Thriftlady's wartime experiment

Boomdocker

I didn't get a chance to write this down but I am sure the title was the Victory Cookbook. Definatley by Magaurite Pattern (sp?). RRP £12.99 but on offer at £3.99. It may be cheaper elsewhere but seems a good price nonetheless. There were plenty in The Works in Southend.May be of interest to some of you who are looking for these books. HTH

Smashing

thriftlady wrote: »

I was ready to give up this experiment last night when I stepped on the scales and found I'd put on 4 lbs :eek: -but this morning I find I've actually lost 1 lb anyway I think we'll press on.

Stick to weighing yourself in the morning - it's the most accurate because of food and fluid consumption, we often 'gain' weight during the day.

Keep up the good work - you must have the best fed kids in the Country! :T

thriftlady_2

Errata wrote: »

Don't worry too much about the weight gain, everyone weighs more before bedtime than they do before breakfast, but I wondered how you were managing to get the right balance of protein and carbs and at least 5 daily portions of fruit and veg?

Interesting question. I think the children are getting all they need plus more sugar than they're used too They are having more fruit than OH and me. They're having an apple each a day if not 2, plus some other fruit in some form -glass of juice (not strictly wartime I'm afraid), raisins, berries. they're also getting plenty of veg as are OH and me. I need to make an effort with the fruit. I miss being able to make a big fruit salad with pineapple, grapes and melon plus other seasonal stuff. I'd have that for breakfast with hm yogurt normally, plus a glass of OJ. During the war people were strongly encouraged to eat lots of raw veg in salads -shredded cabbage, beetroot, leeks etc to make up for the lack of fruit. This sort of salad doesn't really appeal to me tbh -and the kids would not eat it either.

I think we're all getting enough protein, but I also think we're having a lot of carbohydrates- not sure whether we're having too much or not. They were certainly encouraged in the war for 'filling power' -but of course everyone was a lot more active then.

Think I might declare the war over
I'm beginning to think about ending the experiment, and am wondering whether 2 weeks is a fair go at it or whether I should carry on. I do miss being able to whip up a quick and healthy pasta meal, I miss my fruit salads and exotic salad leaves. I miss exotic spices too, middle eastern style chick pea and vegetable dishes, proper curries, smoked paprika and chorizo with white beans, pizza -big flavours . I could murder a roasted pepper marinated in lemon, olive oil and garlic. It's all pretty labour intensive too, even for someone who always cooks from scratch, there is so much less scope for fast meals when you have a limited choice of let's face it, fairly bland foods.

I'm amazed that I've been able to carry on for a whole two weeks tbh -I am not good at sticking to any sort of eating programme. All the interest and enthusiasm everyone has shown on this thread is certainly responsible for helping me stay focused. It's been great fun and I think I may have finally got my wartime obsession out of my system I now feel positive about taking up a more healthy diet and sticking to it in order to lose weight.

I will post the pics I am taking of the rabbit pie later. I hope the thread will carry on with all the reminiscences and recipes which have been wonderful. I'm sure I will add to it if it does carry on.

In conclusion -yes, I have manged to feed my family on wartime rations without too much difficulty. I know that if I had to do it again I could. But, the limitations of a wartime diet for someone used to being able to eat whatever they like has proved too much for me so I declare VW day (victory in Worcester) and I'm off to the supemarket for some olive oil and a pineapple tomorrow.:D

thriftlady_2

Smashing wrote: »

Stick to weighing yourself in the morning - it's the most accurate because of food and fluid consumption, we often 'gain' weight during the day.

Keep up the good work - you must have the best fed kids in the Country! :T

Sorry but see above post -mind you the kids have always been well fed as you can see from the kinds of foods I've been missing

Hey, maybe someone else would like to carry on the experiment -any takers ?

Churchmouse

Well done thriftlady, and congratulations on the victory!!:D I can well understand your need to revert to a more *colourful* diet! I don't suppose I'd have lasted more than a few days (if that long):o

I hope the thread will continue, if not at the rapid pace thus far;)

CM

rosieben

Well done. thriftlady :T you've done brilliantly to keep it going for 2 weeks. I could never have done this, and I really admire you - and your famiy - for getting into it so wholeheartedly. You've more than earned your fruit salad!!

Thanks for giving us such an interesting and thought-provoking thread. I've so enjoyed reading the recipes (some noted for future reference!) and especially enjoyed the reminiscences and hope people will continue to post these. I'm sure there are loads of tips and hints that we OS'ers would find useful.

I really hope this gets thread of the month!! :T:T:T:T:T:T

Justamum

thriftlady wrote: »

During the war people were strongly encouraged to eat lots of raw veg in salads -shredded cabbage, beetroot, leeks etc to make up for the lack of fruit. This sort of salad doesn't really appeal to me tbh -and the kids would not eat it either.

You would probably end up with jaw ache eating that sort of salad. Chewing raw cabbage takes a lot more work than lettuce. Raw leeks don't sound too appealing either.

moanymoany

Dear Thriftlady, I think 2 weeks of this kind of experiment is quite a good length of time to give a 'flavour' of living on a wartime diet. I wonder if the Thriftlets have said anything at school about it.

I have a copy of Victory Cookbook and it is fascinating reading. Some of the recipes I will use but like you said the food is rather bland. My grandma, who fed me for most of my young childhood, was a countrygirl and had to feed first her family and them my mums on very little. Many of the foods in the book are familiar to me, especially offal.

Today for lunch I made the 'floddies' and they were very good. Grate a potato, mix with plain flour and a little water to make it thick batter texture and fry spoonfuls in shallow oil, turning. They were brown and crispy and we will have them with tinned tomatoes in the future, a good lunchy thing.

Like so many avid followers of your wartime experiment, it has given me a lot of pleasure. Thank you very much.:A

sandy2_2

Well done Thriftlady, this has been a lovely thread to read. I might even try some of the recipes.
Here in Spain we went to the local market this morning and apart from the local fruit and vegetables, dried fish and sausages, they were also selling pigeons (racing ones dyed in bright colours), live rabbits for lunch, a live goat and large bags of live caracoles(snails) I wonder if they (snails) could have been included in your rations

Topher

http://www.1940.co.uk/acatalog/Miscellaneous.html

Dried egg down the page (IYSWIM)

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/0-9/1940house/

virtual tour very good

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/homefrontfriends
Like minded folk

http://www.changing-lives.org.uk/wartime_christmas/parties/index.htm

http://www.gi-jive.co.uk/welcome.html
He does great dance classes & events

http://www.40s.events.ukonline.co.uk/
Try the calendar page for dances & events near you

http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/thelookout/
where we go on holiday

http://www.tvradiobits.co.uk/radiotimes/radiotimes1b.htm
O.K. its an obsession,

But our 1943 Christmas (in 2005) was lovely

Topher