DIET AND HABITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21579, 25 August 1933, Page 13

DIET AND HABITS

NEW ZEALANDERS' FOOI) AMERICAN'S COMMENTS NUMBER AND SIZE OF MEALS Surprise at the number and size of meals eaten in British communities was expressed by Mr. Joseph S. Wright, athletics director at a large school in Chicago, in the course of an interview in Christchurch this week. On his first visit to New Zealand, Mr. \\ right said, ho had been struck with the marked difference between the quantity of food eaten by the average person in this country and in the United States. Both lie and his wife had enjoyed the New Zealand food, but there had been so much of it, far more in fact than they wanted. They ate much less than others on the tour, for they "simply could not face" the small meals served at odd hours of the day under the guise of morning and afternoon tea or supper. It was true that the human body did not need as much food as the average person seemed to think it did. This seemed to be recognised more fully in the United States, where lighter food was taken, and where, as a rule, one had no more than two set meals a day. There was a heavy breakfast in the morning, a light lunch of perhaps a glass of milk, bread and butter and cheese, or water and fruit, and a heavy meal at night. In New Zealand he had been confronted with at times as many as seven meals a day, any one of which might be heavier than his lunch at home. Effect ol Heavy Meals Soon after waking, the New Zoalander had early tea, then breakfast, and something during the morning to sustain him before the hour came for a substantial lunch. Afternoon tea was often another meal in itself, to be followed by a large dinner, and then supper for good measure. "While iu New Zealand I have done as New Zealand does," remarked Mr. Wright, "and incidentally put on 101b. in a fortnight." This, he confessed, was duo to the heavy meals provided at their hotels. The quality of the food was excellent, and he had been struck with the plenty on every hand. But it was very questionable whether one, needed so much to eat. Travelling through the Dominion, he had.seen too many persons who were over-weight. This was bad for the heart in particular, and for the. health generally. At the age. of 40, it had been remarked, the average person in a British community assumed the deportment of John Bull" and showed it obviously. In the United States, however, men looked after their figures, consciously keeping their weight down, and so, one might add, being healthier generally. One item of diet which _ the American missed very much in New Zealand was citrus fruit. The juice of this fruit contained most beneficial vitamins, and the American nation consumed it in great quantities.

Troubles With the Teeth "What is more," Mr. Wright added, "I think I have seen more false teeth in New Zealand than I have seen for years." He thought dental troubles which obviously beset those in this countrv were largely due to the choice of a wrong diet. Citrus fruit juices were invaluable for the teeth, {or dental troubles did not come so much from the mouth direct as from within the body. Mr Wright said that he was 00. I am afraid," he concluded, "that I am carrving 101b. more than I should be, but I will soon get rid of that after two or three weeks on the football nelu once I return to school."