The mothercraft manual

Value of 100-Calorie Portions of Common Foods

Edible Portion, Uncooked

Composition of Common Measure Portions of Food[41]

Edible Portion, Uncooked

Foods with Acid Balance [47]

Figures are per 100-Calorie portion

Possibly: prunes, plums, cranberries.[48]

Foods with Potential Alkalinity[47]

Figures are per 100-Calorie portion

Principles of Growth

Height and weight are only one index of physical condition. They must be interpreted in connection with other factors, as organic and muscular conditions, appetite, energy.

Growth is not constant and regular but by spurts. Increase in height and in weight usually do not proceed together but alternate.

Two types of individuals are distinguished:

Growth is influenced by various factors.

I. Heredity.

1. Race. Americans average heavier than Europeans, and taller than Europeans except Swedish, Danish, and Dutch. Children of Irish parentage average taller than children of German parentage. Children of American-born parents are in this country taller and heavier than children of foreign-born parents.

2. Family. Children tend to approximate height and build of family; good hygiene slightly increases average above immediate ancestors.

3. Sex. See pages 372-375.

II. Environment and Hygiene.

1. Hygiene. Good hygiene promotes growth in height and weight. Breastfed babies are usually found to increase more rapidly than those artificially fed, and this growth impulse continues through life. See page 100.

A comparative study recently made of (a) 278 children in well-nourished families, (b) 1,000 orphan asylum inmates, (c) 69,000 public school children, revealed a difference of six (6) inches average height and twenty (20) pounds average weight, at twelve years of age, in favor of the first group, living under good conditions of nourishment, exercise, and hygiene, above the public-school group, the asylum group being intermediate.[49]

Illness retards growth, especially weight; adenoids retard growth in height and weight.

2. Urban or rural environment. Country children average taller, heavier, and greater lung capacity than city children.

3. Season. In the North Temperate Zone, increase in height is greatest from December to July, least from June to January; growth in weight is the reverse.

Maturity. Various factors influence the age of physiological maturity.

1. Sex. Girls mature at from 12 to 16 years, two years earlier than boys,—from 14 to 18 years. The period of adjustment is longer, slower, and with less stress and upheaval with boys than with girls.

2. Growth. Children above the average in height and weight at 12 years mature earlier than those at or below average height and weight.

3. Climate. Maturity is earlier in warm climates, and later in cold climates.

4. Urban or rural environment. Maturity is earlier with city children, later with country children.

5. Stimulation. Stimulating physical or psychical influences, as a stimulating diet, use of alcohol, early social dissipation, reading and plays that stimulate sex interest, tend to cause earlier maturity.

Children mentally defective, retarded, or laggards in school, are usually shorter and lighter weight and smaller lung capacity than the median for normal children.

Children above the median in height, weight, and lung capacity (the three are usually found together) are usually above the average in school grades of other children the same chronological age. Such children may be from 1 to 5 years older physiologically and mentally than children of the same chronological age who are below the median in height and weight.

Proportions.

During the entire growth period the proportions of different parts are constantly changing because of their uneven rate of growth. The awkwardness, easy fatigue, and weakness during childhood and adolescence are in no small measure due to these changing proportions and their inadequacy as compared with their adjustment in maturity.

The following variations from the average are indices of weakness, and measures should be taken for bringing them to normal.[50]

1. Over average weight with under average height.[50]

2. Under average weight with over average height.[50]

3. Chest circumference less than head circumference after two years, or less by more than one-fourth inch under two years; or chest circumference less than the following proportions of the body length: first year, 60%; 1 to 6 years, 56%; 6 to 9 years, 52%.[51]

4. Circumference of abdomen more than chest.

The Tables for the first five years are a composite of the figures by Holt (compiled from several hundred hospital and private practice cases in New York City), the American Medical Association (compiled from several thousand cases in 23 States), the Life Extension Institute, and the Better Babies’ Bureau of the Woman’s Home Companion. In the main, the minimum figures are those of Dr. Holt, the maximum those of the Woman’s Home Companion. The figures of Dr. Freeman from 278 children in private practice (see page of Charts) are from 5 to 10 per cent higher than the maximum given in the Tables, for height and weight.

All measurements are without clothing.

Height—Boys[52]

Until acceleration period, annual gain 1-2 inches.
During acceleration, annual gain 2-3 inches.

Acceleration period: girls, 11 to 14 years; boys, 13 to 15.

Slight gains after acceleration period.

After three years, height varies during day, being greatest on rising, shortest at night.

Weight—Boys[53]

Acceleration period: girls, 11 to 16 years; boys, 13 to 18.

Weight varies during day, being greatest after supper, lowest before breakfast.

Girls nearly cease growing at about 17 years, boys at about 23 years.

Lung capacity is greater in boys than girls, all ages.

Relative Weight and Height Table—Boys [54]

The figures represent weight in pounds