( 113 ) 



Consumption Is Stable 



The first fact that impresses the casual observer is the 

 variability in food consumption. Further investigation re- 

 veals that food consumption is really remarkably stable. 



Man requires food for body maintenance, growth, and 

 physical effort. The amount of food required for the main- 

 tenance and growth of our population is stable. The amount 

 required to supply energy varies somewhat with physical 

 effort and age. The total variation in the average amount of 

 food consumed by each person in our population is small. 



Consumption must be on a day-to-day basis. A man must 

 have a relatively uniform amount of food three times a day, 

 365 days a year. The body can store very little food. It can 

 store considerable vitamin A and some vitamin D, and only 

 a limited amount of calories. Some excess calories may be 

 stored on the waistline in the form of fat. This accumulated 

 fat may be used for maintenance or energy, but it is a poor 

 and limited substitute for the current intake of food. It sup- 

 plies little but calories. A pound of fat will supply a man his 

 calories for a little over a day; and ten pounds will be a 

 greater source of comment than of energy. 



The Indians' interpretation of the hereafter was a happy 

 hunting ground. The importance of a dependable supply of 

 food was well stated by one who had seen men in all stages 

 of starvation in the Yukon. 1 "If a man misses his meals one 

 day, he will lie. If he misses his meals two days, he will steal. 

 If he misses his meals three days, he will kill." 



Range between Feasting and Fasting Is Narrow 



The lower limit of the amount of food that is required by 

 a human being is the least amount that will sustain life. The 



1 Smith, J. R.: The World's Food Resources (New York: Henry Holt and 

 Co.; 1919), page 3. 



