Much waste of food is due to carelessness in handling after it is delivered in the home. Thus the benefits of the elaborate care exercised in bringing the food to the consumer are sometimes lost by the carelessness of the housewife.
Few of us realize the patient care and ofttimes burdensome labor incident to food production. The long hours of labor necessary to produce food in any form should give us a wholesome respect for it when it comes into our kitchen all ready to form a part of the family diet.
In case of vegetable foods, the preparation of the soil, selection of seed, the planting, care while growing, harvesting and perhaps threshing, all demand great care and much labor upon the part of the farmer and his family.
The food product ready, it is put to one of two uses—fed to the live stock from which we obtain our milk, butter, cheese, meat and meat products, or it is sent to factories where by means of much more labor and care it is further prepared for our table. By canning, as in case of fruits and vegetables, by milling of grains, or, if the product is a meat animal, by the many complicated processes of packing, the food is prepared for transportation.
Perishable foods must be cared for in cold storage and transported in refrigerator cars, all of which occupies the time and energy of thousands of people.
Next, the retailer adds his services, and the article which has cost so much in money and energy is finally delivered in the home in good condition.
It is the duty of the housewife to unpack and properly put away all foods as soon as they are delivered.
Place butter, milk, oleomargarine, shortenings, and frying mediums, eggs, and meat, as well as other perishables, in appropriate receptacles and put them in the refrigerator. Meat should be unwrapped, placed on a plate and set in the refrigerator, but never directly on ice. Fresh salad materials should be cleaned, wiped dry, and put in a salad bag, in a cool place.
Place cereals, syrups, coffee, tea, spices, baking powder, salt, extracts and all canned foods upon the pantry shelf or in the convenient kitchen cabinet.
Select foods carefully and use them with respect