Jean Prescott Adams

“ Without properly prepared food in proper combination, and quantity, we are not able to exercise our greatest earning ability, to grasp new situations as we should, or to invest our savings wisely. By keeping the food account according to the body building uses of the food purchased, we daily progress in our food knowledge and become adepts at using alternative foods.
When one really operates a budget plan to win, it is an advancement in itself. In cases of a large independent income it is wise to have your banker’s representative work out a budget for you. ”

“ Prepared foods release you from less important tasks, that you may have time to learn food values. It rests with the responsible housewife to plan her own time so as to achieve the greatest returns in the health and efficiency of her family. Food knowledge means a better-fed nation.
A pantry stocked with a wide variety of quality foods and a working knowledge of individual needs and food values will make it possible for the home manager to prepare the proper foods within her budget limitations. ”

“ Much waste of food is due to carelessness in handling after it is delivered in the home. Thus the benefits of the elaborate care exercised in bringing the food to the consumer are sometimes lost by the carelessness of the housewife.
Few of us realize the patient care and ofttimes burdensome labor incident to food production. The long hours of labor necessary to produce food in any form should give us a wholesome respect for it when it comes into our kitchen all ready to form a part of the family diet. ”

“ Eggs contain all of the elements necessary to life. Next to milk, selected eggs are the most economical source of animal protein and, like milk, contain the growth elements popularly known as fat soluble A. Vitamines.
The highly concentrated food value of eggs makes it necessary to combine them with such starchy foods as bread or potatoes so that there will be sufficient bulk food for the stomach to act upon. Eggs are an excellent substitute for meat and are as indispensable as sugar in cooking. It is necessary to cook eggs slowly and at a low temperature to have them easily digested. ”

“ Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, mineral matter, and water, are the chief classes of food. The chief work of proteins is to build and repair tissue. Meat and milk are the principal sources of protein. Nuts, vegetables and some cereals also supply this element.
Carbohydrates are the starches and sugars. They are found in vegetables, cereals, and fruits and give heat and energy to the body. Fats give two and a half times as much energy as any other food. ”

“ The raw material buyers for Armour and Company are all experts in their special lines. They search the markets to select the best products for each branch of our service. Then various corps of specialists analyze and prepare the foods in the most efficient, scientific, and satisfactory way for the consumer. Through able management the most expert service today goes into the translating of a meat animal into wholesome U.S. Government inspected meat, either fresh, smoked, dried, prepared, or canned. ”

“ Because it is impossible to wholly consume all fruits at the harvesting time, great quantities are canned for later consumption. To retain the highest natural flavor and full fruit sugar value, it is necessary to can fruits and vegetables just as they ripen and immediately after picking. Commercial canning of fruits has reached such a high degree of excellence that the average home manager prefers to buy a reliable brand she knows to be uniform, rather than run the risk of having fruits spoil that she uses her own time and material to “put up.” ”

“ Waste has no place in the substantial American home. The wise home manager uses every bit of wholesome edible product for food. She makes tasty dishes of all left-over foods. A bit of extract of beef adds just the flavor necessary to make many left-over meat and vegetable dishes favorites with the family.
Left-over egg yolks are rich in fat and may be used with skimmed milk in making custards, pudding sauces, salad dressings, noodles and in soups or drinks. ”

“ The housewife should always buy canned meats by brand name; for the label, plus the U. S. Government Inspection stamp, is the safest buying guide that can be found.
In every home where meals are served regularly it is a great convenience to have on the pantry shelf a complete supply of canned meats, for it takes the guesswork out of cookery, saves time and labor, and assures the home manager of a successful meat dish for any regular or emergency meal.
Any first-class dealer can supply you with a complete variety of high quality canned meats. ”

“ As meat is one of the most important items of American diet, its price is a matter of moment to every housewife. Comparisons between the cost of live animals and the price per pound of meat sometimes lead to the conclusion that the existing margin is too wide and that possibly the profits of the middleman are too large. ”

“ Food experts agree that 20 per cent. of the entire diet should consist of protein. In our country, meat is the favorite protein food. It provides a portion of the energy which is also furnished by carbohydrates and fats, but its chief purpose is to supply material for growth and repair of the body tissues which are constantly worn out in the performance of their various functions. ”

“ Bacon in the piece or cartons of bacon should be kept on hand at all times. A breakfast of bacon and eggs is the accepted breakfast and may be quickly and easily prepared. A few strips of bacon add just the right flavor to the roast fowl, meat loaf, larded tenderloin, or casserole of vegetables or cereals.
The drippings from ham and bacon should be kept in a cold place and used for shortening in spice cakes and cookies, for flavor in sauces for vegetables and meats, for sautéing where the smoked meat flavor is desirable, in the dressing for vegetable salads, and in the stuffing for fowl. ”

“ The food product ready, it is put to one of two uses—fed to the live stock from which we obtain our milk, butter, cheese, meat and meat products, or it is sent to factories where by means of much more labor and care it is further prepared for our table. By canning, as in case of fruits and vegetables, by milling of grains, or, if the product is a meat animal, by the many complicated processes of packing, the food is prepared for transportation. ”

“ To be able to prepare a perfect meal, have the house in order, the children happy and spotless, the table attractively set, and to serve the meal oneself at the same time retaining one’s poise, occupying the hostess’ place at the table, directing the conversation and creating a feeling of true hospitality is, perhaps, the greatest test of one’s generalship. ”

“ Thorough cooking is the secret of the tasty and easily digested dish of cereal. Cereals in bread, muffins, cookies, cakes, croquettes, and in casseroles with cheese, fish, or left-over meat; in the baking dish with a slice of ham, or with a vegetable, they give variety to the menu and make the preparation of the everyday dishes more interesting.
TABLE FOR COOKING CEREALS
Stir cereals gradually into required quantity of boiling water, allowing one teaspoon salt to each cup of cereal. ”

“ A sandwich, being composed of slices of bread filled with meat or fruit and salad dressing, constitutes a meal when coupled with a beverage. All food principles are present and in the right proportions. A sandwich embodies protein, carbohydrate, mineral matter and fat.
Bread for sandwiches should be twenty-four hours old. Remove all outside crusts or not, as desired, before slicing. Slice very thin, for sandwiches should be dainty. Always cream the butter. It not only goes farther, but spreads more easily. ”

“ The ideal way, from a food value standpoint, is to cook potatoes with the skins on, for, if pared, the valuable mineral salts escape into the water. Vegetables that are pared before cooking should be pared very thin. Between the skin and outer layers of the vegetable lies a layer containing much nutritive material, and, unless the parings are thin, this material is lost. Water in which pared vegetables are cooked should be saved and used as soup stock. ”

“ The ideal diet determined by weight, height, occupation and general health of the individual contains just sufficient quantity of fat and carbohydrates to give the required amount of heat and energy. In popular terms, one-fifth of the diet should consist of fat. Much of this may be fat of vegetables or meats, but some of it should be butter fat or its equivalent, especially for children because of the vitamines it contains. ”

“ In large quantities it may take the place in food value of the meat dish. It must, of course, be served in combination with vegetables or cereal food to supply the proper bulk.
Cheese contains protein and fat. It builds tissue and creates heat and energy. For variety it may occasionally be served as the main food for a meal—and adds zest when used in salads and other table specialties.
In fuel value, one pound of cheese is equal to three and one-third pounds of baked beans—or three quarts of whole milk, twenty-five average size eggs, or of peanut butter approximately three-fourths pounds. ”