SOLDIERS AND MEAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1940, Page 3

SOLDIERS AND MEAT

DIETITIAN’S CONTENTION. Contending that 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 years past. “Though I 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,, duying 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 dicing 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.