Good morning! We went for an interview with Canadian Border Services yesterday and they confirmed that our PRRA (Pre-Removal Risk Assessment) was rejected so we now officially have to leave the country and will be unable to return to Canada for another year (without special permission).

Surprisingly, although upset inside, I was able to hold it together and immediately focused on yet another “new beginning” on the horizon. It’s the only way one can mentally cope with traumatic times. As soon as I got home I booked our plane tickets to go back to the UK on June 26 and now my head is spinning with everything that has to be achieved. Luckily I had the foresight to secure a rental house in blighty so once I have paid my 6 months rent in advance we are good to go.. It’s a beautiful town house dating back to 1780 with plenty of space for us as a family, to ease ourselves back into a new way of life and a new country. You see I haven’t been back to the UK for 9 years and lots of things have changed. I’ve also not seen my Mum and Dad for 9 years either so you can imagine the huge hugs they will get…

It’s time to try and think positively about our next life adventure… sometimes when one door closes another opens wide and despite the sadness at departing I know the future will hold good things and the earth will provide..

Todays menu

Breakfast
Marmite on toast

Lunch
Mixed salad

Dinner
Leftovers stew

Having a friend over for lunch. Not strictly 1940s because there is a pepper in there somewhere!

Bread and Prune Pudding

• 10 – 12 slices of bread ( stale is fine!)
• 2 ounces of margarine or butter
• 2 ounces of sugar
• 2 ounces of dried raisin sultanas
• 1 beaten egg (fresh or dried) **optional
• 8 chopped stewed prunes
• milk to mix
• cinnamon
• extra sugar for topping

Method

1. Put chopped up bread (cut/tear into small chunks) into a basin and add a little water. Leave for a few minutes.

2. Squeeze bread out until fairly dry

3. Return bread to empty basin and add all the other ingredients (except spice) adding a little milk to make a sticky consistency

4. Add cinnamon a little at a time until your own taste

5. Place mixture into a greased pan

6. Cook at 175 degrees C for an hour or so until edges are browned and centre is hot

7. Sprinkle sugar on top 10 minutes before end of cooking

8. Allow to cool a little, slice and serve

Serves 6-8 people

Well golly… yesterday I ate way too much. I stuck to my rations of course BUT lets just say the leftover potato and lentil curry (which I was going to have today) found it’s way into my mouth, during a trip to the kitchen at 3 am.. I will have to try and control this to ensure my continued weight-loss.

How is everyone else coping?

Todays menu

Breakfast
Marmite on toast (I’m in a rush!!)

Lunch
Salad with a baked potato

Dinner
Wartime vegetable turnover with gravy

Supper
Bread and prune pudding (recipe will be posted later)

Reading everyone’s comments on what they are eating and all the historical knowledge being shared, is making me even more enthusiastic about the 1940’s Experiment. Thank you so much for sharing!!

OK I admit I’m a VEG HEAD so meatless dishes excite me.. I literally crave veggies every single day and currently am devouring kale on a daily basis whether it’s raw or lightly blanched with a little margarine and salt on top, makes no odds to me!

Day 2’s menu was filling and yummy and today I feel it will be the same

Breakfast
Porridge oats

Lunch
Large raw salad with romaine lettuce, spinach, tomato, cucumber, slice of bread and butter (OK vegan margarine)

Dinner
Potato and lentil curry served with lots of kale
Bread and apple pudding (without the egg)

And of course there will be lots of tea to drink…. 🙂

C xxxx

Todays breakfast- big bowl of porridge with some jam in 🙂

Todays lunch provides lots of fibre, protein, and iron, about 500 cals and cost = 40 p

Dinner today- Potato and Lentil curry served with kale. Lots of protein, fibre and iron again! About 800 cals and 60p per portion

Good morning! Ok so who ate lots of vegetables yesterday and ended up peeing all night? I always find this happens in the first week but look on it as a good sign even though it means sleepily fumbling one’s way to the bathroom, in the dark, every two hours. But there again I do have the bladder the size of a walnut…

Lots of vegetables

Personally for me, my past success on losing weight and feeling great on the 1940s Experiment has been to follow the WWII rations (limiting fats, meats, sugars etc) but also eat vegetables as if one had an abundant allotment or kitchen garden… I think that is very important. People were very much encouraged to “grow their own” and fill up on vegetables during the war to not only fill tummies and promote health but also keep busy and work towards a cause…

Today’s menu

Breakfast
Marmite on toast again!!

Lunch
Split pea soup
Fruit

Dinner
Carrot and potato mash
Kale
Kidney beans

Supper
Hot chocolate
Carrot cookie

PS: It’s been brilliant reading all the comments on yesterday’s blog post and seeing what everyone else is doing and eating!!!!! Thanks for all the input AND the useful historical information being shared!!!

C xxxx

Today’s yellow split pea soup. About 400 cals and 20 grams of protein per large bowl. Cost = 30 p per bowl.

