Foods and home making

The little weak chicken on the left was given food lacking in vitamins. The food of the fine healthy chicken contained plenty of vitamins. Human beings as well as chickens need vitamins to keep them well. Of course, each of the vitamins does not do all of these things. In the appendix, pages 585 and 586, a list of the vitamins with what each does in the body is given. As you study more about foods, refer to this list often so you may learn how to distinguish one vitamin from the others. In what foods are the different vitamins found? Although vitamins are found in many foods, there are some foods that contain more than others. We speak of these foods as being rich in vitamins. Milk, jruits, vegetables, butter, eggs, and whole grains are among the foods richest in vitamins. How is the quantity of vitamins in foods indicated ? Scientists have been able to determine the effect of vitamins on health by feeding tests. They have been able to learn whether a food The Treasures Found in Fruit 37 contains only a little of a vitamin, a moderate amount, or a generous portion. Plus signs are used to indicate that a food contains vitamins. One plus sign means that the food contains the vitamin; two plus signs, that it contains a moderate amount, and three plus signs, that it is rich in the vitamin. A minus sign means that there is no appreciable amount of the vitamin. A question mark means that there is doubt about the presence or amount of the vitamin. An asterisk means that the presence of the vitamin has not been established. A table showing the vitamins in fruits follows. The table gives only vitamins A, B, C, and G. The presence of vitamins D and E has not been determined for many foods. Name of Fruit Vitamins A B C G 1 Apples, uncooked . . . + + + to + + + + Bananas + to + + + + + + + Cantaloupes ++ + + + + + + + Grapefruit + + + + + + + + Lemon juice + + + + + + + + Orange juice + + + + + + + + Peaches, fresh .... + to+ + + + + * Pineapple, fresh .... ++ + + + + + Raspberries * * + + * Strawberries + + + + + * Watermelon + + + + + + SUMMARY A mixture of sugar and water is called a water solution of sugar. Water solutions are clear uniform mixtures of water and other sub- stances which do not settle on standing. Fruit juices may be considered as water solutions. Dissolved in the water of fruit are sugar and other substances. Vitamin G consists of riboflavin, vitamin PP, and others. See page 35. Breakfast 3» Fruits contain chiefly: 1. Water 2. Fruit sugar 3. Acids 4. Mineral matter 5. Vitamins 6. Cellulose Fruit sugar gives fruit a sweet taste. Acids give fruit a tart taste. Mineral matter and vitamins are needed to keep the body healthy and to make it grow. Fruits are especially valuable foods because they con- tain mineral salts and vitamins. Cellulose is a solid substance, insoluble in water. For the most part it forms the skin and other solid parts of fruit. It gives bulk to foods and stimulates digestion. REVIEW QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES Copy the following sentences, writing a word in place of each blank. 1. Sugar and will make a water solution. 2. Flour does not in water. 3. A material contained in the skins of fruits in large quantity is called 4. This substance is not in water. 5. The sugar contained in fruits is called sugar.