The Body Machine. Self-Control

The element of education and discipline entering into this phase of child culture gives the parents the great opportunity of obtaining results not only in a physical way, but also in the way of character building and self-control, so closely is the physical allied to the intellectual and moral.

But it is only as the mother has mastered for herself the problem of eating for health and the necessary self-control to reach this high ideal, that she can be master of the important work of feeding and teaching her child.

Generosity

The dainty morsel of candy can be eaten as dessert and when the little one has, with a hearty appetite, eaten well of the dinner served, a very small amount of candy will suffice. Then too, as a matter of politeness, the supply of sweets must be passed and divided with the members of the family, and in this way the amount may be quite easily limited to the one or two pieces the child may be allowed to have. With great care should the mother prepare the simple dessert allowed her tiny man, that there may be nothing served him that would in any way detract from the benefit his little body should derive from this food.

Simple Desserts

Cereal desserts made with cereal, egg and a moderate amount of sugar are often good (See recipes Chapter XXII) and, served at the midday meal, simply add more calories that the growing child may thrive. Desserts such as prune whip, banana whip, junket, fruit mold (see recipes Chapter XXII), are all good and supply the necessary sweet. The little one will delight in these simple things if they are made attractive and he will derive only benefit from them. Dried fruits as figs, dates, raisins, etc., may help to supply the needed sweet in a very wholesome form.

Fresh Fruits

The fresh fruit served the boy or girl will be delighted in for its own flavor without added sugar, if a little tact is used by the thoughtful mother. The sliced peaches, berries and other fresh fruit served may be enjoyed without the sugar usually added. Special care should be taken that this fruit be naturally sweet and palatable. The older members of the family may in their interest in watching the beautiful development of this normal boy or girl become enthusiastic in eating as carefully as the little folks are taught to eat and thus become examples, incidentally deriving immense advantage to themselves.

Ice Cream

Ice cream should be withheld as long as possible, but as the child grows older it may seem almost impossible to withhold it entirely, but it must be insisted upon that it be eaten only at meal time, that it take the place of real food and that it be eaten slowly and in moderation. Too much cannot be said against the pernicious custom of permitting the child to obtain ice cream sodas and ice cream cones promiscuously from any and every ice cream stand. This tempting sweet should be obtained from a source that guarantees its freshness and purity, served with care and best in the home at the regular meal.

Cake

A simple sponge cake or plain cookie may be allowed in place of or in connection with, the dessert.

At bread making time a crusty sweet cake can be made from the bread dough that will be as much a delight to the normally educated child as a French pastry to the one who has been trained to like excessive and rich sweets. When pie is served the older members, how the little one will rejoice in a tiny pie made especially for his or her benefit, and the crust may be as hygienic as bread, for it may be made from the same dough, and its palatability will never be questioned by the small recipient.

Concentrated Food

Another common mistake in feeding children is in the thought that they must have an abundance of fat - cream on their cereal, butter freely on bread, richly seasoned vegetables and even fried and greasy foods. This plan for them does untold harm and their appetites are so educated that they can never perhaps get away from the bondage of acquired and perverted tastes. Dr. Kerley says that "the average child after the sixth year receives two or three times as much energy food as he requires." (This probably does not include the poorer classes.) Energy food we know to be fat and carbohydrate.

Undesirable Results

In almost every case whole milk is better than cream. The child needs ample protein, but not an excess of fat. The catarrhal conditions, frequent colds, enlarged tonsils, adenoids and recurrent bronchitis so common among children undoubtedly are favored, if not caused by, the excess of fat given them together with the large amount of sweets allowed in their diet. The result of these mistakes are never entirely overcome and thus the individual goes through life handicapped because of the ignorance of his parents.

A Corrective Diet

For a child subject to colds, no plan is better than a diet limited, for a time at least, to boiled skimmed milk, whole cereals, green vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese, buttermilk, vegetable broths and vegetable soups (See recipes 23 to 31, Chapter XXII), and perhaps an occasional egg. Butter used very moderately if at all.