Correct Diet

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 82, 17 January 1941, Page 46

Correct Diet

Dear Aunt Daisy, I was very interested just lately, when I heard you talking about cooking peas without water, but with a little butter instead. For about five months I have been doing as many vegetables as possible this way-carrots, parsnips, and swedes, grated or put through the mincer, and cooked in the butter. They are just lovely, and you wouldn’t eat them any other way after once tasting them. A doctor calls that method " wilting." All the goodness is kept in. I had to consult this doctor and dietitian, for I had for two years been threatened with an operation for gallstones, Every two or three weeks I was really quite ill. This doctor recommended me to fast for ten days, during which time I just had juices ‘of citrus fruits, tomato juice, and strained vegetable broth. Of course, I got very thin, but had plenty of energy! Then I just had raw fruits, and after that I was allowed light food-fish and so on. He gave me a balanced diet sheet. I have never had a sign of my old trouble since. Isn’t it wonderful? Though I worked very hard all the time, I am still as fit as a fiddle. Whilst I was still on the first stages of this diet, I organised and canvassed round to get a club going. Isn’t it wonderful what our fruits and vegetables can do? Please forgive me for this long epistle, but I am very proud of my good health now.-" Brown Eyes." Thank you very much for your interesting letter. I agree with you that proper diet will cure, or prevent, very many illnesses; and if every mother or housekeeper begins at once to feed her household on wholesome food properly cooked, I am sure that New Zealanders will be much healthier very soon. Wholemeal bread, wholemeal flour reinforced with extra wheat-germ, plenty of vegetables, either tfaw or steamed instead of being spoilt by overcooking in too much water, and plenty of milk and of raw fruit, cheese and lettuces should form the main part of our diet. Don’t drink at mealtimes, but in between; and remember to drink plenty of good water.