There have been some truly wonderful comments and letters left on the 1940s Experiment blog these past few days. This one was left just now and I immediately have to share it…

The 1940s Experiment is a years experiment to see what effect returning to a wartime 1940s diet would have on ones health. Basically rationing the amount of meat and cheese consumed to a fraction of what we consume today (I’m actually vegan now), as well as fats and sugars and almost total eradication of modern processed foods. In addition a return to consuming lots of fresh vegetables, beans, pulses, fruit and wholefoods…

As much as some people pooh pooh the austerity of it all, there is no denying that getting back to a more simple, basic way of eating IS better than our current way of eating as a society.

I loved reading this message just now …

SUE: I’m going to burst if I don’t share this with you. I just came back from the Dr. My blood pressure was 114/68 and my diabetic level is at 6.0, the lowest on the guideline scale. My cholesterols and everything else was at or below normal. The Dr. was very impressed. He turned to me and said, “Explain to me more about this diet your on.” He wasn’t as skeptical as he was before, told me to continue with the diet. I didn’t lose any weight since last time…still at 219 lbs, but I’ll take the health benefits. Also, my BMI is at 38, it was at 42.
I just wish I had known of this before and I’m so glad that I stumbled into your website Carolyn. It was your grassroots experiment that you so courageously shared with the world that encouraged me to try it. Thank you

Sue: THANK YOU for sharing this with me. I am SO HAPPY for you I really, really am! it never ceases top amaze me that our health can be turned around so quickly by taking some responsibility for the food we put in our mouths.. It’s not always easy though so kudos to you for doing this. 

C xxxxxx

For anyone who has been following my blog, you are probably aware by now that I turned vegan, nearly a year ago. It was a personal choice for me and after the initial struggles with adapting to my new diet and incorporating dietary veganism into the 1940s Experiment and vice-versa, I’m loving the conversion. It personally has really helped me keep my food addiction under control and has made me learn quite a lot about nutrition.

Some months, instead of extra rations of split peas or lentils to replace my cheese and meat rations, I’ll use a modern day meatless  or dairy free substitute. I’ve felt this is essential, mainly because it allows me to still re-create the majority of the recipes I come across.

Currently I use almond or hemp milk instead of cows milk, no eggs- but many of the WW2 recipes I come across are egg free, dairy free cheese such as Daiya, minced ground beef substitute and a recent discovery called TEMPEH (I am buying the slices that are a bacon substitute). The meat and dairy alternatives I buy are mostly organic and GMO free and economically, only a little more expensive than their regular counter-parts. Rationing certainly instills a sense of frugality tempered with a joy of good healthy food..

So most days, for lunch, I normally have a large fresh organic salad with some nutritious kidney beans or sometimes a potato. Today I used two rashers of tempeh heated and chopped up over the top (almost half my weekly bacon ration).

It was delicious and nutritious..

For more information on tempeh, click through here to my other blog “Frugal and Greenish”..