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The Rations Challenge: Forty Days of Feasting in a Wartime Kitchen
Food is always a hot topic - Food waste, food banks, food miles, local versus imported. As we all need food, we can't ignore it. But as some families struggle without enough food to live on, others are challenged to consider how much they throw away, or how to make the food they have go further. Which is why Claud Fullwood set herself the challenge of living on World War Two rations for the Christian period of Lent. It opened her eyes not only to issues of hunger and waste, but also to the many ways in which we have the power to fix our groaning food system, make our families stronger and our communities whole again. The Rations Challenge takes the wisdom of World War Two and looks at how it can help us revolutionise how we live now. By learning the lessons our parents and grandparents lived by in the '30s and '40s, we can build a future that works for everyone.
160 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 4, 2020
The author of this book carried out a challenge to live on 1940’s rations for forty days and, in this title, she uses this combination of diary, and cookbook, to exhort us to be more responsible, to waste less and shop locally. These are, of course, all laudable ideals and I support the idea of shopping more ethically, and trying to think about what you buy – where from - and what you eat.
In 1942, the rationed food allowed for an adult included such small amounts as one egg per month and 2oz of butter per week. You needed points for non rationed, but restricted, food. Adults had sixteen points per month and, to put that in perspective, a tin of fruit was around 12 points. As such, it was imperative that people, where possible, grew their own vegetables and fruit, or kept chickens. In other books I have read, about the W.I. in wartime, they did an amazing job of feeding a country under war – growing fruit and vegetables – bottling, canning, and making sure nothing was wasted.
Although the ideas behind this book was interesting, as a read, it was a little lightweight. More detailed diary entries would have made this a more personal account, but still, this is a thought provoking read about eating more seasonable produce and trying to do our part to shop, and eat, more ethically.
In 1942, the rationed food allowed for an adult included such small amounts as one egg per month and 2oz of butter per week. You needed points for non rationed, but restricted, food. Adults had sixteen points per month and, to put that in perspective, a tin of fruit was around 12 points. As such, it was imperative that people, where possible, grew their own vegetables and fruit, or kept chickens. In other books I have read, about the W.I. in wartime, they did an amazing job of feeding a country under war – growing fruit and vegetables – bottling, canning, and making sure nothing was wasted.
Although the ideas behind this book was interesting, as a read, it was a little lightweight. More detailed diary entries would have made this a more personal account, but still, this is a thought provoking read about eating more seasonable produce and trying to do our part to shop, and eat, more ethically.
June 2, 2020
This British book shares the author's story of eating on WWII-era rations during Lent one year. She designs this as a guide for other people who would like to try the same experiment, and shares daily reflections, historical and current analyses about food waste, and various thought experiments. Later in the book, she shares some reminisces from people who were children or young adults during the war, and she concludes the book with a series of detailed recipes.
I thought this premise sounded interesting, and hoped that it would help me with my ongoing historical fiction project. My novel is set in the US, so some of the British-focused details and soundbites about current issues weren't helpful to me, but I am thankful for the help that I got from the recipe section and the guide about when certain foods are in season.
Overall, however, this book is a mixed bag. It's not historically detailed enough to fully satisfy someone like me, but the focus on contemporary issues is also surface-level. Although this book could be a good introduction for someone who has never thought about food waste, fair trade issues, or how to support healthy local and global food markets, it is very basic overall.
Also, regarding the forty day challenge, I wish that the author had shared in far more detail about her own cooking and eating practices during this time, instead of just making general suggestions for a reader. She shares fairly repetitive reflections about what she was thinking, and about what foods she missed, but I wish she had gone into far more specific detail about what eating WWII-era rations tangibly look liked.
This book is a decent introduction to healthy eating, to food waste consciousness, and to WWII rations history, but even though I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in those topics and just beginning to learn about them, it is somewhat unfocused and surface-level from the perspective of a reader who is already well-informed about these things.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this premise sounded interesting, and hoped that it would help me with my ongoing historical fiction project. My novel is set in the US, so some of the British-focused details and soundbites about current issues weren't helpful to me, but I am thankful for the help that I got from the recipe section and the guide about when certain foods are in season.
Overall, however, this book is a mixed bag. It's not historically detailed enough to fully satisfy someone like me, but the focus on contemporary issues is also surface-level. Although this book could be a good introduction for someone who has never thought about food waste, fair trade issues, or how to support healthy local and global food markets, it is very basic overall.
Also, regarding the forty day challenge, I wish that the author had shared in far more detail about her own cooking and eating practices during this time, instead of just making general suggestions for a reader. She shares fairly repetitive reflections about what she was thinking, and about what foods she missed, but I wish she had gone into far more specific detail about what eating WWII-era rations tangibly look liked.
This book is a decent introduction to healthy eating, to food waste consciousness, and to WWII rations history, but even though I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in those topics and just beginning to learn about them, it is somewhat unfocused and surface-level from the perspective of a reader who is already well-informed about these things.
I received a temporary digital copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2020
I love the premise of this British book (the author challenged herself to live on wartime rations during the 40 days of lent) but it wasn't that helpful or interesting to me personally. It turns out I already cook for my family very similarly to wartime rations with a few exceptions. We eat from scratch meals that are gluten free and generally vegetarian and organic. We forage and grow a lot of our foods and put them up (canning, freezing and drying), so I have an extensive pantry to work with at any time. For the most part, the foods that would have been limited are already ones we limit. We do use quite a lot of eggs since we buy them from a lady we know who keeps chickens (even during the pandemic, my husband made the drive to her country house and picked up 10 dozen cartons she'd left outside for him last week, leaving the $20 for her by the door). Since we live on a very tight budget and buy organic, I am used to stretching foods to make tasty, healthy meals.
I was hoping for more recipes and fun ideas, but hers were the basics that will be helpful for folks who are new to this kind of thing and not so helpful for me (think how to make homemade jam with just raspberries and sugar, uses for potatoes, etc.).
The book is black and white, and cheerfully illustrated with 1940's era drawings, a few charts, and a very few photos. There is a small section of memories from people who lived through rationing, and there are lots of notes on things like gender equality, food waste, and important issues that relate to food even though it's not always apparent. It is broken down by weeks with her diary at the start of each week and then little essays on various topics. The end section has some recipes and also some fun little touches like seasonal items to look for on nature walks, ideas for seasonal feasts, and so on. There is a lot of focus on making the most of foods, stretching meats, and so forth.
All in all, this is an interesting and fun little book. I would have probably really enjoyed it when I was young and newly married (either time, LOL), teaching myself to cook and preserve. While it wasn't a particularly good fit for me, I do recommend it.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
I was hoping for more recipes and fun ideas, but hers were the basics that will be helpful for folks who are new to this kind of thing and not so helpful for me (think how to make homemade jam with just raspberries and sugar, uses for potatoes, etc.).
