NOT QUANTITY BUT QUALITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1938, Page 8

NOT QUANTITY BUT QUALITY

"It is possible, easily possible, to be overfed and yet badly fed," Dr. Elizabeth Bryson told a meeting of representatives of women's organisations in Wellington. In other words, if food is to do the work that Nature intended it to do, it must be selected for its nutritional value rather than for its appetising and hunger-satisfy-ing qualities, although there is no reason why food which gives the necessary nutrition should not possess both those qualities as well. New Zealand possesses abundant food for all, and generally its people are in a position to buy it in sufficient quantity, but, as Dr. Bryson pointed out, there is still a serious malnutrition problem. Doctors, nurses, and welfare workers agree that the problem exists, "but." said Dr. Bryson, "you i don't need to ask them. Use your eyes. ... If you look honestly you will be ashamed." The doctor went on to point out that there is no excuse of poverty, no excuse of real inability to secure food.

If, as is suggested, the health of the nation is suffering because of malnutrition—and there is ample evidence that it is—there is an urgent need for tackling the problem. But how? It is not possible to say to people, "You must eat this and you must eat that." The only effective way to bring about an improvement is by education, and here there appears to be an opportunity for the various organisations concerned with welfare work to get together, in association with the medical and dental professions, in an endeavour to guide the people along the right lines. Already much has been done by a few enthusiasts to spread the gospel of right eating, but a concerted effort is needed if the public as a whole are to be reached. And it is important to remember that no better start can be made than with the children.