What meals did the war time people have for lunch?

Answer 1

Diverting the country's manpower and production into the war effort meant that consumer goods of all kinds became scarce and shortages were inevitable. To ensure an equitable distribution of basic essentials, rationing was imposed through a 'points' system and prices were controlled. Ration books and clothing coupons were issued to all, with adjustments to meet special needs, like pregnant women, young children and vegetarians. By and large the public supported rationing as ensuring fair shares for all, and though a black market developed it never seriously threatened the system. It is generally accepted that food rationing improved the nation's health through the imposition of a balanced diet with essential vitamins. The UK Civil Series volumes on Food and on Civil Industry and Trade have detailed information about the policy behind rationing and its implementation. Meat, butter and sugar were rationed from early 1940, other foodstuffs, including tea, were added later, and entitlement varied at different times during the war. Bread, potatoes, coffee, vegetables, fruit and fish were never rationed, though choice and availability of the last three were often limited. 'The main grouse of people at the moment is that they are not able to buy all they want at the shops, especially in the food line. It isn't the rationing they complain of, but their inability to buy unrationed goods', wrote a Harrow cinema manager to the Ministry of Information in March 1941 (IWM Department of Documents, SMB collection box 5). Clothing was rationed from 1"1, and fuel was subject to restrictions from early in the war.