Recommended daily amounts (RDA) have become the concern of nutritionists and fear-mongers alike across Britain. The other day I actually wondered how much salt was in the little plastic cup of Bovril I’d selected from a vending machine – do I care? Imagine Dave the caveman or Mrs Tebbitt of 53 Pleasant Grove, Croydon in 1943 asking whether the daily rations were supplying their families with the correct amount of essential vitamins and minerals in order to promote a healthy lifestyle.
The truth be told however, Brits were healthier in the days of rationing than we are now.
Research has shown that the British population was much healthier during World War Two when food was restricted by the British Government. Each person could only have 4 oz of butter and two eggs per week. Bread and meat were also in short supply with the bulk of produce being marked for the troops.
However, you could eat as much as you liked of what you could grow yourself and the British set to vegetable growing like there was no tomorrow.
During WWII copious amounts of cook books were issued by the British Government telling people how to make the most of the meagre amount of food they were permitted to buy.
This knowledge and understanding of healthy eating and self sufficiency has been largely ditched over the last twenty years in favour of Pizza Hut which is why we are all starting to look like the Americans in downtown Detroit.
The truth be told however, Brits were healthier in the days of rationing than we are now.
Research has shown that the British population was much healthier during World War Two when food was restricted by the British Government. Each person could only have 4 oz of butter and two eggs per week. Bread and meat were also in short supply with the bulk of produce being marked for the troops.
However, you could eat as much as you liked of what you could grow yourself and the British set to vegetable growing like there was no tomorrow.
During WWII copious amounts of cook books were issued by the British Government telling people how to make the most of the meagre amount of food they were permitted to buy.
This knowledge and understanding of healthy eating and self sufficiency has been largely ditched over the last twenty years in favour of Pizza Hut which is why we are all starting to look like the Americans in downtown Detroit.
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