Are all scientists agreed on the amount of protein a
person requires? No; there is great diversity of opinion.
Voit, after very careful experiment some years ago was
firm in his belief that an adult weighing 150 pounds,
should have 118 grams of protein a day. His statements
were published in 1881. This was the generally accepted
theory, and as people in comfortable circumstances were
accustomed to about that amount from choice, without
any scientific reason, it was very acceptable.
Are there any later scientists who contend that less
protein is required? Yes; five or more. (Hirschfeld,
Klempirer, Pechsel, Siven and Chittenden.)
What amount do they claim necessary? For a man
of average size 40 grams or less ; this is less than one-
third Voit insisted on.
Have enough extended investigations been made to
really establish without doubt the amount of protein one's
diet should contain that he may reach the highest point
in efficiency. No ; there have not. Many persons are
greatly benefited by cutting down the amount of meat
they are accustomed to eating.
To what has the human body been compared? To an
engine. The food being likened to the coal ; the refuse
matter to the ashes, the air taken in through the lungs to
the draft, and the waste matter expelled through the
lungs and skin might be lightened to the smoke and gases
through the chimney.
When food is burned in the body why do we not have
any light from it as with the coal in the stove? Because
the combustion in the body is much slower. Combustion
or oxidation takes place in every tissue of the body, not
in one central place like in the stove, and doubtless the
jo Efficiency in Home Making
food first becomes a part of body tissues before it is
burned, or oxidation takes place.
Does a person's size have anything to do with the
amount of food he needs ? Yes ; it takes more heat to
keep a tall, large, person warm than a short, small one;
also it requires more material to keep a large body in
repair than a small one.
Does this apply to children? No; for they use up a
tremendous amount of energy in constant motion, and
they need a large amount of material for both growth and
repair.
What kinds of food do they especially need? Proteids,
for growth and repair, and carbohydrates and fats for
warmth and energy, and mineral salts for the bones and
teeth. They must have fruits and vegetables to keep
the system clear of refuse, so it will not become clogged.
Does the amount of food affect the mental powers of
a child? Very much; underfed children are often back-
ward in school, and when supplied with a nutritious
luncheon, the improvement is so marked, it is now being
regarded as very poor economy on the part of the Gov-
ernment to provide schools for underfed children without
providing them with additional food.
Do young children require a special diet? They most
certainly do. They should never be given tea, coffee,
fresh bread, griddle cakes, fried potatoes, fried cakes,
fried meat and eggs, pie, cake, pickles of any kind, tur-
nips, cabbage, or cheese — not even a little taste of these
things. Even older children should not have many of
these foods.
Page 37
Presented as published in 1915. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Are all scientists agreed on the amount of protein a person requires? No; there is great diversity of opinion. Voit, after very careful experiment some years ago was firm in his belief that an adult weighing 150 pounds, should have 118 grams of protein a day. His statements were published in 1881. This was the generally accepted theory, and as people in comfortable circumstances were accustomed to about that amount from choice, without any scientific reason, it was very acceptable.
Are there any later scientists who contend that less protein is required? Yes; five or more. (Hirschfeld, Klempirer, Pechsel, Siven and Chittenden.)
What amount do they claim necessary? For a man of average size 40 grams or less ; this is less than onethird Voit insisted on.
Have enough extended investigations been made to really establish without doubt the amount of protein one's diet should contain that he may reach the highest point in efficiency. No ; there have not. Many persons are greatly benefited by cutting down the amount of meat they are accustomed to eating.
To what has the human body been compared? To an engine. The food being likened to the coal ; the refuse matter to the ashes, the air taken in through the lungs to the draft, and the waste matter expelled through the lungs and skin might be lightened to the smoke and gases through the chimney.
When food is burned in the body why do we not have any light from it as with the coal in the stove? Because the combustion in the body is much slower. Combustion or oxidation takes place in every tissue of the body, not in one central place like in the stove, and doubtless the
jo Efficiency in Home Making
food first becomes a part of body tissues before it is burned, or oxidation takes place.
Does a person's size have anything to do with the amount of food he needs ? Yes ; it takes more heat to keep a tall, large, person warm than a short, small one; also it requires more material to keep a large body in repair than a small one.
Does this apply to children? No; for they use up a tremendous amount of energy in constant motion, and they need a large amount of material for both growth and repair.
What kinds of food do they especially need? Proteids, for growth and repair, and carbohydrates and fats for warmth and energy, and mineral salts for the bones and teeth. They must have fruits and vegetables to keep the system clear of refuse, so it will not become clogged.
Does the amount of food affect the mental powers of a child? Very much; underfed children are often backward in school, and when supplied with a nutritious luncheon, the improvement is so marked, it is now being regarded as very poor economy on the part of the Government to provide schools for underfed children without providing them with additional food.
Do young children require a special diet? They most certainly do. They should never be given tea, coffee, fresh bread, griddle cakes, fried potatoes, fried cakes, fried meat and eggs, pie, cake, pickles of any kind, turnips, cabbage, or cheese — not even a little taste of these things. Even older children should not have many of these foods.