TABLE IX
Nuts
| FOOD MATERIALS | Water per cent. | Protein per cent. | Fat per cent. | Carbohydrates per cent. | Ash per cent. | Fuel Value per pound Calories. |
| Almonds | 4.8 | 21.0 | 54.90 | 17.3 | 2.0 | 3030 |
| Brazil nuts | 5.3 | 17.0 | 66.80 | 7.0 | 3.9 | 3329 |
| Filberts | 3.7 | 15.6 | 65.30 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 3342 |
| Hickory nuts | 3.7 | 15.4 | 67.40 | 11.4 | 2.1 | 3495 |
| Pecans | 3.0 | 16.7 | 71.20 | 13.3 | 1.5 | 3633 |
| English walnuts | 2.8 | 16.7 | 64.40 | 14.8 | 1.3 | 3305 |
| Chestnuts, fresh | 45.0 | 6.2 | 5.40 | 42.1 | 1.3 | 1125 |
| Walnuts, black | 2.5 | 27.6 | 56.30 | 11.7 | 1.9 | 3105 |
| Cocoanut, shredded | 3.5 | 6.3 | 57.30 | 31.6 | 1.3 | 3125 |
| Peanuts, roasted | 1.6 | 30.5 | 49.20 | 16.2 | 2.5 | 3177 |
It will be noted, by reference to Table [IX] that nuts contain a much larger proportion of fats and less starch than the legumes. Chestnuts contain the largest amount of starch, and pecans the most fat.
Peanuts are classed here with nuts because of their similar use in the diet. Their comparative richness in protein will be noted.
Nuts are a valuable food, but they should be made a part of a meal and may well take the place of meat rather than eaten as a dessert, because of the large percentage of protein. They are too rich to be eaten as a relish at the end of a meal, if 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 on 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 rubbed through a sieve, they digest more readily, but this grinding does not take the place of the grinding with the teeth and the mixture with the saliva. They are best chopped for salads, cake, or croquettes. When ground the oil extracted makes them pasty and not appetizing in appearance for use in salads or cake.
Milk
Milk is a perfect food for the infant because it contains the elements in proper proportions to sustain life and growth, though, alone, it is insufficient for the nourishment of healthy adults. The adult, in order to get sufficient nutriment, would be compelled to take a larger proportion of water than necessary, the proportion of water required by the system being about sixty-seven per cent., while milk contains eighty-seven per cent.