The book is black and white, and cheerfully illustrated with 1940's era drawings, a few charts, and a very few photos. There is a small section of memories from people who lived through rationing, and there are lots of notes on things like gender equality, food waste, and important issues that relate to food even though it's not always apparent. It is broken down by weeks with her diary at the start of each week and then little essays on various topics. The end section has some recipes and also some fun little touches like seasonal items to look for on nature walks, ideas for seasonal feasts, and so on. There is a lot of focus on making the most of foods, stretching meats, and so forth.
All in all, this is an interesting and fun little book. I would have probably really enjoyed it when I was young and newly married (either time, LOL), teaching myself to cook and preserve. While it wasn't a particularly good fit for me, I do recommend it.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
April 9, 2020
I loved this book, I chose it because it was seeming very apt at the current pandemic we are having. It’s an interesting read, with lots of facts and statistics. I thought I learnt loads from this about how people used to live. I’m a big fan of using what you can, I hate waste – especially food waste, so this book really spoke to me.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
September 6, 2022
I wanted to read something about what it is like to live on rations, after having recently read a book about Lord Woolton and also a biography of Eileen Blair (Orwell's first wife), who worked for the Ministry of Food during WW2.
However, this book wasn't really what I expected and I was a bit disappointed overall. Although the author undertook a challenge to live on war-time rations for 40 days, there is very little about her personal experiences, and almost nothing about what it was like cooking and eating recipes of the period.
The first half of the book is largely made up of posts from her blog. These posts mainly focus on sustainability, supporting the local community and other contemporary issues, and are clearly aimed at supporting people who are taking part in the challenge themselves during Lent. I liked the author's voice and warmed to her, despite not sharing her Christian faith, but have to say that most of the posts are rather general, with little that was new to me or went into any depth.
Other sections of the book contain a few people's reminiscences of food during the war and interviews with people who are leading a sustainable lifestyle today, and a selection of recipes adapted for modern cooking. It is all beautifully laid out and very readable, but I was hoping for more, and will now read other books on this theme.
However, this book wasn't really what I expected and I was a bit disappointed overall. Although the author undertook a challenge to live on war-time rations for 40 days, there is very little about her personal experiences, and almost nothing about what it was like cooking and eating recipes of the period.
The first half of the book is largely made up of posts from her blog. These posts mainly focus on sustainability, supporting the local community and other contemporary issues, and are clearly aimed at supporting people who are taking part in the challenge themselves during Lent. I liked the author's voice and warmed to her, despite not sharing her Christian faith, but have to say that most of the posts are rather general, with little that was new to me or went into any depth.
Other sections of the book contain a few people's reminiscences of food during the war and interviews with people who are leading a sustainable lifestyle today, and a selection of recipes adapted for modern cooking. It is all beautifully laid out and very readable, but I was hoping for more, and will now read other books on this theme.
March 31, 2020
This is a quick read that focuses on the author challenging herself to use food more mindfully and gratefully during Lent through the limitations of wartime rations. It was thoughtful and well-written, though I would have preferred more recipes and tips to accompany the text. It definitely hits close to home in these uncertain times.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
April 1, 2020
This review is being written during the time of COVID19. That's important to know, because a lot of us - myself included - are at least starting to think about food and access and availability and even sacrifice in different, more real ways. The other day, a cooking school I've attended frequently in the past was offering a free online class on making soft pretzels. As the chef was setting out ingredients, people were commenting - and more than half of the comments were about substitutions. Market shelves were bare in their neighborhoods, and everyday ingredients like flour and yeast were unavailable.
Which gets me to Claud Fullwood's delightful book, The Rations Challenge.
In 2018, British-based writer and blogger, Calud Fullwood decided to follow a diet - and in many ways simply way of thinking - put forth by the British government during WWII, and based on common wartime rationing. That experience is the basis of The Rations Challenge.
Divided into six weeks, each chapter includes a bit of Fullwood's extended diary kept during her experience, a bit of history to put everything into a proper WWII context, suggestions for self reflection, some suggestions and some thoughtful and practical calls to action.
Her insights are, at times, both stunning and beautifully simple:
"I don't want to stop buying avocados, and oranges, and bananas...But I want to see those extra luxuries for what they are; gifts and privileges..."
But, Fullwood goes further, bringing home the reality of WWII rationing by sharing the stories and experiences of people who lived through it - not as a lifestyle choice, but out of necessity. This section, too, provides amazing insight and humanity. And it can absolutely inform our response to and activities during the current global pandemic. These are lessons of resilience and community, of resourcefulness and commitment.
We can all benefit from those lessons:
"[The Ministry of Food} understood that for everyone to stay healthy, everyone had to have a fair share. As such, the very wealthy had to get used to eating old their share, so that the very poor could keep going. Put another way, the rich had to live more simply, so the poor could simply live."
Think about that when you're hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
The next section of the book is dedicated to British wartime recipes and kitchen tips. I admit I haven't tried any of the recipes prior to writing this review - something I would do if this were a cookbook. But I'm curious enough about several to try them, if not exactly move them into my menu rotation.
And finally, Fullwood finishes out the book with a comprehensive list of seasonal foods. Sadly, they are seasonal in the UK not here in the US, but a quick google search brought up a number of similar lists for here in America.
I have to say, I devoured this book. Like I read the entire thing in an hour.
And, within the next hour, I'd committed to put into practice many of Fullwood's ideas and suggestions. No, I won't be hand-drawing ration cards to keep my husband and I in austerity, but we've already talked about starting a small garden and limiting the food we eat to what is grown locally, to becoming more aware of food waste in our home, to recognizing the privileged of choosing to make do and mend, rather than having it forced on us by our circumstances
The Rations Challenge is an incredibly timely, thought-provoking and charming book, and one I will be turning to often in the coming weeks, months and years as we all create our own post-pandemic world. Pick up a copy.
Which gets me to Claud Fullwood's delightful book, The Rations Challenge.
In 2018, British-based writer and blogger, Calud Fullwood decided to follow a diet - and in many ways simply way of thinking - put forth by the British government during WWII, and based on common wartime rationing. That experience is the basis of The Rations Challenge.
Divided into six weeks, each chapter includes a bit of Fullwood's extended diary kept during her experience, a bit of history to put everything into a proper WWII context, suggestions for self reflection, some suggestions and some thoughtful and practical calls to action.
Her insights are, at times, both stunning and beautifully simple:
"I don't want to stop buying avocados, and oranges, and bananas...But I want to see those extra luxuries for what they are; gifts and privileges..."
But, Fullwood goes further, bringing home the reality of WWII rationing by sharing the stories and experiences of people who lived through it - not as a lifestyle choice, but out of necessity. This section, too, provides amazing insight and humanity. And it can absolutely inform our response to and activities during the current global pandemic. These are lessons of resilience and community, of resourcefulness and commitment.
We can all benefit from those lessons:
"[The Ministry of Food} understood that for everyone to stay healthy, everyone had to have a fair share. As such, the very wealthy had to get used to eating old their share, so that the very poor could keep going. Put another way, the rich had to live more simply, so the poor could simply live."
