Food Problems

To illustrate the meaning of food waste and what may be accomplished by economy and intelligent substitution 

By A. N. Farmer and Janet Rankin Huntington

Copyright 1918

THE WHEAT AND MEAT WE DO NOT EAT WILL HELP TO SAVE UP FROM DEFEAT.

FOOD IS AMMUNITION.  DON’T WASTE IT.

MORE CORN – LESS WHEAT KEEPS THE ALLIES FROM DEFEAT.

Coming out of World War I food rationing, this book is designed to teach school children about food conservation in order that they may do their part to ensure that America and the world has enough food. 

It is lavishly sprinkled with motivating phrases and full of arithmetic word problems that illustrate not only how much food is wasted, but that each of us can do our part to remedy the waste.  For instance:

In 1915, the average amount of meat consumed by each person in the United States was 193.5 pounds a year.  Experiments show that the adult man does best on ¼ pound of meat a day.  How many pounds more than he needs does he consume per year?

Mary has been using 2 level tablespoonfuls, or 1 ounce of sugar on her oatmeal every morning.  Her mother decides to cook the oatmeal with dates, figs, or prunes, so as to need no sugar.  How many pounds of sugar will Mary save in a month?  In a year?

The authors have aimed to not only develop their students’ math skills, but also character-building qualities such as thrift and consideration of others.  Regardless of the social and political climate in which this book was written, it still serves as a reminder today, especially as we prepare for our Thanksgiving feasts and the Christmas season.

Food for thought:

EAT TO LIVE, NOT LIVE TO EAT.