Rationing in World War II in the UK

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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:08 pm

See what the rations were.
Want to lose weight then try this diet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/topics/rationing_in_ww2#p00gffy3

At the bottom of page is christmas 1940.

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:21 pm

^
Ironically as the War progressed and turned in favour of the Allies the rationing in Great Britain got worse despite the Atlantic supply convoys getting through easier from Canada and the USA etc.

A lot of the surplus food supplies then went straight to the newly liberated countries in Europe (as well as the Berlin air lift) after the war and meat rationing in the UK went on until the early 1950's.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:22 am

Apparently, people were healthier on the minimalist wartime diet than they are now.

I read the other day that worldwide, more people now die of obesity than hunger, which strikes me as &*^%ed up.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 1:01 am

I remember looking through my Grandparent's old rationing stamps...no ice cream. No soda.

None for sitting on their asses or sitting in front of a tv or laptop either... Embarassed

Could we do it? I would like to think so...

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:51 am

Justcold wrote:

Could we do it? I would like to think so...

I could and I do.

Problem is, most people today don't even know what a vegetable is unless it's covered in batter and deep fried. Look around though and there's loads of food out there that's healthy and low in calories.

And exercise? Studies show that just 20 minutes of cardio a day will help to get you a lot fitter.

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 7:59 am

^^^ What the Squirrel said

It doesn't take much to be fit and healthy, I'm milking 1400 cows twice a day, starting at 4am, finishing at 5.00pm, and mowing lawns in the time between milking

Then I waste time logging into here, and lose several hours chasing lads

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 12:24 pm

It's frightening how much food we waste in the West.

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 3:26 am

Esox lucius wrote:

meat rationing in the UK went on until the early 1950's.

That reminds me of a very enjoyable and funny movie, A Private Function, with Michael Palin and Maggie Smith. Made in 1984, it got limited release in the US. It was a story of the absurdity of meat rationing in an English town right after WWII.

Rationing in the US was not as severe as it was in the UK during the war, mainly because the US was mostly self-sufficient in food. Apparel, rubber, gasoline, meat, some dairy products, and sugar were all rationed. Rationing ended shortly after the war ended; it was lifted for some items before the war was over.

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:25 pm

Yes, we have no bananas...

It's a period that's always fascinated me, particularly how the people at home managed to survive. No one can deny it was a terrible time for all concerned, but the ingenuity demonstrated never ceases to amaze.

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 5:13 pm

The movie Whisky Galore is an interesting (okay funny) film from the late forties that explores wartime shortages but with a twist. It is supposedly based upon a true story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-rkvIEERSA

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:17 am

Its based on the wreck of the SS Politician, here is the link,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Politician

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

I'm never sure how you could statistically prove the population was healthier, vast numbers were moved overseas or displaced in other ways.
I suppose if you didn't die due to bullets, bombs, torpedos, cold, infections and restricted diet then the survivors must have been healthier than those that perished.

If you were rich enough food was available, eating out in restaurants and hotels was "off ration" although eventually meals were restricted to 3 courses and not more than 5 shillings in cost.
Fish wasn't rationed nor were fruit and veg but they were in short supply. People were encouraged to "dig for victory" so flowerbeds and lawns were turned into vegetable plots, some golf courses were turned into allotments.

Many families found their incomes fell dramatically when the father was called up, of course women were encouraged to work but often at less wage than a man would have earned. Less money meant less off ration food.

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:01 pm

I know my mother who was in the WRAF at the time stated that they were better of when they were put onto american rations.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

My mum was pre school when the war started.
She used to say she was always hungry. In spite of having a young family my grandfather was called up so she hardly saw her dad, though he wrote some wonderful letter to his children, making up stories and poems for them.
For a while the family slept in the space under the stair, a rather damp and cold space.
My mum didnt know she was allergic to bananas until after the war.
She also had no idea about street lights and was amazed when the blackout was lifted. She described being taken for a walk and looking out over the Forth watching lights twinkling over in Fife. "I thought it was fairies " she said

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