SCHOOL LUNCHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23358, 29 May 1939, Page 12

SCHOOL LUNCHES

•Sir, —Dr. Chapman asks me a series of questions, which I willingly answer. \\ lute bread as we know it, was taken to school by me. 1 came out from Kngland with my parents at the age of three. I ytill have my own teet-h and perfect health. 1 am a woman of about 04. thought to be about 54. for I look no older than that, t dig large areas of garden, pull the concrete roller and cart heavy loads in my barrow, turning my hand to any job, heavy or light-, and am none the worse for it. My children were born with ease. Also I take and enjoy a daily cold bath. So much for me.

As regards my three -daughters, one has proved herself an outstanding tramper with lasting powers equal to the men. She spends all her spare time in sport. Another daughter is married and lias given birth with 110 bother or worry to a sturdy, strong child, who is a joy to her mother and who. at 11 months, has just won first prize at 11 country baby show. This daughter also digs and carpenters and does all her own work as a farmer's wife. She is healthy and hard. The third daughter is not so robust due to a fall 1 had with grave consequences. She is, however, well nourished.

The above record, in my old-fashioned opinion, servos to show that there \v;is not much wrong with our feeding. and justifies my signature of "Experience."' Our breakfasts were mostly lijjlit, such as oatmeal porridge (no fancy substitutes) and, perhaps, a taste of 1 bacon and fried bread or just toast, and marmalade or honey. Milk mostly to drink. Lunches were white bread and jam and cake and fruit with sometimes n home-mndo meat pio, apple pie or slice of cornish pasty —not pastry as printed. Dr. E. Gvmn says there is little difference in the food Value of brown bread and white. 1 expect she is right, for the ordinary brown bread is not wholemeal. Goodness knows what it is composed of. Wholemeal bread is light in colour and does not rise well and is inclined to be very close and dry one day old and not flavoured for school lunches. Personally. I never ranked the school lunch as of great importance, the important meal of the day being dinner, which consisted of meat, at least two vegetables and a pudding; and in winter. real soup; and that's how 1 was fed, and how I continued to feed my own. There were no snacks between meals, no afternoon tea, no supper. An apple after school and sent out to play. Punctual evening meal, homework settled down to, and early to bed. Xo noisy radio to distract, no parties or late nights, if avoidable, except Saturday. In conclusion, cost must come into the lunch question. My parents had no j money to spare, and I as a mother had many years of strict economy. So 1 know how these things mount up. 1 do read the modern ideas on diet and suppose they are necessary for children and adults wlio are not robust. ExrKKIENCE.