Home Economics: Nutrition Education as Social Service

By 1940 home economics had acquired a distinctive place in the curriculum at four-year and junior colleges, high schools, and elementary schools. While many of these courses were aimed exclusively at girls and young women, younger boys were also exposed to home economists’ ideas about food by the lunch programs that home economists implemented in many schools. Mature homemakers in rural areas received informal instruction from home demonstration agents through the agricultural extension service. In addition, the Bureau of Home Economics disseminated many of the results of its studies directly to women through government bulletins, written correspondence, and Aunt Sammy’s Radio Program.