Chapter II: Introduction: 15

THE PROBLEM OF PROBLEMS 19

THE FUNCTION OF FOODS 23

FOOD PRODUCTS 29

RAW FOODS 35

ECONOMY--SIMPLICITY 39

AS A REMEDY 43

EMANCIPATION OF WOMAN 49

THE SELECTION OF FOODS 55

FOOD COMBINATIONS 61

THE PREPARATION OF FOOD 69

PREPARATION OF UNCOOKED FOODS 73

EFFECTS OF COOKING FOOD 76

COOKING MILK 81

FLESH FOODS 85

NUTS 89

FRUITS 93

CEREALS 97

VEGETABLES 100

BREAD FERMENTATION 103

CONDIMENTS 108

HOW TO EAT 113

MASTICATION 119

FEEDING CHILDREN 125

FOOD VALUES AND TABLES 133

FLESH FOODS--_Table_ 134

DRIED FRUITS--_Table_ 136

GREEN VEGETABLES--_Table_ 136

DAIRY PRODUCTS--_Table_ 137

NUTS, SHELLED--_Table_ 137

FRUITS AND BERRIES--_Table_ 138

HOW TO BEGIN 139

RECIPES 143

SOUPS 147

VEGETABLES 153

FLESH FOODS 157

EGGS 159

CEREALS 163

SANDWICHES 167

NUTS 169

SALADS 173

FRUIT AND FRUIT DISHES 183

MELONS 192

EVAPORATED FRUITS 193

CHEESE AND JUNKET 197

CAKES, PUDDINGS AND PIES 199

JELLIES 201

MOUSSÉS, SAUCES AND WHIPS 209

CREAMS 213

ICE CREAMS, ICES AND DRINKS 217

MENUS FOR SEVEN DAYS 221

BANQUET MENUS 229

WHY THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN.

Some years ago we, the authors of this work, both became so impaired in health as to almost totally disqualify us for the performance of our daily work. A very exhaustive study of our condition convinced us that it was caused mainly, if not wholly, by incorrect habits in eating. This brought forth a very careful and studied series of experiments in diet which was confined entirely to cooked foods, because we at that time accepted implicitly the common theory that foods could be predigested and improved by heat.

Failing utterly in this, our attention was turned toward what have been called natural foods, but what in reality mean food in its elementary or unchanged state. Less than a year of study and experimenting with this system of feeding resulted in the total elimination of all stomach disorders and our complete restoration to perfect health. From scientific research, in addition to these failures and successes, we have studied out a system of both eating and drinking, which has been tried by many others under our direction, and in every instance health, strength and vitality have come to those who have obeyed our instructions.

In order to bring this theory more conspicuously before the public we gave a seven course dinner or banquet of uncooked foods, which was attended by many distinguished New York people. It received much attention by the New York press, and was widely commented on all over this and foreign countries through the press exchanges. A flood of inquiries concerning the use of uncooked food, especially referring to their remedial values, followed this publicity. This gave the first hint of the great interest that the public is now taking in this method of living.

These inquiries showed that thousands of intelligent people were dissatisfied with their present methods of living.

A second Elementary food banquet was spread at the same hostelry a few months later, which was given still wider publicity by the press, and which brought forth inquiries in such volume and of such intricate detail that it became impossible to answer them. Therefore as a labor saving method of making reply and in order to place intelligently before the public the results of our work and experiments, it was decided to incorporate them into pamphlet form. But it was soon discovered that this was entirely inadequate, so the present volume is the result.

If it gives to men more strength, more vitality, more endurance; if it gives them more health and less disease, more sympathy, more affection and more love. If it gives them higher senses of Mercy and Justice which flow more freely from a fountain of robust health, and which are the warp and woof in the great fabric of a higher civilization!

If it contributes one degree to the elevation and freedom of woman, if it gives her one hour more of pure air and sunshine, if it gives her new thoughts, new dreams, new hopes with which she may endow the race to be, if but in dreams it shifts the scene from four dark walls hung with pots and bones to gardens and fields, where nature’s bounteous store of purple and red is swung with prodigal hand in sunshine and autumn leaves, waving and waiting to mingle their life with hers; if it brings her more youth and years, less sorrow and tears, if this book in the least lightens the leaden load that has been laid upon her by our civilization,--if in all the world it changes one hour of suffering to an hour of peace or pleasure, we will be repaid.

EUGENE CHRISTIAN.
MOLLIE GRISWOLD CHRISTIAN.