1518 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



the diet of the child should be increased only as the muscles of 

 digestion strengthen and develop. Foods that are too strong overtax 

 the immature digestive tract and foods that are too weak fail to develop it. 

 Persons working hard out of doors eat more food than those whose work 

 is of a light indoor character; and not only are they able to digest easily 

 foods that are rated as difficult to digest, but they may actually need 

 food that will require at least moderate work on the part of the digestive 

 tract. They may have a disagreeable feeling of hunger, even when 

 sufficiently fed, if the food consumed does not " stay by them " 

 for a certain period of time. Just the reverse is true of the indoor 

 worker who uses his muscles but little. These facts are often over- 

 looked, and frequently the whole dietary is shaped to the needs of 

 one member of the family. Hard muscular work increases the need 

 for energy-producing foods, but does not materially affect the need for other 

 types of food. 



examples of desirable foods 



The following suggestions are offered as an aid in planning the family 

 dietary. They are not to be regarded as complete, since many foods are 

 omitted that might be included; but they are intended to illustrate 

 types of food desirable for the several members of a family, and to suggest 

 the strength of food for children at various ages. The recommendation 

 of so simple a diet for children as the one indicated below often meets 

 with the following objection: ' My child eats everything that we eat 

 and is entirely healthy and well; so why be so particular?" In answer 

 attention must be called to the large number of grown persons who are 

 inefficient because of an organism damaged during childhood by over- 

 taxing the digestive powers. 



Cereals 



To be used each day by all members of the family 



For children two to four years of age the best cereals are those that 

 contain most of the cereal grain, such as the following: 



Rolled oats Farina Corn meal 



Rolled wheat Hominy grits Flaked barley 



Wheaten grits 



After the child has learned to chew its food properly, cracked 

 wheat, oatmeal, and the ready-to-eat cereals may be added 

 to its diet. 

 Adult members of the family have free range of choice. 



