Our first weeks rations
Planning the shop
The shopping list was based on some research I have been putting together to work out exactly what food you got on the weekly ration. Most of the information is quite easy to find... some other parts, like exactly how much meat you could buy for 1s 2d took a little longer. The quantities of various foods available on ration varied throughout the war so I have worked with averages on several items.
This is what we get each week per person
Meat
Bacon/Ham 4oz (100g)
Meat to value of 1s 2d
e.g. 2 small lamb chops
or 2 pork chops
or 1lb 2oz (540g) mince
or 1lb 2oz (540g) stewing steak
Offal is not rationed
Plus... Subject to availability – off ration but scarce. (estimates based on original accounts)
1 Small piece of fish e.g 1 kipper, 1 small cod fillet
and
2 sausages
or ½ a rabbit
or 6oz (150g) corned beef
or 3oz corned beef and 1 sausage etc.
Fat/Dairy
Whole Milk 3 pints (skimmed and semi not available)
Butter 2oz (50g)
Cheese 4oz (75g) – English hard cheese only e.g. Cheddar, Red Leicester etc.
Marge 4oz (100g)
Cooking fat 2oz (50g)
Sugar 8oz
Sundries
1 pint worth dried milk
Preserves 2oz (50g)
Tea 2oz (50g or 18 tea bags)
Eggs 1
Dried Egg equivalent to 3 whole eggs (1 ½ oz - 45g)
Confectionery 3oz
Monthly points 16 (need to research more items available)
= 1 can tinned fish
or 1can tinned meat
or 2 lb dried fruit
or 8lb split peas.....
Off ration and in plentiful supply – As much as you like.
Offal
Wholemeal/national flour
Brown bread (white not available) - Availability varies at certain times and areas
Potatoes
Oats
Fruit and veg (usually home grown – Dig For Victory!)
Just 2 rashers of bacon each for the week... 2 wafer thin slices of ham each. Lucky enough to get hold of a sausage each!... things are looking up!
A chop each for next sunday, some stewing beef and a couple of pigs kidneys.
Cheese, butter, lard and marge.
Although this looks like a lot of fat it is in fact nowhere near the average weekly intake of today.
Think thats a lot of sugar for two people? You are likely to eat as much by yourself with the modern diet... it's even in savoury food these days.