Whew! It has been a whirlwind few days and I’ve missed my little coffee klatch with you ladies! I started a “draping” class yesterday where I am learning how to design patterns by draping muslin on a dress form. You’ve probably seen them do it on Project Runway, if you’ve watched the show. Anyway, it is all day, three times a week for the next six weeks. My professor sent out the list of supplies so I had to run downtown last week and pick up the stuff I didn’t already have in my toolbox. Naturally, I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned over on the Grandma’s Sewing Cabinet Blog. In the meantime, you may notice that I’m posting a little later in the day because I will be doing it after I get home from school.
You know, when I started this exploration of the recommended eating for good health plans, I had no idea how it was going to change my life–especially the information we’ve been talking about related to rationing during World War II (and special thanks to Kathy for her contributions/resources to this discussion). I’ve been watching several Your Share cookbooks on eBay and will probably use some of my upcoming birthday money to buy a copy (in addition to that brooch I showed you guys a few weeks ago from Pop Goes My Vintage…if I also achieve my fitness goals for the month).
Now, you all know that I generally eschew what I call “franken-food” (processed foods designed in a lab with all of the stuff Americans seem to like to make it easy to eat: soft food that melts in your mouth, lots of fat, lots of high fructose corn syrup for flavor and to extend shelf life, and chemicals to trick your brain into thinking that the stuff actually tastes good). That said, because of this series, I’ve realized what an eating rut we’ve fallen into. There’s a world of high quality food out there waiting for us to enjoy it! I found myself being my mindful of what I was buying at the farmer’s market the other day. I’ve promised myself that I’m going to take my lunch with me to school, even if it a PB&J sandwich because that PB&J would be better for me and taste better than anything I could find in the school cafeteria. I guess, to make a short story long, this series and the ensuing conversation have truly inspired me to get out of our food rut. So, I thank you!
As I was doing some research for today’s blog posting, I came across several snarky reviews of the famous Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook that was first published in 1950. The reviewers, without even trying the recipes, dismissed the reprint of the cookbook as nothing more than a recipe in nostalgia because no one has all day to prepare meals anymore. Well, maybe not. But as I’ve said over and over again, most meals can be prepared in an hour or less. In fact, tonight’s dinner–steak, potatoes, artichoke hearts, and some fruit and dairy to be determined later, will probably take about 15-20 minutes to prepare. And I can guarantee that it will be yummy! These snarky women are probably the same ones who post recipes on All Recipes or Recipezaar saying to buy a prepared food and follow the directions. I’m glad you all are with me on this campaign of mine to bring back real cooking. I love what Amazon says about the cookbook…
…that back then we ate simply, in the days before the word foodie was invented. Many of the recipes suit today’s harried lifestyle, as you see in Six Layer Dinner, combining eight cups of vegetables with a pound of ground meat, and Dainty Tea Brownies topped with colorful chopped pistachios.
So, what did Betty Crocker recommend as good nutrition that “brings double happiness?” In 1950, the Basic Seven Foods were still being endorsed. However, the Betty Crocker cookbook doesn’t go into as much detail as the Better Home’s and Gardens cookbooks. However, this cookbook gives us a little bit more concrete help–the kind I think Ann was asking for–in the meal planning department. They say, “The basic seven is easy if you follow this pattern…”
For Adequate Meals:
Breakfast: Fruit, Cereal and Milk, Bread and Butter
Lunch: Main Dish, Vegetables, Bread and Butter, Fruit
Dinner: Meat and Potatoes, Green or Yellow Vegetables, Salad (raw vegetable), Bread and Butter, Fruit
Milk for children at every meal
For Complete or Abundant Meals
Breakfast: Fruit, Cereal and Milk, Egg or Meat, Bread and Butter
Lunch: Main Dish, Vegetables, Bread and Butter, Fruit, Cake or Cookies or Pudding
Dinner: Appetizer or Soup, Meat and Potatoes, Green or Yellow Vegetables, Salad (raw vegetable), Fruit, Bread and Butter, Dessert (Pie or Cake)
The same basic pattern should be used for all members of the family. Simply adjust it to meet invidiual needs of age, work, activity, and special diets.
Growing Children (1-16 years): Need more food for size than grownups; serve according to size and age of child
Adolescents (14-20 years): Need more food than at any time in their lives. A few pounds overweight at this period is an asset for health; Double and triple servings.
Adults (20-100 years): Need food according to size and activity. Women during pregnancy and lactation require additional food for certain elements; Small servings for inactive, Medium for moderately active; Large for very active.
***
This is probably one of the few places where we’ll see variables in serving sizes. I appreciate that these folks are saying, “Hey! If you’re inactive, you don’t need to eat very much.” I think the modern “serving size” listings on food is a double edged sword. Sure they help us with things like keeping track of nutritional information but the downside is that it is a one-size-fits-all kind of thinking when it comes to serving size. I can guarantee that I shouldn’t be eating the same serving sizes of most food as someone who digs ditches all day. Additionally, we’ve lost our sense of what constitutes a serving. I think a lot of us mistakenly believe that one serving = one helping. But the folks at Betty Crocker remind us that eating is not one-size-fits-all. And if we don’t pay attention to it, we won’t even be able to fit into our “Thanksgiving Stretchy Pants” anymore.
So, is the take away, once again, that we really don’t need as much food as we think we do?
