FoodNet

Use and preparation of food

1919

Page 161

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
B. The necessity of maintaining the health of her family by cor- rect feeding under conditions which may cause increased prices of many of the staple foods. Our experience during the war goes to show that the American boys were not up to standard physically. We are coming to realize, as never before, the importance of proJDcr food in maintaining the physical welfare of the whole family. C. It is probable that the world condition in regard to food is going to mean wide fluctuations in the cost of foods and also with the cost of living uniformly high it is necessary for the housewife to 128209°— 19 16 242 USE AND PKEPAEATION OF FOOD. practice individual economy without running the risk of endangering tlie health of the famil3\ IMany new and unaccustomed foods have been placed on the market. The housewife should have an intelligent knowledge of these. The conservatism of housewives in buying only certain kinds of foods helps maintain high prices. Sometimes otliers just as good may be had at a lower price. In order to use them she must have an intelligent knowledge of the value of foods, which will enable her to furnish the famil}^ the food necessary for health at the lowest possible cost. 5. The following outline has been prepared as a means of helping the housewife to meet the food situation at the present time. A. Simplification of food habits. — Do not eat or serve food be- tween meals. Serve very simple meals, three courses at most. One- dish meals are practical. B. Wise selection of food. — Learn to know the needs of each mem- ber of your family. Plan your meals to meet these needs. Let your needs and not your whims govern your food habits. Food selection is a science. Study it.^ C. Wider range of choice. — Make use of new foods. Wider distri- bution of choice adds variety to diet and helps keep down prices. D. Buying of food. — Learn first what food is needed ; then buy in such quantities as may safely be stored or used without loss. Plan ahead to save delivery. Study the market and buy the abundant seasonable foods. Conserve those which are scarce here and abroad. Make a budget and keep accounts. E. Careful preparation of food. — Learn to prepare simple foods well. This means palatable foods with reasonable variations in methods of preparation. F. Avoidance of food waste. — Watch your garbage pail. Serve only in such quantities as may be eaten. Practice the gospel of the clean plate. L^se all left-overs. Waste no food through poor or careless cooking or reckless handling. G. The saving of surplus foods for future use. — Even a small daily surplus of perishable food should be preserved in some simple way. Preserve, dry, can, or store any large supplies of surplus foods. In her effort to avoid waste the housewife should take into account the value of time consumed in saving. She must remember that time as well as food has a value. METHOD or DEVELOPING LARORATORY WORK. This lesson is planned as a discussion, led by the teacher in order to bring out the problems of the food supply as they may exist in the special community. The housewives should be encouraged to enumer- USE AXD PKEPARATION OF FOOD. 243