Even if we have plenty of money we cannot escape from the thought of food
today. There is imperative need for saving of food materials; at best
there will not be enough to go around, and all the world, ourselves
included, will suffer in proportion as we neglect the duty of food
conservation. To be economical in the use of food materials according to
the program of the Food Administration may, probably will, demand the
spending of more money, time, and thought upon food. If we have the money
and time to spend, well and good; but if we have not, how shall we do our
share in sending more "wheat, meat, sugar and fats to our soldiers,
sailors and allies"?

Thousands of people had to practice strict economy before the war began.
They have no more money than they had then and the cost of food has
increased. Certainly the first duty of everyone is to secure sufficient
nourishment to avoid the undermining of health and strength which is sure
to follow inadequate food. But we must all remember that it is possible to
make a great many changes in diet without altering food value, and that
there are few diets which cannot be so rearranged as to give a better
nutritive return on the money spent than is usually secured by our
haphazard methods of planning meals. Saving of waste is commendable and
will go a long way, but this is a kind of passive service; loyal citizens
ought to be active participants in the food conservation movement, which
is a movement to distribute food in the way which shall promote the
efficiency of our allies and ourselves in this world upheaval. To do this
without increasing the cost of one's diet requires a careful study of the
situation. No one can give precise rules as to how it shall be done, but
perhaps a few suggestions as to the underlying principles will help in
determining a dietary plan which shall be economical and still in line
with the general policy.