The Health of a Nation in World War II
More Facts for a Modern Diet From Minstry of Food in Wartime UK
Recipes for the Humble Potato and other Root Vegetables have previously been provided. The Ministry of Food play an essential part in promoting hints and ideas for staying healthy, despite the constraints of rationing.
They gave advice about cooking potatoes following a particularly dry summer during the war. This had made the vegetable drier than usual a liable to break during cooking. The Ministry advised that putting them in hot salted water and boiling for 15 minutes. Then drain and cover with a clean cloth, replace the lid and let the potatoes stand for 20 minutes. This would allow the potatoes to finish cooking in their own steam and avoid waste.
Onions were also in short supply. The Ministry advised that leeks were a good substitute, with a similar but more delicate flavour. They also promoted the use of dried English herbs, including thyme, mint, sage, marjoram and chervil. All which could easily be grown at home.
Despite the obvious shortages of certain foods during wartime, there were certain benefits to the health of the British population:
- Eating habits improved greatly during WWII, when both the rich and the poor were eating the same diet
- The fairness of the rationing system and the health advice provided by the Ministry of Food meant that poor families managed better than in peacetime
- The promotion of a balanced diet, with increased vegetables and reduced white bread and flour meant that people ate better and were therefore healthier
- There was a reduction in maternal deaths during the war as supplies of milk and orange juice were provided to pregnant women
- The Ministry of Food ensured that every child had a vitamin boost through the provision of daily milk, cod-liver oil and orange juice. Free meals were also provided to children from poorer families
- Restaurants were set up for workers to access meals at a reasonable cost to make sure people were properly fed. Minced beef with carrots and parsnip was a popular dish of this time
- Because of the shortage of petrol, a large number of the population resorted to walking. This, along with the type of jobs undertaken to support the war effort, meant that most people got lots of regular exercise.
During the war, many people suffered loss at all levels, but it also provided other opportunities, which may never have been realised. The mass evacuation of children exposed hidden poverty and in return increased the health of many children. The diseases caused by malnutrition and poor housing conditions were uncovered, including scabies, impetigo and lice.
In addition, despite the continued effort to break the will of the nation the people carried on working and supporting each other. The spirit of the nation was not broken.
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