I've often thought about what life was like in Britain during the war. With the introduction of rationing, it must have been difficult not having the luxury of choice when it came to meal times. With this in mind, me & Kelley decided to try and see if we could live for a week eating food that was only available during the war. Here is our weeks shopping: For the sake of ease, I'm going to pretend that I was lucky enough to obtain a tin of Tuna and we had a chicken running around our victory garden. Also, we couldn't get hold of any powdered eggs which equaled about 3 eggs per person, p/week, so along with our 1 proper egg each, we'll be having a total of 4 eggs each. Monday Today I woke up full of excitement and anticipation, looking forward to seeing what life was like back in the 40's. For breakfast, I had my first bowl of Porridge since I was a kid and although I wasn't initially looking forward to it, I was pleasantly surprised. For tea I'm going to be making the famous Woolton Pie. 450g Diced Potato 450g Cauliflower 450g Carrots 1 Onion 1 Teaspoon Vegetable extract ( Marmite ) 1 Tablespoon Oatmeal Chopped Parsley I'm going to cheat a bit with the pastry using frozen. (I refuse to eat lard and wholemeal flour) Verdict: It was actually quite nice. Was no where near as bland as I thought it was going to be and I might even make it again some time. 5/10 Supper was boring: 1 slice of dry bread with a spread of Jam. (Hungry) Tuesday Waking up still feeling hungry, my porridge breakfast hasn't really touched the sides at all. I can't wait for tea time so that I can have a proper meal. (that Chicken running around the back garden looks lush) Today I've decided to make Chicken Stew & Dumplings. Can't wait!! 2 Chicken Breasts, 2 Onions, 4 Carrots, 3 Potatos, Marmite, Oatmeal. For the Dumplings: 50g Suet 100g Flour 5 Tablespoons water Verdict: Absoultely lush and I'll definately be making it again. 9/10 For supper, another boring slice of dry bread and Jam. Wednesday Today I can feel the temptations of present day food starting to gnaw away at me. All those other nice foods we've got in the cupboards and freezer which I know I can't touch. ( oh how I'm starting to crave a Pizza from the takeaway ) After my usual porridge breakfast, I've had a look at what's left of our rations. Today I'm going to be making fishermans pie. 50g Cauliflower, 100g Broccoli, 4 diced potatos, 50g Cheese Parsley, Tuna. Verdict: Really nice. Left me feeling nice and full and that Tuna had a mouth watering after taste which has left me wanting more. 8/10 Thursday For Breakfast we had the rest of the fish pie. A nice change from Porridge, which although isn't as bad as I thought it would be, is becoming to get a little boring. Today I will be making Ham & Vegetable Fratattas. 5 Potatos, 50g Cheese, 4 oz Ham, 50g Broccoli, 4 Eggs, Frozen pastry for the top. Verdict: Gorgeous. Nothing else to say really. Another 8/10 For supper, I made Jam Tarts from the left over pastry. Friday After a little bit of left over Frattata for breakfast, I'm starting to see just how difficult life during the war would have been. There's hardly anything left of our rations. My mind just isn't programmed for creative cooking. There is a tin of Spam left and some bread. As Kelley won't touch the stuff, I've took it upon myself to eat the lot. Spam & Mustard Sarnies. Lush!!! Overall, the week hasn't been a bad one. Just left me feeling a little more hungry than I am used to. The fact we have a Pizza shop almost directly over the road from us doesn't help either. I think I can safely say now that living in the 40's would have been pretty difficult. Especially as it's only been 5 days and we ran out of food. If I did this experiment again, I'd like to go the whole 9 yards and take a little bit more time to prepare. Get some powdered eggs for example, and do the whole thing properly. No Chicken or Tuna or anything that was difficult to get hold of. I'd also make smaller portions too so that the food would last longer. Anyway, it's been better fun that normal diets and I've lost 2lb so not all is lost. Porridge.... Yummy!!! Cheers, marcus
Marcus, Well done, enjoying yourself and losing weight is better than the normal dieting. The experts say that the nutritional value of the wartime food was very healthy, unlike our diets of today. Regards Tom
Cheers lads. I forgot to add that we ran out of teabags and milk so we cheated an bought some more. Can't start the day without a cuppa!