Dinner tonight was carrot and potato mash served with kidney beans and kale. Lots of iron and protein, fibre and vitamins. Cost about 60p per portion and around 750 calories.

Good morning!

Woke at 5 am this morning as we have an early run to the airport so just Marmite on toast for breakfast!

Am so excited about starting on what I hope will be the final leg of this challenge to rid myself of this obesity that has lived with me for the last 20 years and even more excited as there will be other people trying out recipes and giving it a go too!

I’ve been here before several times, so I know it’s never easy moving away from a modern diet full of choices and convenience, and just as difficult taking the time to cook from scratch, but trust me, after a couple of weeks it becomes much easier and for me certainly had the added benefit of controlling my cravings, losing weight and saving me money (average money spent daily was around £1 or £2).

Today’s menu for me

Breakfast
Two pieces of Marmite and margarine on toast

Lunch
Large raw salad with kidney beans
Fruit

Dinner
Beef and prune hot-pot (made with a vegan alternative and served with broccoli)

Supper
Hot chocolate (made with a vegan alternative to milk- I’ll be using flax milk)

As a vegan this week I’ll be using some alternatives available such as a dairy free milk and an organic soy alternative to beef and will be taking some extra split peas.

I hope everyone has a great day!!

PS I weighed in and had put more weight on… I start today at 250 lbs and YES I stuffed my face with vegan pizza last night!!

C xxxxx

This evening’s dinner- Hotpot with carrots and kale

Tonight I’m eating a great big vegan pizza because tomorrow it’s back to living on the 1940s Experiment 100% again to lose the final 80 lbs I have to lose. In 2012 I lost 80 lbs on a culinary social experiment following a British WW2 Rationing allowance for a year and saved a LOT of money (I was morbidly obese and flat broke).

The first few weeks were time consuming, hard work and difficult in the respect of the detox that took place. I’d been filling my face with many highly spiced and processed foods like crisps (chips) and very fatty foods like huge amounts of cheese. I also turned vegan but as you’ll see it’s easy to adapt many wartime recipes and a very high percentage were infact meat free!

I’m really happy to see so many people willing to give this a go tomorrow and have fun with it. It may not be for everyone but it’s been working for me and at the same time helped addressed the financial issues I’ve had, living below the poverty line in the latter part of 2012. My food bill was a fraction of what it was in 2011…

So if you are joining in tomorrow (or at anytime) here is your weekly ration… in addition make sure you fill your plates with fresh vegetables especially lots of leafy greens and try and eat at least one raw serving of veggies and salad every day.

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Here is the weekly ration allowance for one adult in the 1940’s… (remember that in addition to this people were encouraged to incorporate lots of fruit and veggies into their diets and grow even more in their back gardens!)

Weekly ration for 1 adult

• Bacon & Ham 4 oz
• Meat to the value of 1 shilling and sixpence (around about 1/2 lb minced beef)
• Butter 2 oz
• Cheese 2 oz
• Margarine 4 oz
• Cooking fat 4 oz
• Milk 3 pints
• Sugar 8 oz
• Preserves 1 lb every 2 months
• Tea 2 oz
• Eggs 1 fresh egg per week
• Sweets/Candy 12 oz every 4 weeks

In addition to this a points system was put in place which limited your purchase of tinned or imported goods. 16 points were available in your ration book for every 4 weeks and that 16 points would enable you to purchase for instance, 1 can of tinned fish or 2lbs of dried fruit or 8 lbs of split peas.

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To help you get started here is a typical days menu for me. Most of the time, for easiness, I tend to have the same breakfast and lunch Mon-Fri but vary my evening meals and then at weekends I’ll have different breakfasts and lunches too..

Breakfast
1/2 cup (40gms) dry organic porridge oats (coarse oatmeal) made with water and sweetened with a little sugar. (calories 200 – cost 10 p)
Piece of fruit (calories 100 – cost 20 p)

Lunch
Oslo meal or large leafy green salad with kidney beans and homemade dressing (Oslo meal calories 500- cost 40 p/ Large salad with kidney beans 70 p)

Main Meal (Calories and cost vary but most meals are between 700-1000 cals and cost between 25p and 75p to make)
Always ensure that your plate is half full of healthy vegetables which include greens and cook as lightly as possible. Shop for in season veg to keep cost down

Select a recipe from here for main meal and dessert if your rations allow.

Tip: I always have some vegetable/lentil/split pea stew or soup ready made so if I get really hungry I can enjoy a bowlful and an extra piece of bread with it should I get really hungry in the evening!

I’m sorry blog updates have been quiet..

We’ve had to say goodbye to a very good and brave man who battled terminal cancer for two years before finally passing away..

He and I spent 25 years together before we separated 4 years ago and he was the father of my three children.

He was a clever, capable man who tried hard in his life to always “do the right thing”. I’d like to tell you more about him but now perhaps is not the right time.

He was greatly admired by the children and I and he spent his last years very much in love with his new partner who provided much care and comfort and devotion.

We will all miss you..

C xxx