or lm-! lm-! proper diet. This situation " de-' de-' mands the earnest consideration of all citizens interested in the public welfare. Serious impairment impair-ment of nutrition in children often of-ten results in lifelong injuries to health, happiness and working efficiency, ef-ficiency, and it is the duty of society so-ciety during the present emergency emer-gency to see that every child receives re-ceives at least the minimum of proper foods required to protect it from such disaster. With the needs so urgent, with so many people at our doors suffering so severely, it is a time when those who have should share their means with those who have not. A little temporary sacrifice on the part of the more fortunate now can well make the difference between be-tween a lifetime of weakness and misery and a lifetime of usefulness useful-ness and selfrespecting Americanism American-ism for many a child. There are weU known principles of feeding which should guide in the selection of foods that provide pro-vide the nutritional essentials a shortage of which tends to permanent per-manent injury. To answer the question what to do with an inadequate in-adequate amount of money for food, the State Board of Health will send to any person applying a leaflet prepared by an eminent authority entitled "Food at Low Cost." This . publication should prove invaluable to many who are struggling with the problem of providing essential foods for their families at the lowest cost. In addition ad-dition to detailed schedules and instructions are included the following fol-lowing valuable THRIFT SUGGESTIONS 1. A tall can of evaporated milk with an equal amount of water adcfd is as good for children as one quart of pasteurized whole milk. Evaporated milk may be used in soups, desserts, cocoa, end to drink. 2. Four p'lirds of potatoes may be vsed in place of one middle-si,.ec middle-si,.ec loaf of bread. lmy-old b'.ead is better fr chiM'-cn thin fresh bread, and cr-sts less. i. Fat scne raw fruit or raw vtnttable ewy Csy. Try chopped raw cabbage with grated raw carrots. Red cabbage has more iron than white cabbage. 5. Use the water in which pared and leafy vegetables are cooked for soup stock. 6. In place of meat use cheese, fish, or dried beans, dried peas or lentils. Soak these dried vegetables vegeta-bles 12 hours so they will cook in less than one hour. 7. Tomatoes are often used as vegetables but they are fruit and, fresh or canned, they may be used in place of oranges. 8. Buy food loose instead of in boxes whenever possible because it is cheaper. 9. Remember Milk, Bread anoV Cereals, Vegetables and Fruits, Will help to protect Health. All authorities agree that the dietary, especially where low cost is imperative, should be built around bread and milk. The lower low-er the level of expenditure, the more one must forego other foods and concentrate effort upon providing these two, supplemented by a little of some inexpensive fruit or vegetable. If this is fol lowed even if body weights are subnormal for a time, there may still be a basis of sound bone and lean tissue to permit of complete nutritional rehabilitation with tht coming of better days. Milk builds bone and muscle better than any other food and from the standpoint stand-point of nutritional value is the cheapest of foods. In the food budget of the typical low income-family income-family it is necessary to use one-fifth, one-fifth, often one-third of the food money for milk in order to provide pro-vide the amount of milk that the children of such a family actually actual-ly need. A pint of milk a day is the minimum below which no child's allowance of milk sfibuld be permitted to fall, and if possible a quart should be provided. Milk furnished by the school may well supplement the family allowance. It should be remembered that a child cannot study effectively with an empty stomach and that the illnourished child is most susceptible suscep-tible to diseases. Children under two years of age and older children chil-dren who are undernourished, should be given codliver oil daily. When the food allowance Is extremely ex-tremely low, the food that unaided un-aided and unsupervised families will provide for themselves may be extremely poor. It may con-cist con-cist only of such foods as salt pork, meal and molasses or even of rice and beans. Every effort should be made to supplement such food with as large quantities cf the protective foods (milk, bread and vegetables) as possible No better service can be rendered In the observance of this year's May Day Health Day than that of emphasizing in every way possible pos-sible the importance of the existing exist-ing food problems arising frc;n the financial depression and the need for cooperative effort in meeting the situation. In this nidividual citizens and communities commun-ities thould join In giving everj a:d possible. The health and fu-ruie fu-ruie efficiency of many fan-ilie; are at stake. Let me aeain urgf ihet you send for the leaflet "Fcod at Low Cost" which furnishes fur-nishes much u.'-eful and reliable information. |