Cooking Schools
39
While these are all right in their place, they should not occupy the time
of our camp-meetings.
Letter 166, 1903
When the light of health reform first came to us, we used, on
holiday occasions, to take cooking stoves to the grounds where the
people were assembled, and right there bake unleavened bread,—gems
and rolls. And I think that good was the result of our efforts, though,
of course, we had not the health food preparations that we now have.
At that time we were just beginning to learn how to live without using
flesh-meat.
Sometimes we gave entertainments, and we took great care that
all that we prepared for the table was palatable and nicely served. In
fruit season, we would get blueberries and raspberries fresh from the
bushes, and strawberries fresh from the vines. We made the table fare
an object lesson which showed those present that our diet, even though
it was in accordance with the principles of health reform, was far from
being a meager one.
Sometimes a short temperance lecture was given in connection
with these entertainments, and thus people became acquainted with our
principles of living. As far as we know, all were pleased and all were
enlightened. We always had something to say about the necessity of
providing wholesome food and of preparing it simply, and yet making
it so palatable and appetizing that those eating it would be satisfied.
The world is full of the temptation to indulge appetite, and words of
warning, earnest and right to the point, have made wonderful changes
in families and in individuals.
Testimonies for the Church 9:161
Greater efforts should be put forth to educate the people in the
principles of health reform. Cooking schools should be established,
and house-to-house instruction should be given in the art of cooking
wholesome food. Old and young should learn how to cook more
simply. Wherever the truth is presented, the people are to be taught
how to prepare food in a simple, yet appetizing way. They are to be
shown that a nourishing diet can be provided without the use of flesh
foods....