During the summer season it is important to plan a change in the children's daily diet. Cut out the mushy foods such as porridge, frequent milk puddings, etc., and substitute crisp cereals, fruit, such as prunes, figs or raisins, and crisp toast with honey.

When picnic meals are taken, whole-meal bread and butter, eggs and cheese, page 44 page 45 salad and fruit will provide protein, animal fat, carbohydrates, mineral salts, and all the vitamins in abundance. It will be fresh natural food, and (with the exception of the eggs) will have the advantage of being uncooked.

Picnicking often leads to bad habits with regard to meal times. Feeling hungry from the exercise and fresh air, the children ask for something to eat. The mother too often yields to these requests, feeling that a little indulgence in the holidays will make the children happier. This is a great mistake, as too frequent meals are harmful, quickly upsetting the digestion, and instead of the children being better for their holiday, they are not so well.

Give water and fruit drinks between meals—not during a meal.

On the subject of picnics, it does not appear to be out of place here to stress the importance that hats should be worn, when the sun's rays are strongest—from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.—with brims large enough to protect the eyes and the nape of the neck, the brims to be lined with green or red to give full protection against sunstroke.