Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 312, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1918 — WHAT SAMMIES EAT [ARTICLE]

WHAT SAMMIES EAT

Meat Twice Daily, White Bread, Vegetables, Chief Foods. Coffee Berved at Breakfast and Buttermilk, Tea, Cocoa or Water at Other Meals. The old Idea* that army diet should consist largely of beans, hardtack and coffee, Is no longer approved, writes Belle Case Harrington In Leslie’s. In the present training camps meat, preferably beef, is served twice a day, with white bread baked in the general camp bakery and kept 24 hours before serving. Where green vegetables can be obtained they are used, otherwise canned goods are substituted. Coffee Is served, at breakfast, and buttermilk, lemonade, tea, cocoa or water at other meais. Meals, which in the vernacular are 4< hless” or “chow,” are served cafeteria style. Every soldier is furnished with an outfit which consists of a meat-pan, knife, fork and spoon, and a longhandled cup. The cover of the meatpan serves as a plate, and the outfit is so arranged that each man may do his own cooking in case of an 'emergency. Each man takes his meat-pan and passes before a table where he is served with the various dishes prepared. He then goes to a table, or if there is none, drops down on the ground, and eats in absolute contentment. Don’t feel too sorry for the boys, even if they do write longingly home wishing for mother’s cookies or Jane’s fried chicken. Men in outdoor training have good appetites, and they ara far better off physically than if fed on the salads and ices and sodas they probably would have at home. What they miss most Is sweets. If you are sending things from home put in cookies, candles and jams or Jellies. Milk chocolate Is one of the things a soldier seems to crave, and a Jar of malted milk will come handy If he is not feeling well. Be sure not to send food that Is too rich as the boys are on plain diet One of the comforting thoughts to the friends at home is the fact that Uncle Sam is bound to maintain good health among his soldiers. Even If there were no humane considerations, this would be necessary from a purely economic standpoint. Sick soldiers are a' menace, and a regiment not up to par in the matter of health is an awful handicap. All men are vaccinated for smallpox, and inoculated against typhoid as soon as they enter service. Minor disorders, such as blisters, bow-’ el trouble, or sore throat are carefully watched by the officers in charge, and there is a hospital with trained nurses in every camp. No faking can pass. The officers have sharp eyes to. discriminate between real and simulated illness. As the boys say, “There are only two times a day when a fellow can get sick” —at sick call, which occurs at 7 a. m., and again at 5:30 p. m. Between times “he just has to stand It.” Regular habits, outdoor life, plain food, and strenuous military drill, are In themselves strong factors toward good health, and many a man who enters the service a comparative weakling will come out fine of physique and strong of limb. As for drinking, it “Isn’t done!” Saloons and even soft drink establishments are not to sell anything to a soldier In uniform, and many young men who have heretofore been occasional drinkers now proudly proclaim themselves teetotalers.