The Wartime Kitchen And Garden Program

thriftlady_2

Filey wrote: »

It is said that because of the restricted diet people generally were much healthier, and certainly less fat, than they are today. And children's teeth were better because of sugar rationing. We were allowed 2 ounces of sweets a week. Being an only child I used to get my mother's and grandparent's sweets which wasn't a good thing at all.

People often attribute the health benefits of the wartime diet to its restricted fat and meat content. I am not convinced that this is what made it healthy. I think it is much more likely to be the increased consumption of those unrationed foods, namely; homegrown fruit and vegetables, potatoes, oats, dried beans and lentils.

BTW the sugar ration for our family of 5 amounted to 2 and half lbs of sugar a week plus the sweet ration of 3oz each. Far, far more sugar than we normally eat and we eat few processed foods so we aren't getting it in those.

valk_scot

thriftlady wrote: »

People often attribute the health benefits of the wartime diet to its restricted fat and meat content. I am not convinced that this is what made it healthy. I think it is much more likely to be the increased consumption of those unrationed foods, namely; homegrown fruit and vegetables, potatoes, oats, dried beans and lentils.

BTW the sugar ration for our family of 5 amounted to 2 and half lbs of sugar a week plus the sweet ration of 3oz each. Far, far more sugar than we normally eat and we eat few processed foods so we aren't getting it in those.

I think it was a bit of both, really. The balance was better. Less bad stuff, more good stuff. And of course there were a lot less processed food and additives.

I don't think 8oz of sugar total per person per week is that high tbh, because of course that was used for baking and cooking generally, as well as for preserving. That and the sweets was probably all the sugar folk ate, no? There's 40g/nearly 1 1/2oz of sugar in one tin of non-diet Coca cola, remember. Most folk do eat at least some processed foods, breakfast cereals, cakes or biscuits or spreads in the course of a week nowadays and I suspect the overall sugar consumed from all food sources nowadays is a lot higher than the 8oz ration plus sweets. Your own diet sounds healthier than most, but I bet you the current national average weekly intake of sugar is pretty high!

PS. Went to look. The average refined sugar consumption by an adult in the UK is 1.25lbs per week, or 20oz, apparently.

Caterina

I think people were healthier also because they did a lot more physical work, walked more and ate less - I cannot believe when I see these wartime documentaries how the women's waists were so thin! Or is it because they all wore corsets?

I watched two episodes of the programme on Yesterday last night and when it came to make pork brawn with a half pig head I had to turn channels, I could not cope - I think in wartime I would be really in trouble if there was rationing, unless grains and pulses were not rationed, that is. Sometimes I wonder how I would fare as a vegan. I could probably make exchanges with other people swapping my egg, cheese, bacon and lard rations.

Having said that, it would probably take a while to get my fat stores down, so I might survive longer than I think on reduced rations hehehe!

Gigervamp

Caterina wrote: »

I cannot believe when I see these wartime documentaries how the women's waists were so thin! Or is it because they all wore corsets?

When my mum got married in the early 60's, she had an 18 inch waist! :eek:

lizzyshep

I've really enjoyed watching this so far, and it's certainly made me take a look at what I've got and think how lucky I am. It's interesting that even though I was born in 1976, I think I've been indirectly influenced by rationing through my mother (who was influenced by her mother). I've got a tendency to stock up on things, even though I don't really need to, and my mum does the same. I also hate wasting anything, which sometimes drives my OH mad when he sees an old black banana in the fridge and can't work out why I won't throw it away! That did get put to good use mashed up in porridge though, so I was right

valk_scot

Caterina wrote: »

I think people were healthier also because they did a lot more physical work, walked more and ate less - I cannot believe when I see these wartime documentaries how the women's waists were so thin! Or is it because they all wore corsets?

I still have my mum's wedding dress...she was married in 1947. Her waist was 21" and she was 5'1" tall. People in general were smaller and slimmer in these days. Even in the 70's, when I was a teenager, the biggest standard size was a 14 and finding a D-cup bra was practically impossible. I was a size 14 and a D-cup when I was 18 years old and belive me, I was one of the fattest people I knew. The size of the average teenager nowadays never ceases to amaze me.

ALIBOBSY

Caterina wrote: »

I think people were healthier also because they did a lot more physical work, walked more and ate less - I cannot believe when I see these wartime documentaries how the women's waists were so thin! Or is it because they all wore corsets?

I agree with the above and other posters about being more active.

I have seen photos of relatives and pictures of people during the war and some were on the bigger size, but not the 20 or 30 stones the really obese can hit now.
Interestingly some recent studies have looked at obese people and their levels of fitness.
Those who are realatively fit, but overweight as well seem to have little more risk of the other health issues such as diabetes/high blood pressure/heart disease than those of a normal weight. Obviously being overweight or obese makes you less likely to live an energetic lifestyle or exercise. But most experts reckon it is our lack of exercise that is the bigger issue and threat.

Mind you processed foods haven't helped, just one generation after the end of the war they started to see the start of real obesity in this country.

Sadly all the quick diets and ideas in the world don't solve things. We need to live more active lives and eat less processed crap (eating more fruit and veg to fill up as well as getting the minerals and vits we need is a good start).

In the war people grew alot of their own and ate more fruit and veg, there was very little processed food, no reall takeaways (except fish and chips) and most important of all petrol was rationed (and alot didn't have cars anyway). So most people walked miles everyday, as well as work/housework being much more energy intensive than it is today.

Ali x

thriftlady_2

valk_scot wrote: »

I don't think 8oz of sugar total per person per week is that high tbh, because of course that was used for baking and cooking generally, as well as for preserving..

I still had plenty left over IIRC even after doing my usual baking and pudding making.

I'd forgotten about jam. Jam was on the ration too, so you had sugar, sweets, jam and extra sugar could be obtained during the summer specifically for jam making.

We don't eat breakfast cereals (which were on the points system during the war so additional to the sugar ration) or fizzy drinks or squash. Baked beans do have sugar in them but apart from them I can't think of anything I buy that has sugar added to it.

Butterfly_Brain

Thriftlady - Have you anyone who is willing to record these programmes for you?
They are being shown again back to back on Saturday x x

ariba10

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I was reading one of my wartime books and it says that rationing went on for 15 years:eek:
It really makes you think doesn't it - people patiently queing for hours on end - We would probably have riots now!

When we married in 1951 the first thing to do when we came back off honeymoon was to get her ration book changed as she came from a different town.