FOOD FOR EFFICIENCY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 10

FOOD FOR EFFICIENCY

WHAT EVERY WOMAN CAN DO Every woman is wondering at the present time what contribution she can make to the national defence. She feels that she should be making some effort but she scarcely knows what form it should take. We all know that we have the Great War to thank for our emancipation and we feel now that we have a duty toward this war. xvrites A. E. Lorimer, M.Sc., A.1.C., in an exchange. In 1914, the only outlet which women seemed to have for their energies was knitting socks for soldiers. This kept their hands busy and they all felt that they were “doing their bit.” As a further contribution toward the common good, very many women gave up sugar in their tea and gave the money to charity. In 1914, this was a real sacrifice because they were giving up something which strongly appealed to their palates. In 1939, however, we know that an excessive amount of cane sugar unbalances the daily dietary, and we have already learnt to cut it to a minimum. Such an action is therefore less of a sacrifice at the present time. There are plenty of ways in which the intelligent housewife of 1939 can make a real contribution toward national defence, and what better way is there than by applying the newer

knowledge of nutrition to the preparation of the family menu in order that, the general feeling of tiredness and general lack of energy could be changed into one of buoyant health. The woman who feeds her family for efficiency at the present time is doing her country an immeasurably greater service than her sister xvho knits socks and balaclavas, because it is a fact that, a well-nourished body can resist cold naturally much better than one which is always subject to coughs and colds. Half a dozen pairs of knitted socks will not prevent a man from catching cold if his dietary is defficient in the substances which build up his resistance to germs. Keali* ing Opportunities If women would only realise that, every time we order food, or prepare a meal for our families, we have an opportunity of bettering lheir health, we would devote a little more time to studying nutrition and to overcoming the objections of the children and husbands toward such foods as wholemeal bread and milk. If the amount of constructive effort which was put into the knitting of socks during the Great War could be devoted at the present time to an intelligent nutrition campaign, women would be doing something which would better the health of the whole nation in a sane and permanent fashion. So why not eat wholemeal bread and have an extra glass of milk as the first part, of a “Feeding for Efficiency” campaign? This alteration alone in the dietary is immediately reflected in an increased sense of wellbeing and a decreased incidence of neuritis and neuralgia and other such complaints. Why not give wholemeal bread a trial for a month and see how the family likes it? It costs no more. Everybody must make some sacrifice at the present time, and this is not a very big thing to ask of the individual, for after a few xveeks it will be found that the flavour of the white loaf is no longer acceptable and the sacrifice has become a pleasure. After all, we learnt to go without sugar in our tea during the last war and we came to prefer it thus, so it is quite* reasonable to suppose that we will learn to like wholemeal bread as weii as white. We shall at least have the consolation that we are feeding our nerves with a food which they need so vitally in all times of stress and strain. For we know that the germ of the wheat berry, which is absent in white flour, contains the viamin B which is essential for the maintenance of the health of the nerves. We women of New Zealand have it in our power to fight the “battle of nerves” by feeding our families on more milk and whole-grain products. Every day, as we go about the unspectacular daily routine of shopping and cleaning, we can help to build up steadily the stamina of our country. Will we accept the challenge?