* * * * * [Sidenote: Nuts] Nuts are classed with the carbo-nitrogenous foods, because of the more nearly equal proportion of proteins and carbonaceous substances. TABLE IX.—NUTS ——————————————————+—————+———————+—————+————————+—————+—————————— Food Materials |Water|Protein|Fat |Carbo- | | | | | |hydrates|Ash |Fuel Value |Per |Per |Per |Per |Per |per pound |Cent |Cent |Cent |Cent |Cent |Calories ——————————————————+—————+———————+—————+————————+—————+—————————— Almonds | 4.8| 21.0 |54.90| 17.3 | 2.0| 3,030 Brazil nuts | 5.3| 17.0 |66.80| 7.0 | 3.9| 3,329 Filberts | 3.7| 15.6 |65.30| 13.0 | 2.4| 3,342 Hickory nuts | 3.7| 15.4 |67.40| 11.4 | 2.1| 3,495 Pecans | 3.0| 16.7 |71.20| 13.3 | 1.5| 3,633 English walnuts | 2.8| 16.7 |64.40| 14.8 | 1.3| 3,305 Chestnuts, fresh | 45.0| 6.2 | 5.40| 42.1 | 1.3| 1,125 Walnuts, black | 2.5| 27.6 |56.30| 11.7 | 1.9| 3,105 Cocoanut, shredded| 3.5| 6.3 |57.30| 31.6 | 1.3| 3,125 Peanuts, roasted | 1.6| 30.5 |49.20| 16.2 | 2.5| 3,177 ——————————————————+—————+———————+—————+————————+—————+—————————— It will be noted, by reference to the table, that nuts contain a much larger proportion of fats and less starch than the legumes. Chestnuts contain the largest amount of starch, pecans the most fat, and roasted peanuts the most protein. Nuts are a valuable food, but they should be made a part of a meal and may well take the place of meat, because of the large percentage of protein, rather than to be eaten as a dessert. They are too hearty to eat at the end of a meal, after one has eaten as much other food as the system requires. In planning a meal, if the dietary is rich in starches and lacking in protein, a side dish of nuts may be served. Too great stress cannot be laid upon the importance of the thorough mastication of nuts; otherwise they are difficult of digestion. When thoroughly chewed, however, they are as easily digested as cereals or legumes. If ground fine in a meat grinder or through a sieve, they digest more readily, but this grinding does not take the place of the grinding with the teeth and the mixing with saliva. They are best ground for salads, cake or croquettes. * * * * * [Sidenote: Milk] Milk is called a complete food. It is a perfect food for the sustenance of its own species,—the milk of the cow for the calf, the mother’s milk for the infant; yet the milk of the cow is not perfect for the child,—it is lacking in the proper proportion of sugar, and when fed to the child a little sugar is added.