Think about that when you're hoarding toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
The next section of the book is dedicated to British wartime recipes and kitchen tips. I admit I haven't tried any of the recipes prior to writing this review - something I would do if this were a cookbook. But I'm curious enough about several to try them, if not exactly move them into my menu rotation.
And finally, Fullwood finishes out the book with a comprehensive list of seasonal foods. Sadly, they are seasonal in the UK not here in the US, but a quick google search brought up a number of similar lists for here in America.
I have to say, I devoured this book. Like I read the entire thing in an hour.
And, within the next hour, I'd committed to put into practice many of Fullwood's ideas and suggestions. No, I won't be hand-drawing ration cards to keep my husband and I in austerity, but we've already talked about starting a small garden and limiting the food we eat to what is grown locally, to becoming more aware of food waste in our home, to recognizing the privileged of choosing to make do and mend, rather than having it forced on us by our circumstances
The Rations Challenge is an incredibly timely, thought-provoking and charming book, and one I will be turning to often in the coming weeks, months and years as we all create our own post-pandemic world. Pick up a copy.
May 15, 2020
The Rations Challenge book asks you to live on 1940's rations for 40 days, challenging you to buy no imported food, restricted meat, dairy and other food items. The author provides a list from 1943 of the fresh rations an adult could have in a week and a points based system for other tinned and dried foods; with the abundance of food now that's a very limiting list!
The book is a diary, with Monday as the diary entry for the week, Tuesday compares then and now, Wednesday provides a time to reflect, Thursday where do I stand, Friday think global, Saturday act local and Sunday feast. This goes on for the entire six weeks. Then there are other people accounts from the 1940's of what it was like to live on rations.
It's not until page 105 do we see any recipes and then they are quite sparse. There are a few recipes for breakfast, soups, puddings, mains and four menu's with recipes to accompany them. There is also a list by season of the fruit and veg that would be available.
It's an curious book and I felt quite disappointed by the time I finished it. I would have preferred to have less diary entry and more recipes, especially to see how she managed each day and week with her rations and what she made each day. None of that is there at all. I got no sense of what she purchased each week, how she used up leftovers, or made it go further. The whole premise of the book was uninspiring. With her mention of the current use of food banks, it may have been useful to provide much more detail on how to feed yourself on not much. Whilst I understand this was written before the COVID19 struck us, this would have been a great book for families had it provided more details on how to manage with less food.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
The book is a diary, with Monday as the diary entry for the week, Tuesday compares then and now, Wednesday provides a time to reflect, Thursday where do I stand, Friday think global, Saturday act local and Sunday feast. This goes on for the entire six weeks. Then there are other people accounts from the 1940's of what it was like to live on rations.
It's not until page 105 do we see any recipes and then they are quite sparse. There are a few recipes for breakfast, soups, puddings, mains and four menu's with recipes to accompany them. There is also a list by season of the fruit and veg that would be available.
It's an curious book and I felt quite disappointed by the time I finished it. I would have preferred to have less diary entry and more recipes, especially to see how she managed each day and week with her rations and what she made each day. None of that is there at all. I got no sense of what she purchased each week, how she used up leftovers, or made it go further. The whole premise of the book was uninspiring. With her mention of the current use of food banks, it may have been useful to provide much more detail on how to feed yourself on not much. Whilst I understand this was written before the COVID19 struck us, this would have been a great book for families had it provided more details on how to manage with less food.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
April 30, 2020
Unfortunately although this book had a wonderful premise and I was very much looking forward to reading it, I ended up DNF'ing it at 25%. I wanted to love this so much but the style it followed meant that I was bored.
It's a blog style book that follows what happened when Claud Fullwood decided to eat a ration diet for Lent, eating only food that was within the rations of the Second World War. Interesting premise but I just found it a bit dull and difficult to get enthused about. A real shame.
It's a blog style book that follows what happened when Claud Fullwood decided to eat a ration diet for Lent, eating only food that was within the rations of the Second World War. Interesting premise but I just found it a bit dull and difficult to get enthused about. A real shame.
May 22, 2020
Very misleading. I expected this to be a modern retelling of living on rations, showing what was available for the week, what points were spent on, what a weekly menu was. Instead, it is more about global food sustainability, with a brief nod to rationing. There are a few pages of reminiscences, a list of ration allowances, a list of seasonal vegetables, a list of points, and a few pages of recipes. Extremely disappointing and not worth the money.
April 6, 2020
I’m not exactly sure what drew me to Claud Fullwood’s forthcoming book The Rations Challenge. Perhaps it was my general and ongoing interest in how to make even a small contribution to addressing climate change. Little did I know that this would turn out to be the perfect read for completely different reasons.
As the blurb for this book explains:
“Food is always a hot topic – Food waste, food banks, food miles, local versus imported. As we all need food, we can’t ignore it. But as some families struggle without enough food to live on, others are challenged to consider how much they throw away, or how to make the food they have go further. Which is why Claud Fullwood set herself the challenge of living on World War Two rations for Lent. It opened her eyes not only to issues of hunger and waste, but also to the many ways in which we have the power to fix our groaning food system, make our families stronger and our communities whole again. The Rations Challenge takes the wisdom of World War Two and looks at how it can help us revolutionise how we live now. By learning the lessons our parents and grandparents lived by in the ’30s and ’40s, we can build a future that works for everyone.”
It is something of a coincidence of timing that I read this book during this year’s Lent (which ends on 9 April). But no-one could have foreseen the additional relevance of reading this text during a time of a world-wide pandemic and consequent fears about accessing regular food supplies with all the various challenges people are facing during lockdown.
Fullwood presents a book of three parts: a week by week meditation on getting through a version of her challenge during the Lent period; a range of accounts from people who experienced rationing, or who are trying to find different ways of addressing food availability issues; and a selection of wartime recipes and information about seasonal food. In doing so, she aims to present:
‘a sense of celebration; a sense that human beings have the wherewithal to overcome hardship and need. Through community, resourcefulness, and a sense of fun, even living on little can become a joyful thing.’
If I had been reading this just a few weeks earlier, I would have been using Fullwood’s text as a tool to consider how we as individuals can and should change our approach to food, shopping and general living in order to make our own contribution to the current climate emergency. But when Fullwood writes that ‘food, like any other resource, needs to be approached with moderation and common sense. There’s only enough to go around if we don’t demand unlimited choice….’, I am reminded only of all the recent panic buying and selfish, irrational behaviour of a relatively small number of citizens, causing such anxiety for key workers and vulnerable people unable to get the essentials they need.
Thankfully, in Edinburgh at least, food supplies are starting to return to normal. Even so, people who cannot leave home are still having difficulty booking food deliveries. And of course many people are finding themselves in highly unexpected low-income circumstances, making it all the more important for there to be access to affordable basics. As a result, we are rightly seeing a rise in information online about how to cook on a very limited budget, with only limited access to everyday foods. With its focus on community spirit; the importance of buying and using only what one needs; and the value of supporting local producers wherever possible, Fullwood’s text turns out to be a very positive contribution in these challenging times.
