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11
"The modern tendency to buy cooked or tinned foods is prevalent
in Walthamstow, and one is often laying stress on the small nutritive
value obtained from money spent in this way and urging
the substitution of stews and good soups. Whilst parents admit
that stews and soups are much more nutritious than cooked foods,
they say they cannot afford to pay for coal to cook them.
"The following is a specimen week's menu from the canteen
centre and shows the care taken to vary the dishes and at the same
time give suitable nourishing food for all ages:—
Monday.—Roast beef, greens, beans (runner) or marrow,
potatoes, raw fruit.
Tuesday.—Sliced cheese and egg, salad, potatoes, milk
pudding.
Wednesday.—Liver and onions, potatoes, stewed fruit,
custard sauce.
Thursday.—Mince, carrots, potatoes, apple and currant tart.
Friday.—Baked fish or fish pudding, baked tomatoes, potatoes,
orange and banana in custard.
Saturday.—Shepherds pie, potatoes, raw fruit.
"The children of to-day appear to be as healthy and as well
nourished as the children prior to the economic depression."
Dr. M. C. Clarke reports as follows:—
"Adequate nutrition during the early years of life is of overwhelming
importance if a child is to attain normal mental and
physical development, and it cannot be stressed too forcibly that
good nutrition is primarily a matter of knowledge and training.
"One must know what a child ought to eat and then see that
he gets it.
"It is generally recognised that a diet which includes a liberal
supply of milk, eggs, fish, fruit and fresh vegetables is correct,
but, unfortunately, the cost of these essential foods makes them
unobtainable in many homes where the need for them is greatest.
"Malnutrition may take many forms, and the one most
dangerous to the growing child is lowered resistence to infection,
particularly chest troubles.
"Supplementary milk meals in the schools as an addition to
the home dietary of the child are undoubtedly of the greatest
value. All the evidence shows that these improve the child's general
health and mental tone.