A Quart A Day For Every Child

An illustration of a young girl drinking a glass of milk inserted inside of a larger white milk bottle. The text is on the sides and is white, and the background is blue.

According to The Nation’s Health magazine from September 1922, the nutritional state of every child should be maintained through a variety of measures. With regards to milk, “each child should have never less than a pint of milk a day, and a quart where possible.” (pg. 570). Although the nourishment of children as always been important, the Depression brought about even more concerns about the health of children and the economic stability of farmers in general and dairy owners in particular. An article from the Schenectady Gazette (August 25, 1934) explained that there would be a state-wide campaign for milk consumption. The quota was set at one “quart of milk a day for every child and a pint for every adult.” (pg. 4). Schenectady, to support this campaign instituted a “milk month” for October where citizens could participate in milking contests, talks about the benefits of increased consumption, and special programs and talks in schools to emphasize the health benefits found in milk. Furthermore, the drinking of larger quantities of milk not only helps the diary farming industry, it is also “the cheapest food in the world that contains the equivalent food and health values.” (ibid).

Gillett, L.H. (1922, September). Economic standards in nutrition. The Nation’s Health, 4(9). 569-571.