Rationing

So some general Ration Guidelines I was able to find for The UK, Canada and USA to get us started. Note there will be differences between countries and often amounts of the basic rations did change from year to year. All these countries used books that also came with stamps that allowed people to purchase additional items such as canned and fresh vegetables for instance. Point values often changed for items as well. Also keep in mind some foods were readily or easily obtainable with season while scarce at other times. In some cases price setting was used as the rationing means and some items simply were unobtainable. These are therefore some general overall examples of what people might be able to regularly receive.

The United Kingdom
Weekly Ration Per Adult

Sugar: 8 oz (1 cup)
Bacon & Ham 4 oz
Meat to the value of 1 Shilling and Sixpence {around 1/2 lb. (8 oz) minced beef}
Butter 2 oz
Cheese 2 oz
Margarine 4 oz (1/4 lb.)
Cooking Fat 4 oz
Milk 3 pints
Preserves 1 lb. every 2 months
Tea 2 oz
Eggs 1 fresh egg per week
Sweets/Candy 12 oz every 4 weeks

Canada
Weekly Ration Per Adult

Sugar: 8 oz (1 cup)
Butter: 4 oz (1/4 lb.)
Tea 2 oz (1/4 cup) OR Coffee: 8 oz (1 cup)
Meat: 24-32 oz (less than 5 ounces per day)
Beer, spirits and wine were also rationed, but the amount varied between provinces.

The United States
Weekly Ration Per Adult

Sugar: 1/2 lb.
Coffee: 1 lb. every 5 weeks

Now I know other foods where rationed such as: meat, lard, shortening, food oils, cheese, butter, margarine, processed foods (canned, bottled and frozen), dried fruits, canned milk, jams, jellies, and fruit butter. I have not found a good resource to give me a good idea on what a family might be able to get weekly or monthly yet. Children were priority for the canned milk. Extra sugar for canning coukd be requested but there was no guarantee on getting the sugar.

However using these three countries as a guide you can start to see what supplies you might be limited to in cooking.

Note fire wood, fuel oil, and coal were also rationed. In looking at ways we cook food suddenly some creativity is needed if you need to ration your fuel source for your stove/oven.

Nutrition in World War II was a real concern as a result various governments came up with guidelines for the public. In the United States Of America the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) was created and the seven basics.

The Basic Seven

Group One Green And Yellow Vegetables: some raw, some cooked, frozen or canned.

Group Two Oranges, Tomatoes, Grapefruits: or raw cabbage or salad greens.

Group Three Potatoes And Other Vegetables And Fruits: raw, dried, cooked, frozen or canned.

Group Four Milk And Milk Products: fluid, evaporated, dried milk and cheese.

Group Five Meat, Poultry, Fish, Or Eggs: or dried beans, peas, nuts, or peanut butter.

Group Six Breads, Flour, And Cerals:  natural whole grain, ore riched, or restored. 

Group Seven Butter And Fortified Margarine: with added vitamin A.

From the Basic Seven we can see 3/7 of the recommendations is for fruits and vegetables.

RDA will be in another post.