MEALS FOR THE POOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 6

MEALS FOR THE POOR

SUGGESTED BALANCED DIETS. AIEDICINE OFFICER’S OPINION. According to IDr F. Dale, Medical Officer of ilea Ith for Alelbourne, it is possible for a man, his wife and two children to subsist on 12s Bid a week. Dr Dale has written to Dr B. B. Armstrong, of Stratford, as follows: “The diet wo drew up and issued to poor people,” wrote Dr Dale, “was composed of a pound of wheat and two pints of milk per day, whic constitutes a fair subsistence diet. It was given in the form of a wholemeal loaf containing a pound of whole meal, with which was incorporated 3A ounces of skim milk powder, equivalent to the skim milk of two pints of milk. Add to this 1 7-8 ounces of butter and you have the equivalent of 11b. of wheat and two pints of milk.” Dr Dale said a little fruit was given with this diet because the milk was in dried form. Commenting upon the diet, he said it was quite useful and palatable, and the bread had since be-

come more or less a luxury or dainty, but obviously such a diet was impossibly monotonous and, moreover, only one or two bakers were willing or able to incorporate ’ he required amount of milk powder and produce a really palatable loaf. He added that the bread was very good for children’s lunches, but suggested that for any feeding scheme it would be better to work out a subsistence diet on ordinary lines, made up from available foodstuffs and allowing for a desirable variety. Dr Armstrong has followed the advice contained in the last paragraph of Dr Dale’s letter and has made up a diet guide which approximately fulfills the physiological requirements for an unemployed man and wife and two children between the ages of three and six years. He explains that a child under six years require.: about half the

sustenance of an adult, while one between six years and 12 years requires about three-quarters of an adult diet. Over 12 years a person is regarded as an adult.

In the following details amounts of food are given for one week and the diet outlined should be regarded as a minimum one. If labour is being done, obviously a little more will be required, and if extra expenditure is possible he suggested full milk instead of skim milk, more butter instead of dripping, more vegetables or fruit, and either more meat or eggs. To complete his diets IDr Armstrong took the trouble of ascertaining the prices for the various foods mentioned and has reached the interesting conclusion that it is possible for a man, his wife and two children to subsist on 12s Bid per week. The diet guide is as follows: Alinced mutton (can be varied with liver, fish or rabbit), 61b. per week, 2|d to 6d per lb.. Is 3d cost per week; dripping (mixed beef and mutton, all fat), 141 b., Id, and 6d; skim milk powder. 21b., Ad and 2s 4d; butter, Mb, Is Id and 6Ad; sugar, 1411?., 2d and 3d; whole wheat meal, 31b, 3d and 9d; cocoa (bought loose), Jib, 4*l and Ad; salt, 11b, Id, Id; rice (varied with barley, flour or loose meal), lib., 2d and 2d; wholemeal bread, 51b., half-large, 3d, white bread. 51b., 3d and 2s 34d; potatoes, 81b.. Id and 8d; dried peas,, lima beans or haricot beans, 11b., 4d and Id; cabbage (can be varied with silver beet, spinach, pumpkin or swedes'), 3d each. 9d; apples o oranges. 51b.. 2d and IDd; soap, 4d and Id; candles, lAd and lAd; matches. Id and Id; total. 12s BA<i. In connection with the above, there would be a total of 41,537 calories, 56.5 ounces of protein. 53.5 ounces of fat and 210 ounces of carbohydrates. For poor people these diets may form the basis of economic meals of a balanced diet and sufficient varietv.