Yes, that’s the “take away.” We actually don’t need much food. We can afford to eat more if we’re active. Even then, the average person doesn’t need to eat all that much. Our intake should not be more than our output. And when we do eat, we should think of the food chart instead of the cookie jar or other “snack” food.
One thing I have observed is that my own children are not raising their children according to the food guidelines. My grandchildren are allowed to say no to milk, for instance, and busy families eat out and build meals around prepared foods.
When I requested recipes for my childhood favorites from my mother, they all came from the Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book. No snarky remarks can take from me the fact that my favorite foods come from that book. I admit that it has a less-an-adequate index and a strange recipe format. Nevertheless, some good nutritious foods come from its pages. And I love to just read it.
I think that we have become rather sophisticated in our recipe development and food expectations. Eating has become a form of entertainment. Recipes abound and some of them are “over the top.” I like to cook and to cook from scratch, but I think the simpler we keep our food on a regular basis the better.
OK, this book sounds great. I think it was mentioned here before too. But, I am wondering if you can recommend say your top 3 favorite cookbooks, top 3 books on householod management, and top 3 on style? I would like to order a few books at once.
Your draping class sounds very interesting. That is what I miss about being in school or work, I really love to learn. Not that I am not learning as a homemaker, I just really love ‘programs’ too, and teachers!
Also, I wanted you to know I tried the candy cane cookie recipe before Christmas, and they came out great. Yes, a very subtle pepermint flavor, and so light and crispy. And many compliments! I will say the assembly into candy canes was difficult, and I probably only made candy canes out of 1/2 of the dough, then I started making round cookies, and putting a red dot on top and calling them “rudolph’s nose” cookies. If I make these again I might cut the recipe in 1/2. I thought they were a great addition, thank you!
And, I bought ponds cold cream after I lost my mary kay cleanser last month. And, it IS a treat to massage the cream into the face and use a steaming wash cloth. Like a little spa treatment, can you imagine? “Pond’s Cold Cream treatment: $75.00″. I have very dry skin, so I really liked it, but my only question is if some pimples that have surfaced are from the ponds. So I spice it up and use it a couple of times a week, a real treat.
Ann, I hear what you are asking for regarding the books. I really do. The problem is that your need is slightly ahead of my knowledge base. I’m working like a mad dog trying to learn so that I can provide you with that type of information. What is happening is that I hear about a great book, order it and there is information that is useful but I’m not sure I’d put it in a “you have to buy this book” category. But, I’m working on it!
I was occasionally getting pimples, too, and I attributed them to the Ponds because it is mostly mineral oil. So now I wipe it off with a tissue before using the hot cloth. That seems to leave just the right amount to moisturize without being greasy. I don’t use a moisturizer after using the cold cream. Ponds gives you a two-fer–cleaning and moisturizing.
Hopefully I’m not usurping your answer, Dr. J., but I would like to say something about the book list. I would love to see your list, but at the same time I think we all have libraries that are a work in progress and sharing is really fun. We all bring something a little different to the table according to what we have and what we find. I notice you have been mentioning titles and authors as you post — recently Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist. Now, I have that book and never thought of it as part of the homemaker’s reading list — so I was inspired all over again. And I wonder if you have A Woman’s Place: Yesterday’s Women in Rural America by Norton Juster (who wrote The Phantom Tollbooth). I found it by accident. Another recent book that meant a lot to me is Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm during the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish, which I found through a book review. These books sing to me of the spirit of womanhood that was once the center of the home and tell us how people used to live. We often discuss old cookbooks; older ones have tips and inspiration for the homemaker. My interest in retro living really came to life through vintage handwork books. And then there are the magazines. Old magazines from whatever era inspires you are treasure troves of information. But if you’re looking for a housekeeping system, the Sidetracked Home Executives provide a good one. (I’m not sure they still call themselves by that name, but you can find them online.) I love to go to the antique / collectibles shops in my town and just poke around through the books and magazines and see what I come up with. I think it becomes difficult because we find inspiration for this “retro modern woman” in so many genres. So, maybe we need to develop an “add to” list from which we can all draw, understanding that not every book is going to be inspirational to the other person. Maybe we could have “book club Wednesday” once a month, or something — just a suggestion.
Boy! is my house dusty! And the handwork is piled on the guest bed. I’ve got to get to work!
No worries Dr. J, I was interested if you had a list, but I am happy to learn as we go. I think it is probably more efficient to learn as we go anyway, rather trying to understand everything, then jump in.
Kathy, your collection sounds very interesting. And when you say ‘hand work’ do you mean embroidery? I just got some books at the library because I am a beginner and I would like to finish a fancy needlepoint my mom gave me years ago and i would also like to learn a few simple techniques to embroider initials on my daughter’s clothes and home itmes. It is very frusterating not having a teacher, and I don’t want to destroy these projects. If you are in fact an embroiderer, could you recomend a good book for beginners?
Hi Ann!
You’re talking about embroidering with needle and floss, right? I checked first at http://www.dmc-usa.com and they indeed have how-tos at that site. Then, I did a search on “how to embroider by hand,” and if you need it, that will give you plenty of help. I don’t think you need a book, but if you do, any book on embroidery you’d find at the library would do.
Do you embroider, Dr. J.?
Thank you Kathy! I will check out the DMC site.
[...] highlight was because of how easily it went together thanks to the meal planning guides from both Betty Crocker and Better Homes & Garden. I simply plugged in food using the Betty Crocker chart, used the [...]