What is the average diet for the average child? What is his food to consist of? How often is he to be fed in the course of the day? How much food is he to get at one time?

Before particularising, it is useful to briefly survey the diet for the period. At the age of twelve months and throughout the second year the baby is to be given five meals in the day, although in many cases four are sufficient before the end of the second year is reached. Between meal-times water may be allowed in moderation, but it is of the utmost importance that the hours for feeding be strictly observed, and that no food be given in the intervals. Throughout the second year the child should receive 2 pints of milk a day, a certain amount of which he obtains in the form of milk puddings, whereby he also receives farinaceous food. At this time also he should be given eggs, plain soup or gravy, with a little breadcrumb or mashed potato; and about the eighteenth month a little minced meat or fish. Now also some well-boiled green vegetable should be added to his diet. The digestive powers at this period are comparatively limited, but the child is growing and developing rapidly in every direction: he demands variations in his food and in the nature of the foodstuffs, and it is unwise, for many reasons, to limit his diet to those articles which are most readily and fully digestible.

Stewed fruit, bread and butter, porridge and milk, are valuable forms of food at this period, and animal protein other than that in milk should be given once daily in the form of minced meat, fish, or egg.

About the dose of the eighth month of life weaning should be commenced in the case of a breast-fed infant, and by the twelfth month, at latest, breast-nursing should entirely cease. Whenever possible, the infant, on weaning from the breast, should beted from a cup and have no intermediate period of bottle-feeding.

At the ninth month the feeding of the average infant is approximately as follows: - Food is given six times during the day, at, say 7 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 P.M., 10 p.m. At each of these periods the food consists of 6 to 8 ounces of milk, with 1 dessertspoonful to 1 tablespoonful of cream. Along with the second and fifth meals there is given a crust of stale bread or a piece of toast well toasted. The milk of the third and fourth meals is strengthened with a table-spoonful of a cereal or of a proprietary food, such as Mellin's, or of some food such as Farola. In addition, a little fresh fruit juice suitably sweetened may be given occasionally, and, should the infant desire it, water may be given freely between meals.

By the twelfth month the food can usually be conveniently given at five meal periods, at, approximately, 7 A.M., 10 A.M., 2 P.M., 5 P.M., 9 P.M. The food is to consist of about 2 pints of milk and 2 ounces of cream, thickened with some food, such as Farola. A crust of bread or a piece of toast covered with a little butter is allowed at any meal. Twice a week, at the midday meal, half a raw egg is beaten up in the milk.

From the twelfth till the eighteenth month, thin porridge and milk or bread in milk forms a suitable breakfast. For the second meal, a good drink of milk - about half a pint - and a buttered crust suffice. The third meal consists of cither plain soup, with a thin half-slice of bread and butter and a drink of milk; or, a lightly boiled egg, a tablespoonful of mashed potatoes and butter, and a drink of milk; or, a little gravy and breadcrumbs, with a milk pudding. The fourth meal consists of a drink of milk and a buttered crust, and the last meal of the day, of milk thickened with a cereal.

By the eighteenth month many infants will do with four meals daily instead of five, and thereafter, till the close of the second year, four meals are usually sufficient. During this period minced meat, fish, and well-cooked vegetables are added to the dietary, and these should be given at the meal in the middle of the day.

In the case of all healthy children variety in the diet is important, and to this end it is always wise to allow the mother or nurse a certain reasonable latitude in the ordering and nature of the food, but only in the case of healthy children. Strictly forbid alcohol, tea, coffee, salad, pickles, and all such condiments; salted food, canned food, raw vegetables, pastry, nuts, and unripe fruit.