Ellen Swallow Richards is traditionally cited as the founder of family and consumer sciences (FCS). A chemist, she drew from her root discipline, applying its concepts to the needs of the family and the individual. Much of what she advocated was based on the work of mid-19th century German chemists, particularly Justus von Liebig. Before Richards started the New England Kitchens and developed the school lunch program in Boston, Liebig applied chemistry to improve nutrition and food science. This paper explores the work of mid-19th century chemists as it relates to what would become "home economics", now "family and consumer sciences".