With thanks to publishers Lion Hudson Ltd for an advance reading copy via NetGalley.
As the blurb for this book explains:
“Food is always a hot topic – Food waste, food banks, food miles, local versus imported. As we all need food, we can’t ignore it. But as some families struggle without enough food to live on, others are challenged to consider how much they throw away, or how to make the food they have go further. Which is why Claud Fullwood set herself the challenge of living on World War Two rations for Lent. It opened her eyes not only to issues of hunger and waste, but also to the many ways in which we have the power to fix our groaning food system, make our families stronger and our communities whole again. The Rations Challenge takes the wisdom of World War Two and looks at how it can help us revolutionise how we live now. By learning the lessons our parents and grandparents lived by in the ’30s and ’40s, we can build a future that works for everyone.”
It is something of a coincidence of timing that I read this book during this year’s Lent (which ends on 9 April). But no-one could have foreseen the additional relevance of reading this text during a time of a world-wide pandemic and consequent fears about accessing regular food supplies with all the various challenges people are facing during lockdown.
Fullwood presents a book of three parts: a week by week meditation on getting through a version of her challenge during the Lent period; a range of accounts from people who experienced rationing, or who are trying to find different ways of addressing food availability issues; and a selection of wartime recipes and information about seasonal food. In doing so, she aims to present:
‘a sense of celebration; a sense that human beings have the wherewithal to overcome hardship and need. Through community, resourcefulness, and a sense of fun, even living on little can become a joyful thing.’
If I had been reading this just a few weeks earlier, I would have been using Fullwood’s text as a tool to consider how we as individuals can and should change our approach to food, shopping and general living in order to make our own contribution to the current climate emergency. But when Fullwood writes that ‘food, like any other resource, needs to be approached with moderation and common sense. There’s only enough to go around if we don’t demand unlimited choice….’, I am reminded only of all the recent panic buying and selfish, irrational behaviour of a relatively small number of citizens, causing such anxiety for key workers and vulnerable people unable to get the essentials they need.
Thankfully, in Edinburgh at least, food supplies are starting to return to normal. Even so, people who cannot leave home are still having difficulty booking food deliveries. And of course many people are finding themselves in highly unexpected low-income circumstances, making it all the more important for there to be access to affordable basics. As a result, we are rightly seeing a rise in information online about how to cook on a very limited budget, with only limited access to everyday foods. With its focus on community spirit; the importance of buying and using only what one needs; and the value of supporting local producers wherever possible, Fullwood’s text turns out to be a very positive contribution in these challenging times.
With thanks to publishers Lion Hudson Ltd for an advance reading copy via NetGalley.
April 17, 2020
Well this was a timely read, especially now in 2020 with shortages of toilet paper, beans, meat, baby wipes in my local grocery store. This author is a British woman who put a twist on Lent and instead of giving up sweets for six weeks, my old stand by, lived by the WWII ration system for six weeks. In 1943 Britain was importing NONE of its food and EVERYTHING was rationed. Everything was saved, mended , reused. The challenge was divided up into 6 weeks. You had to plan ahead, make do, eat seasonally. You got (to name a few things) 1 egg a month, 3 pints of milk and 1 lb of meat, 3 oz of cheese, 2 oz of butter, 2 oz of tea, 8 oz of sugar a week, oats and fish were not rationed. People ate a lot of potatoes. You got 16 points to spend on canned food. A can of fruit was 12 points. Meals were monotonous but nutritious. Everyone had an allotment for a vegetable garden. Dig for victory. Women canned and bottled fruits and vegetables. I learned a lot about the Land Girls (now I will watch the TV series), the Women's Initiative which is still active today like our Farm Co Ops are. People kept pigs, chickens and goats then and chickens are becoming popular again today. Family time was precious then and games were popular and as we spend time home with our loved ones during social distancing I know we have started putting large puzzles together. The author wrote one third of all food produced today is wasted which is a travesty with so many hungry people. One trend is buy ugly fruits and vegetables as grocery stores only sell perfect specimens. WWII saw no food waste. Another trend was rationing so everyone one could eat not just the wealthy but the poor too. The government had to get into the nutrition business so the nation would have healthy workers and fighters. We are all in this together! This book not only talked about the rationing system, the author talked about buying seasonally, buying fair trade and the impact this could have. The author kept a diary of the six weeks eating the ration diet and ways it could be done. There were also recipes from the pamphlets given out at the time. This weekend I plan to try the soda bread and the black berry bread and butter pudding with custard sauce. There were also interviews of people who lived during that time. I wish there had been more of those. Also included in the book is a seasonal calendar and a list of references and books for further reading. All in all I found this to be a gem of a little book and one I will read again. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review.
July 19, 2020
I enjoyed this look at rationing and during this pandemic it's something my family has been doing a little more of.
April 15, 2020
My first thought was that this book is not what I was expecting. And second that it doesn't work as a digital book.
I assumed this book was going to be more about the war, in particular about the rations: with recipes, and interesting tidbits, commentary and insights, maybe some stories from the era. When in fact it's more about the challenge or living on war time rations for 40 days; not even about her challenge: what she cooked, how she managed etc . There are a few recipes(turns out it is rather boring to read recipes - I kind of skipped some of them :p) but just for some essential meals; and a few stories(the part I like the most - and wanted it to be longer) but as I've said it is mostly a frame for those who want to do something similar.
For the right audience this is a lovely book(A MUST in physical form!!). It is a combination of a bit of a diary, suggestions, a few interesting facts and pages where one can scribble, take notes, write down ideas, recipes whatever. It's also lovely that while you are provided with a few suggestions, it gives a lot of space and freedom to do as you please, seen that probably there are countless ways to tackle this challenge.
For me it was just an ok read as I wasn't interested in the challenge per se, but I wanted to read about a particular example(which I guess I could have in her blog, but it seems to have disappeared. Or at least I couldn't find it!) or about example from the war era, and needless to say this book didn't provide any of the things I was looking for. Despite all that, I would buy it as a gift for a friend either interested in some of the things presented in the book(like shopping locally, using seasonal produce) or in need of a challenge.
*Book from NetGalley with thanks to the publisher.
I assumed this book was going to be more about the war, in particular about the rations: with recipes, and interesting tidbits, commentary and insights, maybe some stories from the era. When in fact it's more about the challenge or living on war time rations for 40 days; not even about her challenge: what she cooked, how she managed etc . There are a few recipes(turns out it is rather boring to read recipes - I kind of skipped some of them :p) but just for some essential meals; and a few stories(the part I like the most - and wanted it to be longer) but as I've said it is mostly a frame for those who want to do something similar.
For the right audience this is a lovely book(A MUST in physical form!!). It is a combination of a bit of a diary, suggestions, a few interesting facts and pages where one can scribble, take notes, write down ideas, recipes whatever. It's also lovely that while you are provided with a few suggestions, it gives a lot of space and freedom to do as you please, seen that probably there are countless ways to tackle this challenge.
