No. 6. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



1003 



The American dietary standard for a man at moderate muscular 

 work calls for 0.28 pound protein and 3,500 (talories. It will be 

 seen that the menu suggested above is insufficient; that is, more 

 food must be supplied. ¥ov instance, cheese might be added for 

 dinner, and pork and beans and milk for supper. The amounts of 

 ])rotein and energy which a sufficient quantity of these articles for 

 four i^ersons would supply are shown in the following table: 



Food Added to Bring the Day's Menu up to the Dietary Standard. 



Cheese 

 Beans, 

 Pork, 

 Milk, 



536 



1,005 



918 



650 



3,109 



These additions would make the total protein 1,190 pounds and 

 the total fuel value of 14,377 calories for four persons, or for one 

 person, 0.298 pound protein and 3,599 calories. (For the sake of 

 si]n})lifying calculations no distinction is made between the amounts 

 required by men and women.) These values are approximately the 

 amounts required by the dietary standard. 



Following the above method, the value of any menu chosen may 

 be easily calculated. It should be borne in mind that approximate 

 rather than absolute agreement with the dietary standard is sought. 

 It is not the purpose to furnish a prescription for definite amounts 

 of food materials, but rather to supply the means of judging 

 whether the food habits of families accord in general with what re- 

 Si'ai'ch has sliown to be most desirable from a physiological stand- 

 point. If possible to devise menus which will furnish the requisite 

 amounts of nutrients and energy at comparatively low cost. 



Digestibility. 



The value of a food is determined not alone by its composition, 

 but also by its digestibility; that is, by the amount of it which the 

 body can retain and utilize as it passes through the digestive tract. 

 The term digestibility, as frequently employed, particularly in popu- 

 Ifir articles, has several other significations. Thus, to many persons 



