The Magic Bean in Calumet

Abstract

HEN Jack planted the magic he had no idea what a yield of interesting opportunities it would bring. And when Calumet County's rural teachers began to express concern over the food habits of children in their schools we had no idea how far we could climb on our bean stalk, the interesting experiences we would have, and the marvelous opportunities to spread the doctrine of food habits we would find. To answer the teachers' request, in September 1954 an inservice nutrition program was arranged for them. Martha Study Kjentvet, nutritionist from the state board of health, worked with us as guide and resource person. We began to learn immediately the depth of the teachers' concern and their serious interest in taking some action. Later self-study showed us how we could all improve our food habits. So we planted our simple little -a food habit survey in our county. Mrs. Kjentvet and Miss Somerville, supervising teacher for Calumet County Schools, planned with the teachers. The survey group was to be the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades in all the 17 rural schools and in 3 village schools, a total of 173 children. We sent letters explaining the project to the parents of every child, along with a form on which the parents would record all foods offered during the survey but not eaten. For three days these youngsters recorded day by day everything they ate. The home economics classes of three village high schools evaluated the records under the supervision of the home economic teachers and the state board of health nutritionist. Evaluation was based on the accepted food groups representing the basic 7 foods recommended to meet the average child's nutritional needs. Foods recorded were then tabulated to give a county-wide summary of food habits. Rated on the basis of the three days' diets, food habits were classed as or To be rated good the average diet had to meet at least 80 percent of the child's food needs. The fair diets met at least 60 percent of the daily food needs, and those that fell below this figure were rated The results showed that 29 percent were good, 48 percent were fair, and 23 percent were poor. Less than a third of the youngsters had adequate amounts of the foods needed for growth, and a fourth of the children did not eat adequate amounts of any of the basic foods.