For me it was just an ok read as I wasn't interested in the challenge per se, but I wanted to read about a particular example(which I guess I could have in her blog, but it seems to have disappeared. Or at least I couldn't find it!) or about example from the war era, and needless to say this book didn't provide any of the things I was looking for. Despite all that, I would buy it as a gift for a friend either interested in some of the things presented in the book(like shopping locally, using seasonal produce) or in need of a challenge.
*Book from NetGalley with thanks to the publisher.
October 4, 2021
Claud Fullwood's book The Rations Challenge is a diary-style description of the author's attempt to survive solely on WWII rationed items for the entire Lenten season.
I was expecting a little different book than the one offered by the author. It was, however, an intriguing look at how rationing worked during the war and for the author today. The book seemed to me to be more of a treatise on how we can change in the face of present concerns, such as climate change. I was hoping for more information on the history of rationing, as well as its economic consequences.
The book was interesting. It just wasn’t what I had expected or anticipated.
I received this book from NetGalley. However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.
I was expecting a little different book than the one offered by the author. It was, however, an intriguing look at how rationing worked during the war and for the author today. The book seemed to me to be more of a treatise on how we can change in the face of present concerns, such as climate change. I was hoping for more information on the history of rationing, as well as its economic consequences.
The book was interesting. It just wasn’t what I had expected or anticipated.
I received this book from NetGalley. However, my review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.
March 28, 2020
The author of this book, Claud Fullwood was bored with the usual things they gave up for lent and decided to try living on war time rations for the duration of lent instead. The book lists what the actual war time rations were per adult and per child. I think it would have been even more interesting if it had been a family living on war time rations for the time of lent, as we would have got different generations thoughts on the restrictions as well as the old recipes.
It was interesting to read about the different recipes and I can see where some of them had been handed down from my grandparents to my mum and even down to me. Such as stew & dumplings all in one big pot and literally throwing in whatever you have in the fridge or cupboard. I can remember my mum doing stew and my dad eating the leftovers the next day, saying that stew always tastes even better on the second day! Some recipes that originated back in that era have also been adapted as they have travelled down the generations, for example I remember my mum doing rabbit stew, or putting pig’s kidney in it. Whereas not being a big meat eater I have adapted this and do a vegetable stew.
I really enjoyed the discussion within the book of buying and cooking in season produce, which I am trying to do more of myself. I do always try to buy British, local and in season. With all the talk of climate change if we all bought and cooked in season produce it would reduce the carbon footprint a lot. I have also tried something else Claud did with the “grow your own” unfortunately due to medical issues it became more and more difficult and I had to stop. I do remember my grandparents keeping chickens in their back garden when I was very young. I remember collecting the still warm eggs they laid and choosing which one I would be having!
The second world war era is one I do find fascinating, from the stories of those fighting, and resisting oppression to the women taking on “men’s jobs” and the land army. The role of the housewife had not really been high on my list as to read about during this period of history. Having said that I have always been curious about how people managed on such restricted supplies. It also makes you think how society would cope in the present day with war time style rations. How did/would dietary requirements affect the people and rations. I guess there would be no “I don’t like this or that”. It would be put on the plate and on the table in front of you and you would eat it or do without. I also thoroughly enjoyed the sections where Claud added the stories of those that lived, and worked in this era too.
Will I take anything in particular from the book? Yes, I am definitely going to try harder to buy, cook and eat in season produce, as well as continuing to reduce waste too. I think there is also the aspect of appreciating how much different food we have available and the you don’t know how much you eat/use something until there is a shortage of it.
I would like to think that I can have the “rations challenge” attitude to baking/cooking now. That if I don’t have exactly what a recipe calls for I won’t straight away rush out to the shop to buy that specific missing ingredient, but I will look and see if I have anything similar that I could add and use as an alternative first.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that we were in an eerily similar situation now with food shortages, although it is being blamed on people buying much more than they need.
To sum up I did enjoy the book, but I can’t help thinking it would have been an even better read as a physical book, so you could flick back and forth easier between rations and recipes. The author also refers to “space” left in the book for you to write in. I think the interactive parts and following recipes would have been so much more fun, had they been more visual too as in an actual book rather than an ebook. I think pictures would enrich the experience of this book even more too.
The current situation in the world and the “panic buying” due to the Covid-19 virus it certainly brings home the necessity of certain food/grocery items and you learn what the “luxury” items are. It certainly makes you understand why rationing had to be brought in during the war so that everybody received their fair share. Though during the war there was the black market for extra items for those that had the money to purchase them. I suppose there is our own version of the black market with those that have bought and hoarded and have tried to sell on at a profit. Taking advantage of the ones who bought sensibly and thought of others.
It was interesting to read about the different recipes and I can see where some of them had been handed down from my grandparents to my mum and even down to me. Such as stew & dumplings all in one big pot and literally throwing in whatever you have in the fridge or cupboard. I can remember my mum doing stew and my dad eating the leftovers the next day, saying that stew always tastes even better on the second day! Some recipes that originated back in that era have also been adapted as they have travelled down the generations, for example I remember my mum doing rabbit stew, or putting pig’s kidney in it. Whereas not being a big meat eater I have adapted this and do a vegetable stew.
I really enjoyed the discussion within the book of buying and cooking in season produce, which I am trying to do more of myself. I do always try to buy British, local and in season. With all the talk of climate change if we all bought and cooked in season produce it would reduce the carbon footprint a lot. I have also tried something else Claud did with the “grow your own” unfortunately due to medical issues it became more and more difficult and I had to stop. I do remember my grandparents keeping chickens in their back garden when I was very young. I remember collecting the still warm eggs they laid and choosing which one I would be having!
The second world war era is one I do find fascinating, from the stories of those fighting, and resisting oppression to the women taking on “men’s jobs” and the land army. The role of the housewife had not really been high on my list as to read about during this period of history. Having said that I have always been curious about how people managed on such restricted supplies. It also makes you think how society would cope in the present day with war time style rations. How did/would dietary requirements affect the people and rations. I guess there would be no “I don’t like this or that”. It would be put on the plate and on the table in front of you and you would eat it or do without. I also thoroughly enjoyed the sections where Claud added the stories of those that lived, and worked in this era too.
Will I take anything in particular from the book? Yes, I am definitely going to try harder to buy, cook and eat in season produce, as well as continuing to reduce waste too. I think there is also the aspect of appreciating how much different food we have available and the you don’t know how much you eat/use something until there is a shortage of it.
I would like to think that I can have the “rations challenge” attitude to baking/cooking now. That if I don’t have exactly what a recipe calls for I won’t straight away rush out to the shop to buy that specific missing ingredient, but I will look and see if I have anything similar that I could add and use as an alternative first.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that we were in an eerily similar situation now with food shortages, although it is being blamed on people buying much more than they need.
To sum up I did enjoy the book, but I can’t help thinking it would have been an even better read as a physical book, so you could flick back and forth easier between rations and recipes. The author also refers to “space” left in the book for you to write in. I think the interactive parts and following recipes would have been so much more fun, had they been more visual too as in an actual book rather than an ebook. I think pictures would enrich the experience of this book even more too.
