That’s why I did it, hoping I’d empty out my cupboards, but it’s slow going.
No, I didn’t lose any weight, but age and my body thinking it’s in survival mode, so I’m holding onto every ounce of weight as if I were a Scottish lass suffering through a siege.
My reading talked a lot about Victory Gardens providing lots of additional food stuffs. Think of trying to eat as much in season as possible, if you try to replicate this. That means lots of cabbage.
Tell me about it. I had to go on a severe workout and calorie restrictive diet for 6 weeks to shed 13 lbs. I've gone up a bit but then came back down. Then went on vacation and went back up but it's on the downward trend again. I've started back on the workouts and am reducing my portions. Again.
What an interesting read! And I am so impressed that you followed this ration diet - and enjoyed it. I think that points to how it was well thought out!
For years, post rationing, my mother always budgeted one shilling per person per week for meat.
One note... Rickets is a result of a lack of Vitamin D (and also calcium and phosphate). Hence the encouragement for us to spend time in the sun as kids.
I also remember (postwar) the Welfare Orange Juice. Wartime Orange juice came from the USA under Lend Lease. We also had cod liver oil... yeuk! And the tins of National Dried Milk, which was still available up until 1976, having first appeared in 1940.
Oh, great update, David. Thank you. I probably got the two vitamins switched in my head and, therefore, attributed rickets incorrectly. I will adjust accordingly. Thank you!
You and Janet added a lot of information to the piece. This extra is just a big bonus!
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and commenting, Harshita. Food history is one of my favorites. I was working on an interdisciplinary degree that focused on food, history, and conflict, but life happened.
I really, REALLY, enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing it. You have made me feel rather proud of my country this morning. Could I manage the rationing diet, one egg a week?!! Eeek. I am with you on the 'if less is more, think how much more will be' train of thought!
You and I would be on the farm raising cows and chickens, Shell! Besides, so much of the UK produced food was sent to support the troops and they needed it.
What I find so magnificent is that the UK government knew what had to be done and planned accordingly. Simply amazing. That’s foresight and the smarts to learn from WWI. They still had people alive who could tell Widderson and McCance what it was like. I am inspired.
This was a fantastic read. And very timely. We really have no idea what sacrifices were made to sustain entire countries in times of duress. Thank you for the reality check and ideas!
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading,, and commenting Elizabeth. This was a longer form for me and I was scared it would frighten people off! We’ll have to work differently than the UK because we lack government involvement, but communities can pull together and start prepping. time to plant some food and carefully help each other when we can.
Thank you for stopping by, reading, and commenting, Kate. I appreciate it. I love food history and this particular area seemed to need a little spotlight shined on to it.
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and commenting, Marlyn. It seemed important to help be aware that this has happened before. with good planning and a strong community, we can pull through. Thank you for sharing!
Sorry I am so late to the party!
How does one increase the vegetables with this diet - do we assume people had gardens or was there lots of produce available?
Didja lose any weight doing this for a week? ;-)
I need to ration myself. If only to empty my supply of beans and stuff in the freezer!
That’s why I did it, hoping I’d empty out my cupboards, but it’s slow going.
No, I didn’t lose any weight, but age and my body thinking it’s in survival mode, so I’m holding onto every ounce of weight as if I were a Scottish lass suffering through a siege.
My reading talked a lot about Victory Gardens providing lots of additional food stuffs. Think of trying to eat as much in season as possible, if you try to replicate this. That means lots of cabbage.
Tell me about it. I had to go on a severe workout and calorie restrictive diet for 6 weeks to shed 13 lbs. I've gone up a bit but then came back down. Then went on vacation and went back up but it's on the downward trend again. I've started back on the workouts and am reducing my portions. Again.
And yeah. I bet there is a lot of cabbage!
What an interesting read! And I am so impressed that you followed this ration diet - and enjoyed it. I think that points to how it was well thought out!
Add some citrus to the mix, and I think it’s doable, just unsure how long anyone would last on it!
I still remember the end of rationing......
For years, post rationing, my mother always budgeted one shilling per person per week for meat.
One note... Rickets is a result of a lack of Vitamin D (and also calcium and phosphate). Hence the encouragement for us to spend time in the sun as kids.
I also remember (postwar) the Welfare Orange Juice. Wartime Orange juice came from the USA under Lend Lease. We also had cod liver oil... yeuk! And the tins of National Dried Milk, which was still available up until 1976, having first appeared in 1940.
Oh, great update, David. Thank you. I probably got the two vitamins switched in my head and, therefore, attributed rickets incorrectly. I will adjust accordingly. Thank you!
You and Janet added a lot of information to the piece. This extra is just a big bonus!
You had me when you said food history...what a lovely write up!
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and commenting, Harshita. Food history is one of my favorites. I was working on an interdisciplinary degree that focused on food, history, and conflict, but life happened.
I really, REALLY, enjoyed this. Thank you for sharing it. You have made me feel rather proud of my country this morning. Could I manage the rationing diet, one egg a week?!! Eeek. I am with you on the 'if less is more, think how much more will be' train of thought!
You and I would be on the farm raising cows and chickens, Shell! Besides, so much of the UK produced food was sent to support the troops and they needed it.
What I find so magnificent is that the UK government knew what had to be done and planned accordingly. Simply amazing. That’s foresight and the smarts to learn from WWI. They still had people alive who could tell Widderson and McCance what it was like. I am inspired.
I've heard a wonderful anecdote of country children being sent out in droves to pick blackberries for Intercity folk, who couldn't get hold of them.
I wasn't aware of that planning and it's absolutely amazing, and so clever! Sadly, I don't think our planning for COVID quite matched up.
This was a fantastic read. And very timely. We really have no idea what sacrifices were made to sustain entire countries in times of duress. Thank you for the reality check and ideas!
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading,, and commenting Elizabeth. This was a longer form for me and I was scared it would frighten people off! We’ll have to work differently than the UK because we lack government involvement, but communities can pull together and start prepping. time to plant some food and carefully help each other when we can.
Your articles are so interesting! You're a chef and a food historian!
Thank you for stopping by, reading, and commenting, Kate. I appreciate it. I love food history and this particular area seemed to need a little spotlight shined on to it.
Wow! Thanks for doing all that research for us!
This is edifying and important information. sharing.
Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and commenting, Marlyn. It seemed important to help be aware that this has happened before. with good planning and a strong community, we can pull through. Thank you for sharing!
What a great piece. I love that you gave the program a shot. Thank you for this!
Thank you JD. It’s fascinating how creative one can be when one is forced to be limited. You know. Living within a budget means who have to be clever.