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eat。 Don't you see？ If you're going to paint a
picture you need something different from what
you would if you were going toto saw wood；
and what this book tells isis what I ought to
give you to make you do each one； I should think；
from what I've read so far。 Now don't you see
how important it is？ What if I should give you
the saw…wood kind of a breakfast when you were
just going up…stairs to paint all day？ And what
if I should give Uncle William aa soldier's
breakfast when all he is going to do is to go down
on State Street and sit still all day？''
‘‘Butbut； my dear；'' began Uncle William；
looking slightly worried； ‘‘there's my eggs that
I _always_ have； you know。''
‘‘For heaven's sake； Billy； what _have_ you got
hold of now？'' demanded Bertram； with just a
touch of irritation。
Billy laughed merrily。
‘‘Well； I suppose I didn't sound very logical；''
she admitted。 ‘‘But the bookyou just wait。
It's in the kitchen。 I'm going to get it。'' And
with laughing eagerness she ran from the room。
In a moment she had returned； book in hand。
‘‘Now listen。 _This_ is the real thingnot
my garbled inaccuracies。 ‘The food which we
eat serves three purposes： it builds the body
substance； bone； muscle； etc。； it produces heat in
the body； and it generates vital energy。 Nitrogen
in different chemical combinations contributes
largely to the manufacture of body substances；
the fats produce heat； and the starches and
sugars go to make the vital energy。 The nitrogenous
food elements we call proteins； the fats
and oils； fats； and the starches and sugars
（because of the predominance of carbon）； we call
carbohydrates。 Now in selecting the diet for the
day you should take care to choose those foods
which give the proteins； fats； and carbohydrates
in just the right proportion。' ''
‘‘Oh； Billy！'' groaned Bertram。
‘‘But it's so； Bertram；'' maintained Billy；
anxiously。 ‘‘And it's every bit here。 I don't
have to guess at it at all。 They even give the
quantities of calories of energy required for
different sized men。 I'm going to measure you
both to…morrow； and you must be weighed； too；''
she continued； ignoring the sniffs of remonstrance
from her two listeners。 ‘‘Then I'll know just
how many calories to give each of you。 They say
a man of average size and weight； and sedentary
occupation； should have at least 2；000 calories
and some authorities say 3；000in this proportion：
proteins； 300 calories； fats； 350 calories；
carbohydrates； 1；350 calories。 But you both are
taller than five feet five inches； and I should think
you weighed more than 145 pounds； so I can't
tell just yet how many calories you will need。''
‘‘How many we will need； indeed！'' ejaculated
Bertram。
‘‘But； my dear； you know I have to have my
eggs；'' began Uncle William again； in a worried
voice。
‘‘Of course you do； dear； and you shall have
them；'' soothed Billy； brightly。 ‘‘It's only that
I'll have to be careful and balance up the other
things for the day accordingly。 Don't you see？
Now listen。 We'll see what eggs are。'' She
turned the leaves rapidly。 ‘‘Here's the food
table。 It's lovely。 It tells everything。 I never
saw anything so wonderful。 Abcde
here we are。 ‘Eggs； scrambled or boiled； fats
and proteins； one egg； 100。' If it's poached it's
only 50； but you like yours boiled； so we'll have
to reckon on the 100。 And you always have
two； so that means 200 calories in fats and
proteins。 Now； don't you see？ If you can't have
but 300 proteins and 350 fats all day； and you've
already eaten 200 in your two eggs； that'll leave
juster450 for all the rest of the day；of
fats and proteins； you understand。 And you've
no idea how fast that'll count up。 Why； just one
serving of butter is 100 of fats； and eight almonds
is another； while a serving of lentils is 100 of
proteins。 So you see how it'll go。''
‘‘Yes； I see；'' murmured Uncle William； casting
a mournful glance about the generously laden
table； much as if he were bidding farewell to a
departing friend。 ‘‘But if I should want more
to eat'' He stopped helplessly； and Bertram's
aggrieved voice filled the pause。
‘‘Look here； Billy； if you think I'm going to
be measured for an egg and weighed for an almond；
you're much mistaken； because I'm not。
I want to eat what I like； and as much as I like；
whether it's six calories or six thousand！''
Billy chuckled； but she raised her hands in
pretended shocked protest。
‘‘Six thousand！ Mercy！ Bertram； I don't
know what would happen if you ate that quantity；
but I'm sure you couldn't paint。 You'd
just have to saw wood and dig ditches to use up
all that vital energy。''
‘‘Humph！'' scoffed Bertram。
‘‘Besides； this is for _efficiency_；'' went on Billy；
with an earnest air。 ‘‘This man owns up that
some may think a 2；000 calory ration is altogether
too small； and he advises such to begin with
3；000 or even 3；500graded； of course； according
to a man's size； weight； and occupation。 But
he says one famous man does splendid work on
only 1；800 calories； and another on even 1；600。
But that is just a matter of chewing。 Why；
Bertram； you have no idea what perfectly wonderful
things chewing does。''
‘‘Yes； I've heard of that；'' grunted Bertram；
‘‘ten chews to a cherry； and sixty to a spoonful
of soup。 There's an old metronome up…stairs
that Cyril left。 You might bring it down and
set it going on the tableso many ticks to a
mouthful； I suppose。 I reckon； with an incentive
like that to eat； just about two calories would
do me。 Eh； William？''
‘‘Bertram！ Now you're only making fun；''
chided Billy； ‘‘and when it's really serious； too。
Now listen；'' she admonished； picking up the
book again。 ‘‘ ‘If a man consumes a large
amount of meat； and very few vegetables； his
diet will be too rich in protein； and too lacking in
carbohydrates。 On the other hand； if he consumes
great quantities of pastry； bread； butter；
and tea； his meals will furnish too much energy；
and not enough building material。' There； Bertram；
don't you see？''
‘‘Oh； yes； I see；'' teased Bertram。 ‘‘William；
better eat what you can to…night。 I foresee it's
the last meal of just _food_ we'll get for some time。
Hereafter we'll have proteins； fats； and
carbohydrates made into calory croquettes； and''
‘‘Bertram！'' scolded Billy。
But Bertram would not be silenced。
‘‘Here； just let me take that book；'' he insisted；
dragging the volume from Billy's reluctant fingers。
‘‘Now； William； listen。 Here's your breakfast
to…morrow morning： strawberries； 100 calories；
whole…wheat bread； 75 calories； butter； 100
calories （no second helping； mind you； or you'd
ruin the balance and something would topple）；
boiled eggs； 200 calories； cocoa； 100 calories
which all comes to 570 calories。 Sounds like an
English bil