DIETARY STUDIES IN AMERICAN CITIES. 



DIETARY STUDIES AT THE BOSTON SCHOOL OE HOUSE- 



KEEPIN(;, 1901-2. 



By Lyi>ia Southard, B. A. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



The demand for accurate information upon the subject of nutrition 

 has ))een partly met in the past by making- dietary studies in widely 

 separated places, and with persons in widely different circumstances. 

 There is so much difficulty, however, in comparing dietaries observed 

 under such varying conditions as those due to the personality of both the 

 individuals in charge and those fed, their previous food habits, their 

 local market limitations, etc., that the drawing of valuable conclusions is 

 often prevented. It was therefore deemed worth while at the Boston 

 School of Housekeeping, which is now incorporated with Siunnons 

 College, to make some comparisons of the effects of different dietaries 

 upon the same family. The details and results of four studies in 

 which the group of persons remained the same, but the cost of the 

 diet was varied, and the quantity and quality of food materials varied 

 accordingly, are here reported. The work was planned by the director 

 of the school. Miss Henrietta I. Goodrich, in such a way that the diet 

 could be modified in kind and cost. The usual methods were followed 

 in this investigation and many of the details were attended to by Miss 

 Annette Philbrick, fellow of the School of Housekeeping 1901-2. 



Of the four dietary studies reported the first was made under the 

 usual living conditions to find out the cost of the regular diet, and to 

 learn how nearly it conformed to the conmionly accepted dietary 

 standard. In the second study it was designed to have the diet medium 

 in cost— that is, between 20 and 30 cents per person per day, the diet 

 finally selected costing on an average 25 cents. In the third study the 

 attempt was made to furnish a reasonaldy attractive diet at a low cost, 

 namely, less than 20 cents per person per day. The diet decided upon 

 actually cost 17 cents. In the fourth study it was proposed to supply 

 a diet of high cost, namely, one ranging from 50 to 60 cents per person 

 per day. The diet actually supplied cost on an average 53 cents. 



