World War Two had a big effect on eating habits. Britain relied on food supplies from all corners of the globe and enemy attacks at sea resulted in shortages. In an effort to make sure food was shared fairly, the British Government introduced rationing. People were also encouraged to grow their own food and to use substitute foods to supplement their rations. This topic contains archive materials that highlight the sort of foods that children ate during World War Two. (Click Archive Items to view them all).

The Adult food ration book shows the foods that were rationed when the Government introduced rationing in January 1940. People had to register with a local shopkeeper, and could only buy these goods if they had enough coupons. Coping with rationing, extracted from an interview transcription, highlights the realities of living at this time. It was common for people to have to queue in shops, and goods were often bartered. The shortage of sugar meant that children did not have many sweets. Items such as cakes and biscuits were a luxury, as the Baker's advertisement of circa 1940 demonstrates.

The Boots Cafe menu, shows how being at war affected the most basic of meals. The menu is peppered with asterisks that refer to cream, sugar and butter shortages. It also includes a mention of Ministry of Food Regulations.

Of course, food shortages had a big impact upon cooking. Recipes had to be adapted or new ones created to cook with what ingredients were available. Why not try out some of these authentic World War Two recipes, taken from the Nottingham Wartime Recipe Book?

There were ways to supplement rations. National campaigns such as Dig for Victory for instance, encouraged people to grow their own vegetables. Local people often came up with ideas too. Nottingham Egg Week asked people to donate eggs to Nottingham General Hospital so that they could be pickled for future use. Boots Beeston Co-operative Pig Club allowed employees to team together to rear pigs using household food waste. In return for collecting swill and doing cleaning duties, members received a divide of the meat when the pig was slaughtered.

Despite the best efforts of the Government, people with money were still able to buy goods on the black market. The black market in Nottingham, an extract from an oral history transcription, gives an insight into how people traded extras and luxuries illegally.

The end of the war in 1945 did not mean a return to normality. Food rationing continued into the 1950s as the Post war ration book illustrates. Rationing of food did not finish until July 1954.