Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 1.djvu/134

 Oil for cooking Milk 1 / pint 2 8 4 8 4 1

3/ 1/ 3/ 4

1/

1/ 4 1/

5d For the evening meal, khichadi and chapati may be had. Rice and lentils 16 2 1/ Butter 1 2 1 / pint Milk 1 2 1/ 1/ Salt, pepper & oil 2 2 _____ 4d Thus, two good meals can be had for 9d And if it be found desirable that a third meal should be had, 3d can be laid out in milk and bread or tea and bread. This for a week would amount to 7s with a balance of 2s in our favour. However, it would be found convenient and perhaps better for health to have English vegetable dishes. You have before you a wide range of selection. In cereals you have wheat, oatmeal, maize, etc. In pulses you have peas, haricots, lentils, rice [sic], etc. In vegetables you have potatoes, cabbage, spinach, celery, artichokes, haricot beans, green peas, tomatoes, cauliflower, parsnips, onions and leeks. In fruits there are fresh fruits and dry. Among the first class can be counted apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, apricots, pears, peaches, plums, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, etc. Among the second class are found figs, dates, currants, raisins, muscatel raisins and sultanas, etc.

In nuts we have hazel, brazil nuts, almonds, chestnuts, etc. The above presents a variety sufficient to satisfy the most delicate tastes and all of these are within the reach of the 9-s man. Fruits are supposed in England to be absolutely necessary. At any rate, the vegetarians think so. They are a sure safeguard against medicine. They purify the blood and keep the bowels regular; since constipation is the father of many diseases, one cannot do better than take the utmost precautions to prevent that fell disease. This can be best done by a liberal use of whole wheat meal and fruits. The fine wheat flour ordinarily to be had in England is to be discarded altogether. It is very innutritious and very often injurious when it is adulterated as it very often is. Moreover, it is insipid. On the other hand wheat meal flour is very sweet to the taste. So one should always make it a point to use brown bread made of whole wheat meal flour and discard