“MEAT NOT VITAL” TO TROOPS

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 8

“MEAT NOT VITAL” TO TROOPS

DIETITIAN'S CONTENTION Contending ttiat it was wrong to serve meat three times a day to soldiers, Mr Hastings Woolley, a Sydney dietitian, described as “ utter nonsense ” the popular belief that meat was necessary to maintain strength. “ Heavy meat eating is harmful and unnecessary,” he said. “ Exhaustive research has shown that vegetarians have greatly outnumbered meat-eaters among winners of distance races at the Olympic Games for many vears past. ‘‘ Though 1 do not advocate vegetarianism, a mixed diet with plenty of farm products will produce the best form of strength-giving proteins.” Mr Woolley, who was a staff officer of physical training during the last war, said that in the selection of a healthful diet for the troops the important questions to be considered were, firstly, the quantity of food necessary, and, secondly, the quality required. A world authority, Professor Chittenden, of Yale University, he said, had proved that protein, instead of being of greater value for strength production than other foods, actually was a detriment, and consumed above the necessary minimum was apt to increase fatigue and lessen endurance.