272 STATE DOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REFOKT OF NUTRITION Sri)01ALIST. 



BY MURIEL HOPKINS. 



The Nutrition Specialist began her duties in Michigan, September first. 

 While the ultimate goal of her endeavors has been that of establishiug 

 better nutrition habits in the homes of Michigan thwugh the medium 

 of local leaders made up of representative women in rural communities, 

 the department felt it necessary that people becouie acquainted with the 

 policy for nutrition work and that the Specialist become acquainted 

 with the habits and needs of the people of the State. For that reason, 

 the program has been a long time one rather than that of reaching the 

 goal in one year's time. 



One hundred and fifty-nine general nutrition lectures have been given in 

 thirty-six counties of the State, reaeliing 12,143 people. These lectures 

 liave proved a very good means of acquainting people with nutrition woi'k 

 and from the number of requests for help which have come to the office 

 as a result, we must conclude that these lectures have been \erj worth 

 while. 



Nutrition exhibits have been planned and placed in two county fairs; 

 State Federation of Women's Clubs; at the Home Economics Building 

 at the College for Farmers' Week ; for the Better Baby Week Campaign 

 at Grand Rapids. Two weeks have been spent in conference with the 

 state officers and home demonstration agents. One of these was a snbject 

 matter oonference, the other a conference for working out plans for future 

 work with Miss Grace E. Frysinger, Field Agent, Extension Methods in 

 Organization, of Washington, D. C. 



As a result of this latter Conference, the Nutrition Specialist has 

 spent a great deal of time during May and June planning material for a 

 set of nutrition leaflets. There are to be seven leaflets in the series as 

 follows: (1) Feeding the baby until it is twelve months of age; (2) Feed- 

 ing the baby during the second year; (3) Feeding the preschool child; 

 (4) Feeding the school child; (5) Diet for overweight; (6) Diet for 

 underweight; (7) Diet for constipation. A home card is being planned 

 for each leaflet which will enable the housewife to check up on desirable 

 habits each day and will enable the Specialist to tabulate suggestions 

 adopted. 



The oiutstanding project in the nutrition work has been the nntrition 

 series. Eight stories told in simple language were arranged. These 

 stories each told a necessary nutrition habit to children, stressing two 

 reasons why such a habit was most desirable. One story each month was 

 sent to the rural teacher (in a few cases urban teacher) enrolled. Each 

 story was accompanied with a roll call chart. The teacher told the story 

 to the children, placed the chart on the wall where it stood as a constant 

 reminder for one month of the nutrition jiabit which was being stressed 

 for that month. 



The results of the series have been luost gratifying. A high ])ercentage 

 of teaichers have sent in reports declaring tlial tlie series has not only 

 helped in establishing definite nutrition habits but that there has been a 



