What Did People Eat In The 1950's

Justamum

hermum wrote: »

I'm so glad that we haven't ended up taking a tablet a day, instead of eating food which I remember being a very nasty rumour.

Funny, but I was just thinking about that the other day, and wishing they would hurry up with it :rotfl:

Farway

hermum wrote: »

Thought of something else, mostly our biscuits were broken ones & bought by the pound, sometimes we'd be really lucky & have some cream ones in there.
.

Ahh, that has jogged another memory of mine. My mother's Godmother lived in Reading and sometimes we would visit her [from Hayes station].

As everyone knows, or should know, Reading is the spiritual home of Huntley & Palmer's biscuits and we loved visiting as we always came away with a large bag of H & P broken bikkies, iced gems and all sorts of wonderful finds to be had

Itismehonest

hermum wrote: »

Thought of something else, mostly our biscuits were broken ones & bought by the pound, sometimes we'd be really lucky & have some cream ones in there.

There were loads of things which were sold, like the broken biscuits, from a sack or barrel. The shops used to buy their stock in wholesale quantities & 'packaging'. They would open it up, weigh or count out what the shopper wanted, put it in a paper bag (or roll it up in newspaper, depending on what it was) & off you went with it in your shopping bag/basket.

Incidentally, who remembers the Co-ops of the 50s & 60s with their 'divi stamps"? They also had the cashier whizz-along-a-wire-in-the-air things. I can remember watching those with fascination while Mum shopped.
Green Shield stamps formed a large part of people's lives then in their pre-Argos days.

bearcub

I remember Vesta meals. That was the first time I'd ever come across curries and Chinese style dishes. I hate to think how many chemicals were added to the food then, to make them last as long as they did in the packets! Still, we survived.

Spam fritters for school dinners - high-fat, vaguely meaty pink slabs, in batter, cooked in fat, served with chips, similarly cooked. High cholesterol, what's that?

Anyone remember Creamola Foam drinks, that were flavoured slightly coloured crystals in a small tin, that you added to water? The whole lot fizzed, and you were left with a fizzy fruity drink that quickly went flat. Of course, it was just bicarb in the mix, but it seemed magical at the time.

Possession

My DH's grandmother (aged 90) makes spam sausage rolls. The family do their best to avoid them but sometimes it isn't possible.

bearcub wrote: »

I remember Vesta meals. That was the first time I'd ever come across curries and Chinese style dishes. I hate to think how many chemicals were added to the food then, to make them last as long as they did in the packets! Still, we survived.

Spam fritters for school dinners - high-fat, vaguely meaty pink slabs, in batter, cooked in fat, served with chips, similarly cooked. High cholesterol, what's that?

Anyone remember Creamola Foam drinks, that were flavoured slightly coloured crystals in a small tin, that you added to water? The whole lot fizzed, and you were left with a fizzy fruity drink that quickly went flat. Of course, it was just bicarb in the mix, but it seemed magical at the time.

oldtractor

Possession wrote: »

My DH's grandmother (aged 90) makes spam sausage rolls. The family do their best to avoid them but sometimes it isn't possible.

Priceless! On the other hand all that fat hasnt done her much harm has it? Good job the food police havent found her address though...........

Possession

oldtractor wrote: »

Priceless! On the other hand all that fat hasnt done her much harm has it? Good job the food police havent found her address though...........

The worst thing is she tells you how many people love them and how delicious they are. About a year ago we went to dinner at their flat and were ambushed by a huge dinner of roast potatoes, baked beans and spam sausage rolls, possibly the most bizarre meal I've ever had. Still, I'm obviously pleased she is still able to do this at age 90!

oldtractor

LOL :eek::eek::D

sb44

Itismehonest wrote: »

Can anyone remember Vesta meals?
I think they were probably from the 60s, though. They must have been one of the first processed meals.

Yep, I remember them, I hated them but my parents would 'treat' themselves to one every now and again.

Yes, it was in the 60's, take a look at this site, it may be of interest.

http://www.advertisingarchives.co.uk/?service=category&action=show_content_page&language=en&category=9&pid=55

zaxdog

I was born in 1975 but los of thees things ring a bell with me. I do think it may be a regional thing re names of meals though. I was born and brought up in the Glasgow area and nobody said "dinner" as a name for lunch :-)

My Mum cooked from scratch everyday and still does although my parents have now been vegetarians for many years. I remember lots of soups and stews etc and I myself use my slow cooker in the same way as my Mum used hers, bulking out mince with oats and "bottom of the fridge" soups.

A big treat for me was when at my grandparents we would sometimes get something from the chippy :-) As a child though I got a wee bit of the adults suppers and the first time I got to choose my own fish supper (and it was all mine) I felt I'd become a real grown-up lol!