FoodNet

Food and freedom

1918

Page 30

Presented as published in 1918. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The calorie requirement of an individual doing light work is i6 or 17 calories per pound per day. The calorie requirement of an individual doing moderately hard work is 18 to 20 calories per pound per day. The calorie requirement of an individual doing hard, muscular work is 20 to 23 calories per pound per day. The calorie requirement of children is higher: ^ I to 2 years old .... 45-40 calories per pound 3 to 5 years 4° - 35 6 to 9 years 35-30 10 to 13 years 30-25 " " 14 to 17 years 25-20 " *' Thus to estimate the calorie requirement of an individual simply multiply the normal body weight by the required number of calories, according to age or occupation. For example, for a person doing light work multiply the normal body weight by 16 or 17; for a person doing hard work, by 22 or 23 ; for a child of three, by 40, etc. In cases of overweight, less than the normal calorie requirement should be eaten; this is most successfully managed by eliminating concentrated foods of high calorie value — butter, sugar, cream, etc. — and substituting bulk foods low in fuel value, such as fruits and vegetables. The secret of weight reduction is to eat less than the body *Rose, "Some Food Facts," Special Bulletin, Teachers College, New York, N, Y, IMPORTANT FOOD FACTS 69 really needs for its day's work; in this way some of the excess food stored in the body in the form of fat is used.* In cases of underweight, more than the normal requirement should be eaten. * By knowing the two facts — the calorie value of any given food or portion of food, and the calorie require- ment of an individual — it is comparatively simple to combine them, and feed very accurately according to measure — should need require it. The mere calorie value of foods must not be con- fused, however, with the complete physiological and nutritive value. The kind of calories — whether pro- tein, or fat, or carbohydrate — is as important as the number. All should be represented in the day's total food, and they should be so assembled from a variety of foods that they will automatically supply the mineral matter or ash constituents and peculiarly important accessory factors also required, but which cannot be measured in calories. As has been estimated, in a good diet the differ- ent food materials should be represented, approxi- mately, as follows: 2 Protein 12 per cent. Fat 18 " Carbohydrate 68 *' Mineral matter 2 " * For a clear discussion, see Fisher and FIsk, pp. 212-220. 2 See References listed at the close of this chapter. Rose, Feeding the Family, chaps, v-xi, is particularly helpful. Also, Kellogg and Taylor, The Foo4 Problem, chap, v, V 70 FOOD AND FREEDOM In calories, taking 2,500 as the average, this division would read, approximately: Protein 300 calories Fat 500 '' Carbohydrate 1,700 Or, estimated in grams, it reads: ^ Protein 70 grams Fat 60 '' Carbohydrate 450 " Or, estimated in ounces, it reads: ^ Protein 2.5 ounces Fat 2.12 " Carbohydrate 7. "