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70
average weight of 66 lbs., but the succeeding age group, weighed at the age of eleven
in March, 1933, after a year on the new diet, had an average weight of 68.5 lbs.
As this was repeated in over 75 per cent. of the groups, both in height and weight,
the deduction is inevitable that the new standard dietary is more suitable and
successful than the various dietaries in previous use.
In addition the actual average increases of the children at each age group, while
on the new dietary, were computed and compared with the expected increases
derived from the standard tables of heights and weights of London elementary
school children. It was found that in all the age groups for which comparable
standards exist, the actual gain was better than the expected gain in weight, and
the gain in height was better than the expected gain in every age group save one.
The increase in the actual gain of weight over that expected was very pronounced
in the years of more active growth. Thus the children put on over three pounds
more than the normal increase at the ages of 11 and 12 years.
Dr. Sheldon remarks on the general improvement in stature during the past
year as being especially gratifying as the children as a whole appeared formerly
to be especially stunted in growth compared with normal children.
Two memoranda were issued in 1932 by the Ministry of Health, comprising
the report to the Minister of the Advisory Committee on Nutrition on Diets in
Poor-Law Children's Homes, and the Criticism and Improvement of Diets.
Occasion was taken to examine in the light of these reports the provisional
dietary for residential schools and children's homes recently adopted by the Council.
The recommendations made in the reports have generally been anticipated in
the provisional dietary and it is gratifying to note that the ideas expressed in the
reports are practically identical with those which were followed in forming the
Council's scale.
Notes for Standard Dietary Table, See p. 71.
Additional ingredients each week per child: ¾ lb. of sugar, 1 pt. milk, 4 oz. flour, 2 oz. fat, ¼ egg, 2 oz.
dates or raisins, condiments as may be necessary.
* Boiled pudding (suet, date, raisin, bread, etc.) compiled according to the formula of flour 2 oz., suet
¾ oz., fruit ¾ oz. Bread crumbs may be used in lieu of flour up to one-third of the quantity allowed.
t Tomato cheese.—Cheese without rind to be passed through the mincer and mixed to a paste with
canned tomato pulp in proportion of 3 oz. cheese to 2 oz. tomato. This to be spread on bread and margarine.
†† Every child to have 2½ oz. of raw apple every day served at the end of the last meal, whether tea
or supper.
** Salads.—During winter months raw salads should be provided by passing through the mincer
available garden produce: cabbage, beetroot, carrots, turnips, swedes, etc., and serving raw with salad
dressing. This may be given at dinner instead of cooked vegetables with cold meat; or at breakfast or
tea on days when extras are not available; or in place of extras on other days.
*** Butter.—Ration must not be omitted in favour of vitaminised margarine.
Milk.—The total milk allowance per week for each child up to 10 years of age to be 7 pints, and 4½
pints for those of 10 and upwards.
Porridge may be withdrawn from the dietary during the summer months, at the discretion of the
superintendent, provided that the bread ration is then increased, and that the milk ration is not reduced.
Bread is to be served at table in necessary quantities.
Potatoes.—When potatoes are poor in quality, the ration may be supplemented with rice or dried
peas.
Quantities.—Unless otherwise stated, the quantities shown in the table are in an uncooked state.
Children aged 3 to 5.—Children aged three to five should have their food allowance adjusted in accordance
with age, and the quantities in the table may safely be diminished. Fish at this age should be without
bones ; coffee and raw salads (with the exception of lettuce leaves in season) should be omitted. The full
milk and fruit allowances should, however, be strictly adhered to.
Variation of meals.—A reasonable amount of latitude should be shown in applying the dietary, so as
to avoid the recurrence of a particular item on the same day of every week.
Individual children.—The medical officer of the school or home may vary the dietary for any individual
child, if this is necessary on medical grounds.
For schools consisting only of boys whose average age is in the neighbourhood of 14 years, the
allowances of the staple articles of diet (i.e., meat, bread and milk) as shown in the above table to be
increased by 25 per cent.
Residential open-air schools.—Dietary to be modified by giving additional egg and milk rations at the
expense of meat and rougher vegetables.
Appetite.—Notwithstanding anything in this dietary table each child shall be fed according to appetite,
for which a reserve of food shall be available.