FoodNet

Domestic science, principles and application

1914

Page 129

Presented as published in 1914. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Heat Value of Food. — A calorie*" is the unit of measure in determining quantity of heat. It is used in designating the fuel value of a food, or the amount of heat that a given quantity of the food will produce in the body. 1 pound of protein yields 1820 calories. 1 pound of carbohydrates yields 1820 calories. 1 pound of fat yields 4084 calories, or 23^ times as many calories as carbohydrates. ♦The heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 4°F. equals 1 calorie. —20 306 DOMESTIC SCIENCE The standard requirement per day has been estimated as follows: — Man at light work 2450 to 2800 calories Man at moderate muscular work 2800 to 3150 calories Man at hard muscular work 3150 to 4200 calories Man at rest 2100 to 2450 calories A woman, .8 as much as a man Since protein foods are indispensable in the building of muscular tissue, fats and carbohydrates should be sup- plied in the right proportion and quantity, so that the proteins will not be utilized as fuel. Fats and carbohy- drates are more abundant and cheaper foods for fuel, and when oxidized leave waste substances that are easily elim- inated from the body. Protein consumed for energy leaves a nitrogenous waste which necessitates additional work on the part of the excretory organs. The nutritive ratio of foods is the proper ratio in which digestible protein should be taken in relation to the diges- tible fats and carbohydrates, so as to secure a diet which will produce the greatest efficiency at the least cost and waste. The nutritive ratio has been estimated by Atwater to be 1 : 63/2> or 1 part protein to 63^ parts carbohydrates. The best proportion of fat to carbohydrates is 1: 23/^; that is, 2J4 times as much carbohydrate as fat. Standard dietaries can be worked out from any table of food materials (as given in Farmers' Bulletin 142, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture) showing the percen- tage of nutrients and calorie equivalents, by keeping in mind the relation of protein to carbohydrates plus the fat reduced to carbohydrate values. Substitution of one food for another will be necessary to keep the nutritive ratio correct, and with a little practice and experience in working out a few dietaries, one obtains a better knowledge of food compositions than in any other PLANNING MENUS 307 way. Dietaries are made for an entire day or week, since it is not practical or necessary to have each meal balance. In some cases several days may not average up, but at least every week should meet the standard requirement. Showing Nutrients and Energy of Digestible Portions of SOME Common Foods 1 0) h 13 — 3 D igestiblc nutrients Kind of food materials a 'B 2 a. 1 1 1 1 o .a CO < I 3 ANIMAL FOOD Beef, fresh: Chuck, ribs Per cent. 16.3 13.3 20.8 7.2 16.4 4.7 3.4 14.2 18.4 16 19.7 10.7 7.7 13.6 Per cent. 52.6 52.5 43.8 60.7 56.8 53.7 68.3 60.1 51.2 42 41.8 48 17.4 34.8 7.9 47.1 42.4 5S .^ Per cent. 1.4 1.6 1.8 1.4 1.2 4.5 1.2 1.1 1.4 2 1.8 1.9 4.4 3.1 5.4 1.2 1.6 .5 .7 .6 5.1 1.9 1.1 .5 .3 1.1 4.9 Per cent. 15 15.6 13.5 18.4 15.9 25.6 19.5 15 14.6 13.1 13 13.1 8.8 13.8 1.8 13.3 15.6 10.8 9.9 5.8 15.5 21.1 12.7 3.2 3.3 2.4 1 Per cent. 14.3 16.6 20 12.2 9.3 6.6 7.1 7.5 14 26.9 23 24.6 59.1 31.7 81.9 11.7 17.5 .2 4 1.2 .4 11.5 8.8 3.8 .3 17.6 80.8 Per cent. 3.3 5