Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 January 1918 — Children of United States Can Do Much to Reduce Food Wastage [ARTICLE]

Children of United States Can Do Much to Reduce Food Wastage

By WILLIAM A. McKEEVER.

Authority on Problem* of Childhood and Sociology

If every child and /oung person in the United States can be induced to reduce food wastage to the extent -of six cents per day the total will amount to a saving of $3,000,000 annually. It is estimated that our European allies are short this year to the amount of 500,000,000 bushel? of grain and 30,000,000 food-producing animals. Our own stocks of these materials are the lowest in recent times. The situation calls for a shipment of at least 1,250,000,000 bushels of our grain abroad. Now, those who have plenty of other things to eat can and must cut doWn on their allowance of these transportable foodstuffs. Now, how may we enlist all our young people in this tremendous food drive? What lines of conservation must be especially emphasized? Apparently there is only one practical and effective method of appeal to the child for his help in this movement, is to arouse the juvenile sense of fellowship and sympathy for his kind. Here we have a strong racial motive. The sympathy of children for adults is weak, but for those of their age and class it is strong. The lines of food conservation most to be emphasized are: Firsts the wheat products; second, the animal products, and third, the sugar. There must be a further in the use of wheat, wheat flour, meats of all kinds, butter, fats and sugar. And a little reasoning will show how easily we can accomplish this task without going hungry. In no sense is an underfeeding of our children contemplated. That Would poor economy. There can be a change in the quality of that now carelessly used without any reduction in the body-building value.