IS 



prosperity thruout the country during the 

 past few years has made the people careless, 

 and in the kitchens of our homes, our large 

 hotels, and public institutions especially, 

 the waste, according to very conservative es- 

 timates has been said to exceed ten per cent. 

 Indeed, there are those who, as a result of 

 careful thought and investigation, do not 

 hesitate to claim that twenty per cent, is 

 nearer correct. ( )bviously, there is no way 

 of ascertaining the exact loss each year from 

 the food waste incidental to carelessness, 

 ignorance and neglect, but the most casual 

 observation justifies but one conclusion, and 

 that is that it must be very great. At any 

 rate, no one will deny that this problem 

 should be studied, and the people taught 

 rational economy in the preparation and use 

 of food stuffs. The housewives especially 

 can be marshalled in this particular move- 

 ment, and a little teaching along practical 

 lines will enable them to become factors of 

 far-reaching influence in cutting down need- 

 less waste in the home. 



In addition to the foregoing there is the 

 waste due to thoughtless extravagance in 

 supplying our tables, a common fault of 

 which the majority of the American people 

 are guilty. Thus at every meal in the home 

 or public eating place, the average individ- 

 ual invariably insists on having a great deal 

 more than he needs — often more than he 

 can possibly eat. The remainder is usually 

 thrown away. Xot the least of the duties 

 of this department will be the systematic 

 dissemination of information in regard to 

 the amounts and kinds of food required to 

 maintain perfect health. Most people will 

 gladly readjust their habits and customs 

 when shown to be in error ; thoughtlessness 

 is almost always the cause of dietetic er- 



