We’re in luck! Avis Films has created an educational movie that will help us understand the “foundation foods” we should eat every day. Apparently this film didn’t like to call them The Basic 7.
The propaganda is strong encouraging us to be members of The Clean Plate Club. But, also note when the film says it is okay to eat and what Sally is given for an afternoon snack (her big brother doesn’t get an afternoon snack because he gets home from school too close to dinner time). Finally, from the looks of this film, everyone also made sure they got enough sleep (which is also key to making sure everything functions properly).
Yes, the film is leaning toward campy but it is also a great insight into the educational propaganda about food at that time. It is about 10 minutes long.
Click here if the video player doesn’t work for you
What fun! I could almost hear the projector whirring away in Mrs. Sisley’s fifth grade class. It also brought to mind those food rules practiced in my mother’s home. “No eating before supper” or “you’ll spoil your dinner.”
Anyway, in all of this discussion, some of which related to WWII, I began to remember red, white and blue pamphlet covers, and today’s search of my mother’s collection revealed two — 1) a Betty Crocker pamphlet titled “Your Share” — “how to prepare appetizing, healthful meals with foods available today,” including 52 menus, 226 recipes, and 369 hints on food buying, preparation, meal planning and serving, 1943; and 2) “Victory Meat Extenders,” compliments National Live Stock and Meat Board. The Basic Seven Food Groups chart is pictured on the back of the Betty Crocker pamphlet and then it explains how many servings one should have from those food groups each day. The breakdown inside the second pamphlet is much simpler but based on the same guidelines.
Here’s a poem from the back of the second pamphlet:
THE PLEDGE OF THE AMERICAN HOMEMAKER
I pledge the nation that my mission
Will be to practice good nutrition;
To plan those meals which every day
Yield energy for work and play;
Meals which supply the strength that wins,
With protein — minerals — vitamins.
I pledge my service to the nation
To do my part in conservation.
The rules of cooking I’ll observe,
Each bit of food I will conserve.
With all the problems to be faced,
I’ll do my best to outlaw waste.
I want to do my bit and more,
To help America win the war.
By H. Howard Biggar [a man, of course -- LOL]
Oh my goodness, Kathy! What a GREAT “homemaker pledge” (written by a man *chuckle*). Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this!
I would love to see that Betty Crocker pamphlet – sounds great!
Ann — There’s a copy on EBay right now. I just did an online search for Your Share, Betty Crocker, 1943 and it came up. Here’s “Betty’s” Foreword:
Hail to the women of America! You have taken up our heritage from the brave women of the past. Just as did the women of other wars, you have taken your positions as soldiers on the Home Front. You have been strengthening your country’s defenses — as plane watchers — as flyers — as members of the armed forces — as producers, in war plants and homes — and in Red Cross and Civilian Defense activities. The efforts and accomplishments of women today are boundless!
But whatever else you do — you are, first and foremost, homemakers — women with the welfare of your families deepest in your hearts. Now you face a new and more difficult problem in the management of your homes. You must make a little do where there was an abundance before. In spite of sectional problems and shortages, you must prepare satisfying meals out of your share of what there is. You must heed the government request to increase the use of available foods, and save those that are scarce — and, at the same time, safeguard your family’s nutrition. Never has there been such an opportunity, and a need, for what American women can contribute.
So to you women behind the men, behind the guns, we offer this little book, with its daily helps for wartime meal-planning and cooking. And we salute you all!
I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your blog so far! I just stumbled across it and was glad to find that I’m not the only person out there interested in this subject. I study history and have a particularly big interest in the history basic little things of life, plus I love to cook, so things like the meal plans of the 1950s have always been fascinating to me! So glad that I’m not the only one