Certainly couldn't be considered fun in reality,but statistics show we were healthier as a nation. I lived with my Grandparents from 1940 until 1945,and from what I remember they had a large garden that produced most of what we needed during summer and Autumn. The chickens supplimented the diet very well both with eggs or as the Sunday Roast. Grandad kept a few pigs on an allotment he shared with my eldest Uncle, but when one was slaughtered 50% went to the M.O.F. Quite a bit of bartering and exchange went on between Families. Those who didn't use sugar or other commodities that were rationed used it in exchange for the likes of tea or cooking fat. The only coffee that was available was Bev or Camp Chickory extract. Of course standing in Line outside shops became something that took up much time.
Good stuff Marcus, though the tea's a bit of a cop out (presumably you knew a spiv somewhere that had a box going spare). Hopefully the improved diet will keep rickets at bay... Anyone got a light aircraft so we can fly over and drop the odd bomb or three for a touch of added authenticity?
Well done Marcus. Good Idea. I doubt I could do it though as I eat like a Horse ( no the wife dont give me a nosebag )
Anyone got a light aircraft so we can fly over and drop the odd bomb or three for a touch of added authenticity? , funnily enough, I did mention that we should play the sound of an air raid siren whilst we ate but I thought that was going a bit too far. lol.
Marcus Great post it reminds me of my grandfather who lived in a Derbyshire Village who told me stories of the war when they had pigs with five legs and fresh eggs from the local farm, butter from under the counter, in short they had a village co-oprative and helped each other. As kids gran would occaisionally make meals from the wartime recipes for us I think they also enjoyed them.
Marcus, it may have seemed hard....but don't forget the war ALSO saw the start of the great British trend of sit-down eating out, with the British Restaurants being "off the ration". In real life, in an urban or suburban setting you'd have maybe been able to eat out once or twice a week at quite low cost to supplement the private ration. Let's face it - there was bugger all ELSE to spend those munitions factory wages on!
What next Marcus? A week on compo and the family living in slit trenches in the local woods maybe? I was thinking of dressing up, digging a fox hole in the garden and spending next bonfire night in it.
Marcus, it may have seemed hard....but don't forget the war ALSO saw the start of the great British trend of sit-down eating out, with the British Restaurants being "off the ration". In real life, in an urban or suburban setting you'd have maybe been able to eat out once or twice a week at quite low cost to supplement the private ration. Let's face it - there was bugger all ELSE to spend those munitions factory wages on! Never knew that mate. Cheers.
I was thinking of dressing up, digging a fox hole in the garden and spending next bonfire night in it. Remember to half-fill it with water...
On a more serious note - it would be worth finding out the modern equivalents of period meats that had a low points cost - "snorkers" etc. - and see what really could be done. There were also some local variations IIRC - spuds weren't on the ration in Northern Ireland I've been told. There are as many recipes for spuds as Eskimo words for snow. That's BEFORE you bring potato flour into the equation... And weren't there some dairy products that weren't on the ration? As a P.S. - a few years ago I turned up a modern powdered egg...powder...in a healthfood shop. Made passable scrambled eggs - runny scrambled eggs - and my mother ran up a couple of recipes out of her just immediately post-war Home Economics cookery book from school... ....it MIGHT have been her baking, though...LOL
Marcus - While on leave in Birmingham - I took my sister out to a British Restaurant - she spotted eggs on the menu and so asked the waiter - "are these real eggs" - without cracking a smile he answered " yes Miss - real Cock's eggs " she never blinked until the "eggs" arrived ! Later she conned Dad into getting two pigs and some hens....... Cheers