Letter to AWI members from Convener for Home Economics

Source: AWI Collection

Transcript: 11122 ~ 84th Avenue,
Edmonton, Alberta,
February 1st, 1934,
To the Members of the Alberta Women's Institutes.
Dear Friends:
Not since the days of the Great War have the housewives,
of all classes, been so greatly concerned about an adequate diet
for their families. The wise purchase of food necessitates the
knowledge of:
1, Nutritional needs of the family.
2, Nutritive value of common food stuffs.
3, Changes in nutritive value which may occur in the
manufacture, storage or preparation of foods.
4, Quality and cost.
Every woman should know the nutritive needs of the body.
Protein requirement. Foods for fuel. Vitamins and their function.
Why the body needs mineral salts and fiber.
We should have some idea of the relation of nutritive value
to the cost of foods. The hows and whys of building a menu consider­ing
( 1) Nutritive value ( 2) Cost ( 3) Ease of preparation ( 4) Palata-bility.
I am more impressed than I have ever been with the impor­tance
of reading labels. Note carefully what is stated on the label
about the net contents, preservatives, adulterants, coloring, etc.
In selecting Quality goods for different uses, as oranges for juice
or to serve whole, peas or corn for soup or for a vegetable, canned
fruit for salad etc. The importance of salt water fish or some sea
food as a source of iodine.
The best charts I have seen on food values etc., are sent
free from the National Live Stock and Meat Board, 407 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois, also " Milk Made the Difference" from Nation­al
Dairy Council, 910 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois, A most
Interesting new leaflet is at hand on, " How to Buy Sheeting",
So many letters are coming from you in regard to your branch
handicraft exhibition, asking for suggestions. Do each one have a
handicraft exhibit and endeavor to have original designs for rugs,
hangings, etc, of Alberta scenes.
Please make our " Home Economics" Week 100$. Quebec beat us
last year. Please help me make our Province the best, Do something
during the first week in April for Home Economics, then please be
sure to send me an account of what you have done. I can then include
many Interesting items in my Federated report.
We are having more copies of the Home Economics Play, " Frog-ram
with a Purpose" made. Some who have not had It might like to try
it.
Thanking you all for your generous support and co- operation
in carrying out the Home Economics Program, I am
Your friend,
( Mrs. J,) Ida B, Smith, Convener Household Economics