Nut and Fruit Dessert Etiquette

We have well established, both in New York and London, large vegetarian societies, many with separate branches of “fruit and nut eaters.” Personally, I have tried the experiment, and find it most satisfactory. The difficulty is, one must always eat at home. The untrained cook does not understand “delicate feasting.” Nuts must be carefully prepared, and fruits correctly chilled and daintily served.

The word “nut” is used to express fruits of trees, enclosed in hard, woody covers, which remain closed even after the fruit is ripe. In some, the fruit is drupaceous. Of the almond, for instance, a drupe, we eat the stone kernel, and reject the pulpy covering; of the peach, a drupe of the same family, we eat the fleshy covering, and cast away the seed or stone with its kernel; the one we call a nut, and the other a fruit.

Nuts and fruits furnish the principal food for the inhabitants of many countries, and were, no doubt, the food of primitive peoples. To the vegetarian they are indispensable; they furnish his meat, milk and butter. They are palatable, nutritious, and, if well prepared, easy of digestion. Being of vegetable origin, they are free from the danger of disease germs. Their food value is frequently overlooked by Americans, as they are generally served as a dessert. Under such circumstances, they naturally disagree, as one is adding concentrated, highly nutritious food to a heavy dinner. Then, too, Americans eat rapidly and masticate imperfectly. Nuts of all foods require most thorough mastication; in fact, grinding is to be preferred.

From the general awakening in regard to healthful diet, societies have sprung up all over the world, recommending the use of vegetable foods, especially fruits and nuts. We have well established, both in New York and London, large vegetarian societies, many with separate branches of “fruit and nut eaters.” Personally, I have tried the experiment, and find it most satisfactory. The difficulty is, one must always eat at home. The untrained cook does not understand “delicate feasting.” Nuts must be carefully prepared, and fruits correctly chilled and daintily served.— Sarah Tyson Rorer, 1898

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