The current situation in the world and the “panic buying” due to the Covid-19 virus it certainly brings home the necessity of certain food/grocery items and you learn what the “luxury” items are. It certainly makes you understand why rationing had to be brought in during the war so that everybody received their fair share. Though during the war there was the black market for extra items for those that had the money to purchase them. I suppose there is our own version of the black market with those that have bought and hoarded and have tried to sell on at a profit. Taking advantage of the ones who bought sensibly and thought of others.
September 13, 2020
This thoughtful, handsomely illustrated book, arriving as it has during the pandemic crisis, could not have been better timed: What might have seemed like a pleasant, informative experiment- living on Britain’s wartime rations for 40 days- became instructive for those of us suddenly reconsidering our relationship to food. With abrupt shortages, disrupted supply chains, restaurants closing or just hanging on by going to take out, and shopping restricted to necessary trips only, the example set by the plucky and resourceful Brits in the Second World War is one worth learning from.
The diary format works really well to give a personal sense to this slender, cheerful guide to a better approach to community-based living. By eating seasonally and locally, and above all, avoiding waste, we can live better. It was essential in wartime Britain, but it is ethically sound and vitally important in a time of climate crisis. Europe is well ahead of America in this respect, in both awareness and in frugal habits. The new lockdown enthusiasm for bread baking and canning would have been routine in wartime, and there are plenty of anecdotes and household tips, especially about the ubiquitous potato, the wartime starch that replaced wheat and was prepared in as many ways as cooks could dream up, using what they had and stretching it as far as possible. Cooking is, of course, important to this experiment, and there is a section devoted to wartime recipes, including the despised dried eggs. Gardening is explored as well: the pleasure of really fresh food and the satisfaction of growing your own even in a time of plenty. This might serve as the foundation for a culinary history class, or as a Lenten practice, as the author chose as a means of how to “explore abstinence as a form of solidarity.” (7) Her warm and positive commentary knits the whole story together and is gracefully expressed throughout. The author good-naturedly details the challenges of the rations challenge while reflecting on family history and includes several oral histories of both pensioners who recall their childhoods in wartime, and others who have chosen lifestyles off the grid. These narratives are a highlight of the book and add much to its impact.
“But the benefit of the ration regime is that it really lets you get to grips with what’s essential and what’s a luxury.” (62) The spiritual dimension of the challenge is the main theme, mining a rich vein that considers the importance of fair trade, eliminating food deserts, and establishing relationships that foster community, looking out for those whose hunger might not be obvious. Sharing of resources is key, just as it was during wartime deprivation. The author notes that money saved encourages a sound relationship with our possessions: Enough is indeed good enough. Those hoping for a jolly little retro cookbook will probably be disappointed, but her earnest, sensible and practical attitude to life really does affirm “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Highly recommended.
The diary format works really well to give a personal sense to this slender, cheerful guide to a better approach to community-based living. By eating seasonally and locally, and above all, avoiding waste, we can live better. It was essential in wartime Britain, but it is ethically sound and vitally important in a time of climate crisis. Europe is well ahead of America in this respect, in both awareness and in frugal habits. The new lockdown enthusiasm for bread baking and canning would have been routine in wartime, and there are plenty of anecdotes and household tips, especially about the ubiquitous potato, the wartime starch that replaced wheat and was prepared in as many ways as cooks could dream up, using what they had and stretching it as far as possible. Cooking is, of course, important to this experiment, and there is a section devoted to wartime recipes, including the despised dried eggs. Gardening is explored as well: the pleasure of really fresh food and the satisfaction of growing your own even in a time of plenty. This might serve as the foundation for a culinary history class, or as a Lenten practice, as the author chose as a means of how to “explore abstinence as a form of solidarity.” (7) Her warm and positive commentary knits the whole story together and is gracefully expressed throughout. The author good-naturedly details the challenges of the rations challenge while reflecting on family history and includes several oral histories of both pensioners who recall their childhoods in wartime, and others who have chosen lifestyles off the grid. These narratives are a highlight of the book and add much to its impact.
“But the benefit of the ration regime is that it really lets you get to grips with what’s essential and what’s a luxury.” (62) The spiritual dimension of the challenge is the main theme, mining a rich vein that considers the importance of fair trade, eliminating food deserts, and establishing relationships that foster community, looking out for those whose hunger might not be obvious. Sharing of resources is key, just as it was during wartime deprivation. The author notes that money saved encourages a sound relationship with our possessions: Enough is indeed good enough. Those hoping for a jolly little retro cookbook will probably be disappointed, but her earnest, sensible and practical attitude to life really does affirm “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Highly recommended.
May 5, 2020
My Thoughts
I loved this book. I picked it up because it seemed so apt for the times we are in, and found myself getting more out of the book than I expected. This book is a history lesson, a lesson in rationing (of course), a recipe collection, a memoir of sorts, a notebook to and a reflection of ourselves in today’s global situation.
The author decided to challenge herself to live on wartime rations for six weeks (for Lent). As I read the suggestions, I realized that we already follow many of those in our home. While I am unlikely to do the challenge itself, the book turned out to be a fount of inspiration and information for me.
The first few chapters take us through the author’s personal experience as she took on this challenge. Each of these chapters has one section for each day: diary entry for the week, a then and now section to put today in context with wartime, suggestions for self reflection, and further suggestions and tips for what we can do to as we buy, prepare and enjoy our food.
Another chapter includes personal accounts of people who lived through rationing during various times of their life, specifically WWs, and provides an insight into a life that is still true for so many around the world today. The reasons might be different, but the reality is the same. And help us react accordingly, and with reason.
The next two chapters include wartime recipes and useful tips, and a seasonal calendar. Note that this calendar applies to the UK, but we can always look for what is seasonal and local in our area.
The author’s personal insights are thoughtful, heart-warming, humorous and delightful. I also loved the inclusion of quotes and snippets of information, as well as tips that are sprinkled like mini-appetizers or those tiny desserts that will fill you up as you read them. References and further reading resources are also included, which are sure to be useful for the inspired and curious reader.
Last but not the least, the drawings and photographs (all in black and white) add to the charm of this book.
In Summary
From its introduction to the conclusion, The Rations Challenge is a very timely, beautifully inspirational and truly informative book. A must-read!
“… we are all in this together, and that we can help each other through. That is a beautiful thing.”
Check my blog - LadyInReadWrites - for more reviews
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC of the book; these are my honest opinions after reading the book.
I loved this book. I picked it up because it seemed so apt for the times we are in, and found myself getting more out of the book than I expected. This book is a history lesson, a lesson in rationing (of course), a recipe collection, a memoir of sorts, a notebook to and a reflection of ourselves in today’s global situation.
The author decided to challenge herself to live on wartime rations for six weeks (for Lent). As I read the suggestions, I realized that we already follow many of those in our home. While I am unlikely to do the challenge itself, the book turned out to be a fount of inspiration and information for me.
