Desserts.—The only permissible desserts for this age are junket, custards, plain rice, or sago; or bread pudding. The only safe rule to follow so far as "sweet things" are concerned, is not to give them at all. This applies to candy, ice cream, pies, pastries, jam, syrups, preserved fruits, nuts and dried fruits. The parent who indulges a child to "a taste," is guilty of a bad habit, and it can only lead to trouble.
Fruits.—These should always be fresh and selected with care. Fruit is the most important article of diet to a child of this age. Up to five years it is safest to use only cooked fruits and fresh fruit juices: of these the juice from sweet oranges, grape fruit, peaches, strawberries, and raspberries may be given. Stewed or baked apples, apple sauce, figs, prunes, peaches, apricots, pears are excellent because of their effect on the bowels. When the bowels are loose, and especially in hot weather, great care must be taken when fruit of any kind is used. The pulp of any fruit should never be used; cherries, bananas, pineapples, and berries are not to be given to children. Milk should never be allowed at the same meal when sour fruit is served.
WHAT MOTHERS SHOULD KNOW
CHAPTER XXI
"Life has taught me that it is the women of a country in whose hands its destiny reposes. No cause that is not great enough to command their devotion and pure enough to deserve their sympathy can ever wholly triumph."
Joseph H. Choate.