Food rationing
The country needed to save precious supplies and that meant that some foods, especially imported ones such as sugar and tea, would be in short supply. The government had a choice - let those with money buy what they wanted and the poor do without, or ration food fairly so that everybody got an equal share.

The government chose the second and in September 1939 ration books were introduced. Everybody had to register with a chosen shop or supplier from whom they could buy his or her rationed food. In Jan 1940 the first items were rationed. Each person was restricted to 4 ounces bacon or ham and 4 ounces of butter per week. As the war went on the list of rationed food got longer.

At its peak, in August 1942, the food ration for ONE person for ONE whole week was set at:

One shilling and tuppence's worth of meat (perhaps a pork chop and four sausages)
Eight ounces of sugar
Eight ounces of butter, margarine or lard
Four ounces of bacon or ham (perhaps four rashers of bacon)
Two ounces of tea (half a packet or the equivalent of 15 teabags)
Two ounces of cheese
One egg

If you want to see what part of this weekly ration looked like, click on the first photograph on this page. Remember this is not for one meal; it is for one person for a whole week.

Strangely enough, although there was less food, Britons seemed to be better fed. They ate less fat, less meat and more vegetables. Their average calorie intake fell from 3,000 to 2,800 per day. Their diet was better, they were thinner but healthier. With special food, drink and vitamin supplements for babies and pregnant mothers, infant mortality fell from 51to 46 per thousand live births during the war.

Clothes rationing

Not only food was rationed. Petrol, coal and other vital materials needed for the war effort were rationed as well. In June 1941 clothes rationing was introduced, 66 coupons for each adult each year. Later in the war, this was reduced. By the spring of 1942 each person was given only 48 clothing coupons a year which they could use to buy their share of new clothes. This list shows you what they could buy each year with their coupons:

With new clothing in short supply jumble sales became a major source for adding to your wardrobe. Old clothes could be rescued or recycled. Curtains could be turned into coats or dresses. Like the 'Dig for Victory' campaign, people were encouraged to 'Make do and Mend' and special classes were set up to help people improve their recycling skills.