The first few chapters take us through the author’s personal experience as she took on this challenge. Each of these chapters has one section for each day: diary entry for the week, a then and now section to put today in context with wartime, suggestions for self reflection, and further suggestions and tips for what we can do to as we buy, prepare and enjoy our food.
Another chapter includes personal accounts of people who lived through rationing during various times of their life, specifically WWs, and provides an insight into a life that is still true for so many around the world today. The reasons might be different, but the reality is the same. And help us react accordingly, and with reason.
The next two chapters include wartime recipes and useful tips, and a seasonal calendar. Note that this calendar applies to the UK, but we can always look for what is seasonal and local in our area.
The author’s personal insights are thoughtful, heart-warming, humorous and delightful. I also loved the inclusion of quotes and snippets of information, as well as tips that are sprinkled like mini-appetizers or those tiny desserts that will fill you up as you read them. References and further reading resources are also included, which are sure to be useful for the inspired and curious reader.
Last but not the least, the drawings and photographs (all in black and white) add to the charm of this book.
In Summary
From its introduction to the conclusion, The Rations Challenge is a very timely, beautifully inspirational and truly informative book. A must-read!
“… we are all in this together, and that we can help each other through. That is a beautiful thing.”
Check my blog - LadyInReadWrites - for more reviews
Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC of the book; these are my honest opinions after reading the book.
May 4, 2020
My grandmother, Nana Iris, lived through World War Two, in Newport, Wales. At 13, she left school to kept house for her father who, as a train driver, was frequently away and to care for her younger brother. I often tried to get her to speak of her time growing up, the food stamps and rationing but, unsurprisingly, wartime was not a favourite topic for her. As such, I have enjoyed finding out about life during that time at every opportunity. “The Rations Challenge” by Claud Fullwood would have appealed to me on these grounds alone but my desire to read it increased as the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world’s food supply.
In South Africa, our current food shortages are less a production or sourcing problem and more of a logistical problem, much of our food is produced on shore. This is in sharp contrast to the situation Britain found itself in during the war. The book is full of interesting facts about food production in the 1940s such as 70% of food being sourced offshore. The impact of the attacks from enemy on the supply chain was huge! The rationing system was essential to keep the country fed. In my review of the rations, my downfall would have come in the lack of eggs, a laying chicken would have been essential to complement the rationed amount but the rest is reasonable and proved to be healthy and filling. It certainly takes planning, measuring and restraint to live off, there is no extravagance allowed. However, there is a great sense of achievement when one reaches the end of the week without exceeding the cheese ration, I can attest to that!
During our lockdown period, nine weeks so far, I have learnt to make four varieties of bread and they taste better than bought! I have learnt to appreciate a menu plan and working with what’s in the cupboard! And I have come to understand why Nana enjoyed butter AND jam on a scone – true luxury when butter is in short supply! The book shares numerous recipes, modernized for easy use, which were made with the ingredients available at the time. I look forward to making my own preserves in the next fruit season.
In addition to the fascinating historical perspective, Claud includes today’s biggest challenge, global warming. She unpacks the impact our food supply has on the environment and how to think globally to preserve nature and protect it’s people. I have looked at my labels afresh to check our sourcing and we are blessed to find the vast majority comes from our local farmers but it is worth being reminded to remain attentive to our impact on the world and cut back where we can.
Designed as a 40 day lent challenge, the book is in a diary format broken into days but I found it too interesting to put down so read it straight through. I will not be sustaining myself on potatoes (the English way through war) but will definitely be applying the principles of consideration, moderation and reduction of waste. There is much to be gained from reflecting on the past and it is particularly apt to be doing that at a time like this! I highly recommend it, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.
In South Africa, our current food shortages are less a production or sourcing problem and more of a logistical problem, much of our food is produced on shore. This is in sharp contrast to the situation Britain found itself in during the war. The book is full of interesting facts about food production in the 1940s such as 70% of food being sourced offshore. The impact of the attacks from enemy on the supply chain was huge! The rationing system was essential to keep the country fed. In my review of the rations, my downfall would have come in the lack of eggs, a laying chicken would have been essential to complement the rationed amount but the rest is reasonable and proved to be healthy and filling. It certainly takes planning, measuring and restraint to live off, there is no extravagance allowed. However, there is a great sense of achievement when one reaches the end of the week without exceeding the cheese ration, I can attest to that!
During our lockdown period, nine weeks so far, I have learnt to make four varieties of bread and they taste better than bought! I have learnt to appreciate a menu plan and working with what’s in the cupboard! And I have come to understand why Nana enjoyed butter AND jam on a scone – true luxury when butter is in short supply! The book shares numerous recipes, modernized for easy use, which were made with the ingredients available at the time. I look forward to making my own preserves in the next fruit season.
In addition to the fascinating historical perspective, Claud includes today’s biggest challenge, global warming. She unpacks the impact our food supply has on the environment and how to think globally to preserve nature and protect it’s people. I have looked at my labels afresh to check our sourcing and we are blessed to find the vast majority comes from our local farmers but it is worth being reminded to remain attentive to our impact on the world and cut back where we can.
Designed as a 40 day lent challenge, the book is in a diary format broken into days but I found it too interesting to put down so read it straight through. I will not be sustaining myself on potatoes (the English way through war) but will definitely be applying the principles of consideration, moderation and reduction of waste. There is much to be gained from reflecting on the past and it is particularly apt to be doing that at a time like this! I highly recommend it, it’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale.
April 14, 2020
This is Claud’s account of following a wartime rationed diet for Lent.
I downloaded this book from netgalley with extra interest as the country had just been put into lockdown due to the Coronavirus and it seemed like half the population had gone mad and cleared out all essential groceries from the supermarket shelves.
It was a good introduction to rationing in World War II although not quite as thorough as it could have been, and parts of it did read like a school text book.
Having said that, the recipe section really reminded me of reading my Granny’s recipe book which was very nostalgic.
I felt the small section of other people’s accounts of rationing was a bit perfunctory and better done in other books, and I think, on the whole, I would have liked a little more of Claud’s actual food diary as this seemed the point of the book, with perhaps a reading list at the back for further information on other people’s wartime experiences.
The interactive element was lost somewhat when read on a Kindle so better as a physical book to make notes in, and easier to leaf through the recipes.
In my opinion this book would be more interesting to someone without any prior knowledge of the subject as it is pretty basic stuff, so middle grade to young adult readers would benefit more than adults, but it was a pleasing, easy read and I’m glad I chose it.
I downloaded this book from netgalley with extra interest as the country had just been put into lockdown due to the Coronavirus and it seemed like half the population had gone mad and cleared out all essential groceries from the supermarket shelves.
It was a good introduction to rationing in World War II although not quite as thorough as it could have been, and parts of it did read like a school text book.
Having said that, the recipe section really reminded me of reading my Granny’s recipe book which was very nostalgic.
I felt the small section of other people’s accounts of rationing was a bit perfunctory and better done in other books, and I think, on the whole, I would have liked a little more of Claud’s actual food diary as this seemed the point of the book, with perhaps a reading list at the back for further information on other people’s wartime experiences.
