10 Foods People Ate During WWII To Survive

Save your appetite for this menu of WWII culinary history, where we explore the unique and resourceful meals that defined the World War II era. Discover how Americans adapted their food habits for survival, from victory gardens and Spam to powdered eggs and the inventive mock apple pie. Learn about the origins of SOS, depression cake, Roosevelt coffee, the use of margarine and organ meat, and the crucial role of Hershey's chocolate bars in boosting troop morale during World War 2.

#food #wwii #survival #meals #history

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[AmericanRewind]

If you had to survive on one of these WWII-era foods, which would you choose?

[susanpage]

My dad was in the RAF (Royal Air Force). He spent time in Germany near the end of the war. The Germans were desperate for everything. My dad traded his rationed cigarettes and chocolate for a German dress sword. We still have it.

[frankgordon]

I remember during the service in early 70s, we had powdered milk & eggs. As a teen I really craved ice cold milk. Since we were in the tropics, anything fresh spoiled within hours so it was the only alternative. I had a chance to go to Bagio, Philippines which is in the mountains & very cool, so they had real, ice cold milk & fresh eggs. I drank enough milk in the 5 days I was there to float my ship right out of the harbor! After the 2nd dozen eggs, I lost count. I still remember how good that milk tasted to a kid.

[RikkiLane]

We need this kind of national unity again. True Americans.

[jamesjacobs]

Growing up in the early 50's, my Dad would occasionally make SOS.

[janellet]

I actually remember SOS from childhood in the 80- my grandfather was a merchant marine cook so that probably explains it

[Shedoesdiy]

We've made mock apple pie several times in the last 2 years. We enjoy it a lot!

[brendarueda]

My father inlaw told about how they would get drop shipments of Hershey choclate bars, he said also they gave them to the children on the streets just to see them smile, this was WWII in france, bombings were bad and people were hungry, but to see a smile on the face of a hungry child was worth it, bring back the Hershey's chocolate bar in the WWII box, and a cocoa cola for a smile, we would lovevti see thevworld smile again and make peace, offering to our enimies something we love could calm things a bit, every one has some thing in common, food is one thing.

[Stacy-hw]

We had a grocery store in the 50s n 60s. Called...Victory Foods Grocery. In the port of Houston. I miss it! Now all we get fake food. Loved SOS!

[jons.]

We tried three of these - mock apple pie, chipped beef on toast and tongue - which only my dad liked! The first two I'd eat again gladly!

[yelwing]

In the mid 70s I found some old military rations out in the California desert where troops trained for fighting in Africa during WWII. It was canned peanut butter. It tasted fine. I also found a compass, a canteen, and yards of belt fed ammo.

[josephgaviota]

0:40 I remember my grandmother talking about "Victory Gardens."

[jamesjacobs]

I was stationed in Greenland in 1971-72 and we had powered milk and eggs. When ever we went on leave we would guzzle real milk during the return flight as we knew we would not get the real stuff until we were sent back to the states.

[trynsurviven]

My mom was born in 1930. She told me about what she called the apple-less pie. She explained to me how they used Ritz crackers to mimic apples. I never got a chance to try because she refused to make one. Apparently it was a staple in their kitchen throughout the 30’s and 40’s. Another cake they made was a mayonnaise cake which she would make for all of us kids birthdays. It substituted several ingredients that were sometimes difficult to get.

[josephgaviota]

3:30 We made (very tasty) version of SOS with packaged sliced roast beef and Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup—half water, half milk—warmed, stirred, pepper added, then ladled over toast.
EASY and YUMMY.

[Kathyahedrick]

My parents prepared foods on this list, in the late 50s all through the 70s. My Dad was a Private in the US Military and served in WW11. He came home and ate “pickled pigs knuckles”, head cheese and liver worst! I couldn’t stomach these, they made me nauseous just seeing them in the refrigerator!

[PeggyHall-xf]

Spam. Put it with beans, eggs, potatoes, greens, it's always great.

[-djqz]

OMG Im living in WWII era! I have a garden, eat SPAM, have powdered eggs, use margarine, and eat cow stomach! I think Im going to make mock apple pie and depression cake just to be all around! 😂

[donaldparlett]

Tongue is really good. It’s like roast beef with no fat.

[NordicDan]

When I saw sh1t on a shingle less than ten seconds in, I knew I would enjoy this one 😁