Pioneers gathered wild greens, fruits, nuts, and grains. They planted gardens and orchards, hunted, fished, and raised animals for food. Variety in their diets was important. Work on a farm provided members of a family with needed exercise. Medical help was limited and people understood the need for healthful living. Social security, health insurance, or money from the government was not available; families and friends worked together to stay healthy and support the needy.

The health of early settlers depended upon the health of plants and animals in their environment. They noted signs and symptoms of good health in the world around them. Tender green grass and herbs of early spring and summer provided their livestock with needed vitamins and minerals. The hair on the hides of animals became sleek and shiny; milk contained more butter fat than in winter when the basic diet consisted of hay and dried grains. Settlers tried to provide the best diet for their animals because milk with a high butter fat content brought more money from creameries. Sometimes people did not make butter because they needed money gained from selling milk with a high butter fat content. Instead of butter they ate lard on their bread. Farmers worked hard to provide good pastures and raised grain to supplement the "salad bowl" in which cattle grazed. The chain of good health moved from a healthy sky and earth to healthy plants, animals, and humans.

Today we are able to make the same observations and also supplement that information with knowledge acquired through research. Laws define standards for printing accurate, useful information about chemical composition of foods.

The outside of a half-gallon, 2% milk carton from Marigold Foods, Inc. gave the following information:

SERVING SIZE - ONE CUP

SERVINGS PER CONTAINER - 8

CALORIES - 120

PROTEIN - 8 GRAMS

CARBOHYDRATE - 11 GRAMS

FAT - 5 GRAMS

SODIUM - 120 mg

PROTEIN - 20

VITAMIN D - 25

VITAMIN A - 10

VITAMIN B6 - 4

VITAMIN C - 4

VITAMIN B12 - 15

THIAMINE - 6

PHOSPHORUS - 20

RIBOFLAVIN - 25

MAGNESIUM - 8

NIACIN - 0

ZINC - 4

CALCIUM - 30

PANTOTHENIC ACID - 8

IRON - 0

The outside of a Land O Lakes, one-pound, unsalted sweet butter box contained the following information:

Serving Size - 1 tsp. (4.7g)

Servings per package - 96

Calories - 35

Protein - 0 g

Carbohydrate - 0 g

Fat - 4 g

Sodium - 0 mg

Percentage of U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (U.S. RDA);

Vitamin A 2%. Contains less than 2% of the RDA of Protein, Vitamin C, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Calcium, and Iron.

Learn more about the food value of milk products. Examine containers of whole milk, skim milk, powdered milk, different types of cheese, cream, yogurt, ice cream, and other milk products.

Marigold Foods, Inc. General Offices, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Information on carton about food value of 2% lowfat milk.