The New York Times/1916/11/22/Diet Squad Loses Flesh
DIET SQUAD LOSES FLESH.
Mere Reduction to Normal Eating Proves Costly to Chicagoans.
CHICAGO, Nov. 21.—The suspicion of Dr. John Dill Robertson, City Health Commissioner, that his diet squad had gorged themselves in preparation for the experiment of feeding them on 40 cents a day was verified today when the twelve subjects of the experiment were placed on the scales.
The experiment, designed to inform the public how to beat the high cost of living by eating only what is necessary to maintain the best of health, was to have begun yesterday, but the Commissioner suspected the squad had made undue preparations and postponed the start until tomorrow.
Today he placed them on the scales and observed that a mere reduction to normal eating had cost most of them some flesh.
Dr. Robertson has received letters from all parts of the country making suggestions as to the diet. One writer said his daily diet for years had not cost more than 40 cents.
“I eat entire wheat bread, cereals, and cocoa; never taste vegetables, fish, or meat; am 32 years old and weigh close to 200 pounds,” he wrote.