Victoria University College

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 41, 18 February 1939, Page 15

Victoria University College

SARAH ANNE RHODES FELLOWSHIP IN HOME SCIENCE PHYSICAL FITNESS THROUGH GOOD FOOD The whole question of nutrition has come into prominence and many people have been stirred to thought and action through the anomaly of many New Zealanders showing signs of malnutrition. in a country whose economic importance is based on primary production. Physical fitness in tho adult is largely due to good nutrition in childhood. By good nutrition wo mean satisfying all the needs of the body for growth, replacement and energy. Foods can bo separated into two classes —protective foods and supplementary energy-yielding foods. Protective Foods These are the foods that supply the essential material for growth in the young and maintain health and wellbeing in tho adult. Until we reach adult years our bodies are continually growing. During this period of growth, as well as throughout life, there is always a certain amount of wear and teaf of body tissues requiring constant replacement and repair. The first purpose of food is to provide, the material! necessary for the growth and repair ol tho body. Listed amongst the protective foods wo find milk, meat, eggs, cheese, green leafy vegetables, potatoes i and other root vegetables, raw fruits and vegetables (vitamin C) and codliver oil.

Supplementary Energy-yielding Foods These foods supply' the energy to allow us to do our work and to keep the body warm. They are cereals, fat and sugar. These are the two big purposes ol food and now wd can discuss what materials aro needed for growth and wliat for energy. It some ways tho growth of the body is like the building of a house, in which wo need various materials —brick, cement, wood and roofing, and besides the materials wc need workmen —bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, etc. A thoroughly good sound-house will result only when tliCTe is un adequate supply of good materials and when wo have competent workmen and builders for each special job. It is the same with our bodies. Proteins and mineral salts aro the materials used in building our body house. Of themeslves, they cannot bo built into the body any' more j than bricks can turn themselves into a chimney'. To build the body or chim- j ney builders are needed. Tho vital ' force within us is the biggest builder, but it lias many assistants, of which the vitamins are very important, being essential to life. Of these, like the men employed on a house, each has liis own particular work to do

Electricity supplies the energy required in modern homes for warmth, lighting and labour-saving. Our bodily energy, necessary for the carrying on of our daily tasks and for keeping our bodies warm, its supplied by the energy foods, tho cereals, carbohydrates and fats. From these and from any extra protein left over after repair and growth have been made, we. get the energy which enables the bodily engine to do its work,. Thus the essential ingredionts of the food we eat belong to two groups:— (a) Protective foods—proteins, mineral matter and vitamins. (b) Energy foods—fats, sugars and starches. Each one of these foods has its place and, since each depends for its proper action on the other, our food must contain them all in just the right amount and kind. Every food that Nature provides contains some of theso ingredients, but no single food contains the right amounts. This is the problem of tho mother—to combine tho different things we eat in such a way that the daily food of each member of the family will contain all essential substances of the right kind and amount. The average New Zealand diet contains considerable amounts of meat, white flour, sugar and butter. There are pronounced deficiencies in a diet whero these foods gfcatly predominate To balance tho diet include more milk, eggs, raw fruits and vegetables, and whole-grain products. The results will show an increase in “positive” health and physical fitness. We owe it to our families and to our country to assist in this health rc-organisation campaign.