The interactive element was lost somewhat when read on a Kindle so better as a physical book to make notes in, and easier to leaf through the recipes.
In my opinion this book would be more interesting to someone without any prior knowledge of the subject as it is pretty basic stuff, so middle grade to young adult readers would benefit more than adults, but it was a pleasing, easy read and I’m glad I chose it.
July 20, 2020
I chose this because I hate wastage - we rarely throw any food away in our household - and I wanted to see how how well the author managed on the fairly basic rations that were available during World War II.
It's a very interesting read, and includes some recipes, as well as reflections from the author.
As a child of the 60s, I grew up seeing my Grandma storing packets of tea and sugar (vital supplies both!) and listening to tales of how my parents had never even seen a banana until after the end of the war.
As a slight digression - I read this during the early weeks of lockdown and was struck by the difference in attitudes of people during World War II and now. Then, rationing was introduced to make sure everyone got at least a basic diet, and people seemed to work together. Contrast that with the behaviour of some people during the weeks leading up to lockdown - stockpiling just for their own benefit, and causing shortages for all.
We take so much for granted now and this book gave me pause to reflect on that fact, and how we live - expecting to be able to access pretty much any foodstuff all year round, whatever the cost of actually getting that food to us.
This book is definitely food for thought...
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
It's a very interesting read, and includes some recipes, as well as reflections from the author.
As a child of the 60s, I grew up seeing my Grandma storing packets of tea and sugar (vital supplies both!) and listening to tales of how my parents had never even seen a banana until after the end of the war.
As a slight digression - I read this during the early weeks of lockdown and was struck by the difference in attitudes of people during World War II and now. Then, rationing was introduced to make sure everyone got at least a basic diet, and people seemed to work together. Contrast that with the behaviour of some people during the weeks leading up to lockdown - stockpiling just for their own benefit, and causing shortages for all.
We take so much for granted now and this book gave me pause to reflect on that fact, and how we live - expecting to be able to access pretty much any foodstuff all year round, whatever the cost of actually getting that food to us.
This book is definitely food for thought...
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.
June 9, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, especially at the current moment in time when we have seen food shortages and supply delays because of Covid-19. In a slightly eerie parallel, the book showed how much the UK depended upon foreign imports during the late 1930s and the impact this had on the country; we've seen, almost from the start of lockdown, that people were hoarding food and starting small vegetable gardens, suggesting a kind of shared memory of that time.
'The Rations Challenge' is a general introduction to the concept of rationing and offers a nice handful of recipes for those interested in attempting the challenge that the author set herself. The author draws very clear comparisons between the current state of human health and environmental health, promoting an understanding of food science and the need for fair trade.
My favourite parts were the anecdotes offered by those who had lived through WW2 who ruminated on the role that rationing played in their lives, both during the war and later. I think this book would make a good choice for someone who knows very little about rationing during WW2.
I was intrigued by the premise of this book, especially at the current moment in time when we have seen food shortages and supply delays because of Covid-19. In a slightly eerie parallel, the book showed how much the UK depended upon foreign imports during the late 1930s and the impact this had on the country; we've seen, almost from the start of lockdown, that people were hoarding food and starting small vegetable gardens, suggesting a kind of shared memory of that time.
'The Rations Challenge' is a general introduction to the concept of rationing and offers a nice handful of recipes for those interested in attempting the challenge that the author set herself. The author draws very clear comparisons between the current state of human health and environmental health, promoting an understanding of food science and the need for fair trade.
My favourite parts were the anecdotes offered by those who had lived through WW2 who ruminated on the role that rationing played in their lives, both during the war and later. I think this book would make a good choice for someone who knows very little about rationing during WW2.
March 30, 2020
An interesting and timely book! The author could not have known how the world would be so soon after publication. While our current Covid 19 situation is not a war, there are many similarities with food shortages being one. Many of us are finding it hard to buy enough food, or having to make do with storecupboard staples, and this book is a great inspiration, in addition to the history aspect.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
March 25, 2020
With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
What a super book full.of wonderful stories and recipes and so apt for the present day. I will definitely be trying out a good few of these gorgeous recipes thank you
What a super book full.of wonderful stories and recipes and so apt for the present day. I will definitely be trying out a good few of these gorgeous recipes thank you
April 1, 2020
An engrossing and useful book, full of great stories and interesting recipes.
It's an excellent read for this bleak times and can useful. I will surely try some of the recipes.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's an excellent read for this bleak times and can useful. I will surely try some of the recipes.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
July 4, 2020
I enjoy books around set around the war- especially the home based books. This was a book about challenging yourself to use war times rations for 40 days. You realise how hard this is when told how many points you need for certain foods. Found this an interesting read.
April 18, 2020
I enjoyed this and it has inspired me to spend more time planning meals and shopping locally.
June 6, 2020
A fun look at cooking during WWII in the UK, and what it would be like to follow the same rationing today.
I had hoped for more actual historical information, and while The Rations Challenge did give a brief introduction, it was really more about the author's modern day life and experience following the same rationing rules today. Many of the recipes used and given were modernized - unfortunately that did not include the canning recipe, which is actually unsafe to use unless you plan on storing in the fridge and eating within a month.
*I received a free copy through Netgalley, but the review is my own opinion*
I had hoped for more actual historical information, and while The Rations Challenge did give a brief introduction, it was really more about the author's modern day life and experience following the same rationing rules today. Many of the recipes used and given were modernized - unfortunately that did not include the canning recipe, which is actually unsafe to use unless you plan on storing in the fridge and eating within a month.
*I received a free copy through Netgalley, but the review is my own opinion*
June 24, 2020
Claud Fullwood did a 40-day Lent challenge to only eat what would have been available in the UK during WWII. I was expecting this to contain more history and recipes, but actually the emphasis is more on the way we eat now compared to then, and the ways in which it is less sustainable and less ethical.
During wartime, people ate much less meat and dairy, and instead ate a mainly plant-based diet focused on seasonal produce, as well as making sure every last bit of food was used up. Fullwood points to how we now ship food all across the globe with a huge carbon footprint, often without considering whether the farmers and workers are being paid fairly or going hungry themselves. In addition, we have huge problems with food surplus and food wastage, whilst others go hungry and are reliant on food banks.
This definitely gave me a lot to think about and going forward I will definitely buy more local, in-season produce and create recipes with what I've found, rather than starting with a recipe and looking out the ingredients.
During wartime, people ate much less meat and dairy, and instead ate a mainly plant-based diet focused on seasonal produce, as well as making sure every last bit of food was used up. Fullwood points to how we now ship food all across the globe with a huge carbon footprint, often without considering whether the farmers and workers are being paid fairly or going hungry themselves. In addition, we have huge problems with food surplus and food wastage, whilst others go hungry and are reliant on food banks.
This definitely gave me a lot to think about and going forward I will definitely buy more local, in-season produce and create recipes with what I've found, rather than starting with a recipe and looking out the ingredients.
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