OUR BABIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1940, Page 8

OUR BABIES

Published under the auspices of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children (Plunket Society). “It is wiser to put up a fence at the top of a precipice than to maintain an ambulance nt the bottom." SPRING TONICS. Many of us have a vivid recollection of having every spring to take a course of sulphur and treacle or some such decoction. Winter was regarded as an unhealthy season—"the blood became thick” (meaning that poisons had accumulated in the system), and therefore a spring tonic or blood purifier in a drug form was needed to assist Nature in the spring-cleaning of our systems. A great many people seem to prefer to believe in the mysterious potency of drugs rather than put their faith in simple, everyday foods they could cultivate for themselves.

Nature supplies all the “drugs” needed for our well-being in a much more easily assimilated form than anything we can manufacture or buy as chemical foods in a bottle.

Why should a tonic be especially needed at the end of winter? Because in winter more than in any other season our diet is less varied. Many folk have not used foresight and planted early a supply of winter vegetables or preserved those vegetables and | fruits not obtaining during the winter months. Also, because of the colder weather, we stay indoors and “hug" the fire, instead of dressing to suit the weather and going out for some brisk exercise. The tonic effects of the exercise and the sunlight is most beneficial. Even if the sun is not shining there is still benefit to be derived from “skyshine.” So remember to let the children play outside as often as possible. As long as they keep warm the cold will not harm them.

The most important times in the individual are infancy and childhood, when the mental and physical development are largely determined, and we would plead for the welfare during these critical periods. The winter diet of the child should be kept as wellbalanced as in the summer months to ensure his even growth and development. What is necessary for the child in this respect is as necessary for the adult to conserve vitality and maintain health. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. Many and varied are the vegetables that can be grown for winter consumption. The green, leafy vegetables are most valuable for the supply of mineral salts, so necessary for the regulation of the body processes. The most important mineral salts are: — 1. Iron. 3. Phosphorus. 2. Calcium. 4. lodine.

Spinach has the highest percentage of these, and though easy to grow in moderate climates is difficult to keep going through the winter where there is a succession of hard frosts. Parsley has a very high iron and vitamin content, and should take a more important place in the menu than a mere garniture. Parsley butter as a sandwich filling is an interesting way of introducing it into the diet. Chop the parsley finely and blend with butter (twice as much pargley as butter), and season with a little lemon juice and salt. Ground watercress, carrots, and raw celery may be used in other butter fillings. Scotch kale or curly green, savoy cabbage, leeks, celery, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, carrots and turnips are all vegetables procurable and able to be grown for winter and early spring consumption. When cooking vegetables cook in as little water as possible (steaming is preferable), salt but slightly, and use the water with milk for making a sauce to serve with them, or save it for soups and gravies. Thus none of the minerals are thrown away. Never use soda when cooking vegetables.

Most delectable salads can be made from raw vegetables. These are good for everyone—adults, and the older child from his second birthday should be able to tolerate a small proportion also. From 18 months to two years of age he should have been having lettuce in his sandwiches, thus educating him to the taste of crisp things in his diet, and, provided he has learned to masticate properly, he should be able to begin with a little of the raw salads. Try making a salad of cabbage. Drumhead savoy is excellent for this purpose. Shred it very finely and add some grated raw carrot.

Apples are the most easily procured fruit for the winter months, and can be kept right on into the spring. Oranges are good, but expensive for many households.

Foresighted parents will not find it necessary to spend much money for fresh green foods in winter. They will have on hand everything they need to avoid a “run down” condition of the family in the spring.