Meat and Fish

What meats may be given to young children?

The best are beefsteak, mutton-chop, roast beef, roast lamb, broiled chicken and certain delicate fish, such as shad or bass.

What are the important points to be considered in giving meat to children?

Most meats should be rare and either scraped or very finely divided, as no child can be trusted to chew meat properly. Meats are best broiled or roasted, but should not be fried.

How often should meat be given?

At this period, only once a day, at the mid-day meal.

Is not the excessive nervousness of many modern children due to the giving of meat, or at least aggravated by its use?

There is little ground for such a belief, unless an excessive amount of meat is given. Certainly cutting off meat from the diet of nervous children seldom produces any striking benefit.

What meats should be forbidden to young children?

Ham, bacon, sausage, pork, liver, kidney, game and all dried and salted meats, also cod, mackerel and halibut; all of these are best withheld until the child has passed the tenth year.

Are not gravies beneficial and nutritious?

The beef juice, or so-called "platter gravy," from a roast is exceedingly nutritious and desirable, but many of the thickened gravies are much less digestible and are too often given in excess; only a small quantity should be allowed. They should not form an important part of the meal.