1931 Cuban Cookery by Blanche Z de Baralt

11

The study of dietetics has taught the more enlightened that in the tropics sugar, instead of fat, should supply the the calories our organism requires. The Creator has shown us what to eat by causing the earth to- bring forth the things essential to the proper nutrition of man in each latitude. - The Esquimo needs fat, strong combustible for an intensely cold climate; therefore polar regions furnish him with the greasy flesh of bears and oil giving seals and fish. Coming southwards, wonderful cattle appear and superior dairy products; the temperate zone furnishes delicious poultry, fine fruits and vegetables, and so on until we reach the tropics, where meat is less good, butter only middling and northern fruits, such as apples and pears, non existant. On the other hand Nature has lavishly provided this land with the finest fish in the world, right out of the Gulf Stream, unequalled crabs and lobs– ters, an almost infinite variety of vegeta– bles-tropical and others--- and luscious fruit, such as is only found in Paradise. Pork ·is extensively used and we must frankly acknowledge that its quality