Rationing In Britain

COI 155
An American commentator looks at the effects of rationing on the people of England in 1944.
The film presents a 'typical' family of 4 (housewife, engine-driver husband, factory-working daughter, schoolboy son) to illustrate the basic rationing system, the workings of 'point' systems and other restrictions, and the difficulties the average family faced when eating 'on the ration'.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Rationing
• Ration
• Second World War
• wartime
• food
• Imperial War Museum
• World War 2

[JoyceHopewell]

I've been searching for this film for years as my dad is the butcher serving Mrs. Green in the shop. I saw the clip once on a BBC programme years ago & my dad just happened to be watching at the same time. He'd often told me about the information film he'd taken part in during the war but had never seen it, so it was a treat for us both the see it together, quite unexpectedly on on TV. In the war he worked as a butcher by day and ARP Warden by night.

[cityviagranville]

I just found a remedy for the obesity crisis.

[Im5oC00l]

Now, i know the rationing details, thanks a lot for uploading this

[qwertasdcfghjklmo24z]

@The11colek Lard is great for frying, roasting and (believe it or not) baking! It is also much cheaper than oils.

[timquinn66]

wow, 100%" luxury tax " ?? probably paid for about a third of the war .

[lostindiancamp]

What an informative informercial. I love this.

[The11colek]

I wouldn't have thought that half a pound of lard was a necessity for most families at that time

I don't think i have ever used lard for anything

[Stellamust]

Thanks for posting Imperial War Museum! I love the whole museum and I recommend anyone who hasn't been there to go soon.

[katanaburner]

@ThibetanMonk You're right. It's funny how things end up like that.

[ThibetanMonk]

People ate a lot of carbohydrates, especially potatoes and National Loaf; much less fat and meat, and tons of vegetables. Woolton Pie, Mock Duck, Cabbage Soup, tea, the result of this kind of eating was that by the end of the war, the British people were much healthier than they had ever been - and probably a lot healthier than current day Brits.