Tag: Wartime rationing

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global food insecurity has seen significant fluctuations, with a 122 million increase in global hunger between 2019 and 2022 alone. Eating rations is the practice of consuming a fixed, and often limited, portion of food or supplies over a set period, typically during times of scarcity or emergency. The concept can be traced back to military history but is also relevant in modern contexts, from disaster preparedness to humanitarian crises.

Over 2 million cans of baked beans are consumed daily in the UK, making them a significant part of the national diet. So, why do British people eat beans in the morning, a custom often mystifying to those outside the Commonwealth? This peculiar breakfast habit is a delicious result of historical events, shrewd marketing, and the evolution of the full English breakfast.

Studies show that during World War II, national health in countries like the UK improved, with lower rates of obesity and better infant mortality. So, was the wartime diet healthy? The answer is more complex than it appears, revealing both surprising benefits and significant drawbacks.