CHILDREN’S MEALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16905, 2 December 1922, Page 9

CHILDREN’S MEALS.

Children must have good food and living foods if they are to grow veil f ;.nd Uco.p well. Their meals should !be planned with due regard to true • food value.'. It is far better to give little of the best quality that- is real 1 ' nutritious than an elaborate meal birh euiishes the taste and appeiita. vitliout really feeding the body. RICH IN VIT AMINES So-me of the living foods should find I a place in the menu every day of the | year, as these are known to be rich fJn the precious vitamines that are so I e-s.i-3ni.ial to a child’s proper dcvelopIment. Raw fruit juice, such as orange juice, grape juice, and the juice of | law. ripe apple, fresh cream free from I city preservative, pure butter, and raw j eggs are some of the best known ! - living” foods, simple to give, and l easy to obtain. ! Avoid cream and butter that have ! been scalded, as this process destroys the ** living” clement in them. Never mix a ‘‘living” food with any very rot or boiling liquids as tlio heat destroys the vita mines. Beat up a raw egg, for instance, in warm, not hot milk, and dilute fruit if necessary vith cooled boiled water. Other good foods for children .arc ..aeon fat, red meat gravy and small quantities of good fresh meat, baked } otatoes, well-cooked macaroni ' <»r j ientils, and oatcakes and nuts, provided these arc flioroughly well maetieat-

Foods that arc bad for children are those that arc rich, heavy, spiced, tinned, or stale. Stimulating drinks such as tea and coffee arc injurious to young children, and any food that is difficult to digest- is sure to be- harmful. Barge quantities of those foods known as slops” ore very bad for children's teeth, and when soft- foods arc given * .hey should always be accompanied or followed by some hard, dry and tough food such as toasts, crusts, or raw apple. All cokes and sweets are also injurious to the teeth and should certainly be avoided at bedtime. LESS TO EAT IN SUMMER. In summer time children arc much better, with less food and lighter food than is given during the winter. Plenty of water to drink is necessary, and stodgy or heating foods should he avoided. Never give a child any fruit in very large quantities, or fruit" which is not ripe or fresh. Fruit i.s often given in the height of summer when it is plentiful, wit}; resulting upset and illness to the child. Then it is probably concluded that fruit docs not agree with the child, whereas it- was the condition of the fruit given that was at fault.