WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?

New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 34, 16 February 1940, Page 10

WHAT SHOULD WE EAT?

To The Editor, "The Listener," Sir,-Your correspondent, R. T. Kohere, raises an interesting subject when he asks the question, "Why do we eat food? Is it to tickle the palate, or to build up and strengthen our bodies?" I agree with him that the average pakeha has yet to learn what is good for him, but at the same time far be it from me to discount the labours of our excellent Aunt Daisy. The severely practical person who eats merely to live and baths merely to clean himself loses much of the minor enjoyment in life. However, Mr. Kohere is right when he says that eels are wholesome and nutritious. I think I am right in saying that analysis has proved that the nutritive value of eel-liver is greater than that of halibut liver, which in turn is greater than that of cod-liver. Little more recommendation is needed

for the eel than that. Eel flesh, too, is much more nourishing than the flesh of trout or salmon, Your correspondent, however, appears to be under the impression that only the Maoris appreciate the good qualities of the eel. This, of course, is not so. Cockneys, for example, are traditionally fond of eel pie. I recall a scrap of doggerel which I read some years ago and which quite well illustrates this. Here it is, as far as I can remember it: All hail, the wondrous eel, sing I, Hurrah for the anguillidae — Most highly-prized of Roman dishes, Prince of the nutritious fishes. Cockney, Dutchman, bend the knee, Trencher-worshippers of thee, Saxon, Celt and black Mashona All unite to do thee honour. Tyrolean, Turk and Greek, Maori chief and Arab sheikh Shall continue in thy praises Till they’re pushing up the daisies. ... And so on. It’s a pity that the general enthusiasm is not shared by the New Zealand pakeha, but the one eel cannery established here failed, I understand. Even the most strenuous efforts of the Chief Inspector of Fisheries, A. E, Hefford, do not seem to have been successful in overcoming our prejudice against eating what looks like a snake. Those phobias of ours which date from the Garden of Eden die hard. Yours, etc.,

IRIDEUS

Auckland, February 9, 1940.