Home Health Guide

Hutt News, Volume XXII, Issue 7, 28 July 1948, Page 14

Home Health Guide

THE XATJTONAIi DIET How can we get New Zealand to change from its present excess carbohydrate and meat diet to the balanced diet that maintains health',' It is,a matter of long-term national importance. Denial decay is a national failing. The bad foundation that allows decay is laid before birth and in nursing days. Proper development of a tooth follows adequate feeding ol the mother from the second month of pregnancy and while she is nursing baby. Adequate hardening—calcification from lime in the food —of that developing tooth follows, in due course, if mother keeps on the proper diet and continues the balanced diet principles fo*r toddler feeding. A tooth properly developed and hardened withstands decay W ell-—the (Tacts to date show that mothers who take the bother to find out the dietary needs of the before and after birth periods and consistently follow the recommended diet, do have babies with rounded jaws who cut amply spaced teeth, which, with -proper care and diet in toddler years, last well. It is surely not too optimistic to hope that our mothers will give

this nutritional approach to health a trial. 11 works out tor other things than just teeth. Every mother wants a nice baby. When every mother realises that her eating has a big say in baby's litetime health foundation, most mothers will study the dietary needs, and we'll have better babies. The gradual but early introduction of a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and other nourishing foodstuffs is the hey to toddler feeding.

The protective foods —milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, whole grain cereals- —must be the family diet, and the children cannot be expected to eat what is good for them unless the adults set the example,