When varying the puddings, it must be remembered that they should always be made of highly nutritive food-stuffs. Fruit should be given at least three times a week in the form of stewed fruit, tarts, etc.; vegetables, also, are an important item in the diet; and a fair amount of potatoes and greens should be given at each meat meal; beans and peas and, to a less extent, carrots and parsnips, are also of great value.

The diet can be conveniently reduced in amount, when required, by reducing the amount of milk to 1 pint daily.

There are a very large number of people - what one may perhaps term the lower middle classes - who take a large midday meal and a meat tea followed by a light supper in place of the luncheon and dinner of the more well-to-do classes. Others, again, are in the habit of taking a fairly substantial sit-down tea (without meat) and also a substantial supper. To people who are accustomed to meals of this kind we can recommend the following diets : -

Men.

Women.

Breakfast.

A soup-plateful.

Porridge (oatmeal, rolled oats, etc.), sugar and cream.

Four tablespoonfuls.

One pint.

Milk.

One pint.

1/2 oz. A piece the size of a walnut.

Butter.

1/2 oz. A piece the size of a walnut.

Three triangles of toast or a round and a half of bread.

Bread or toast.

Two triangles of toast or a round of bread.

An ordinary helping.

Egg, bacon or sausage, etc.

An ordinary helping.

DlNNER.

4 oz. (a large helping).

Meat (hot or cold).

3 oz. (a large plateful).

5 oz. (four the size of an egg).

Potatoes.

3 oz. (two the size of a hen's egg).

As desired.

Green vegetables.

As desired.

5 oz. (a large helping).

Milk or suet pudding.

4 oz. (a large helping).

1 pint.

Milk.

1 pint.

1 1/2 oz. (half a round).

Bread.

1 oz. (half a round).

1/2 oz. (a piece the size of a walnut).

Butter.

1/2 oz. (a piece the size of a walnut).

The above dietary has the following nutritive value : -

Men .... 156 protein 168 fat 283 carbo-hydrate calorie value.

Women . . .130 protein 145 fat 235 carbo-hydrate calorie value.

In the above table the essential articles are printed in Roman type, and the non-essentials in italics.