During war, food was often hard to find. People had to get creative with whatever they had. Some of the meals they made were strange, some were simple, but many are now completely gone.
These 16 foods tell the story of a time when cooking meant doing your best with very little.
1. Mock Apple Pie
This pie looked like the real thing but used Ritz crackers soaked in lemon juice instead of apples. Cinnamon gave it that baked fruit aroma.
It fooled many and became a symbol of kitchen cleverness. Today, it’s a story more than a dessert.
2. Victory Garden Stew
Vegetables pulled fresh from backyard gardens were simmered into a simple, chunky stew. Meat was rare, but flavor came from herbs and salt.
Families stretched small harvests into big pots. It was survival—and comfort—in a bowl.
3. Spam Fritters
Sliced Spam dipped in batter and fried until crisp gave protein a crunchy makeover. The inside stayed salty, soft, and hot.
Served with boiled veg or bread, they were a fast favorite. Now, they’re a curious relic.
4. Carrot Marmalade
Grated carrots cooked down with sugar and lemon zest made a sweet spread for toast. It shimmered like jam, but tasted earthy and bright.
Fruit was scarce, but carrots stood in just fine. It lingered in memory long after the jars emptied.
5. Wartime Woolton Pie
Named after Britain’s food minister, this meatless pie packed root veggies under mashed potatoes or pastry. Filling, frugal, and veggie-forward.
Flavors depended on what you had. It was a celebration of thrift and homegrown pride.
6. Oatmeal Sausages
Oats mixed with onion, fat, and seasoning formed links or patties shaped like sausage. They browned up nicely, even without meat.
Texture was chewy, flavor mild. They were budget-friendly, if not exactly beloved.
7. Bread Pudding With Water Sauce
Stale bread soaked in milk and sugar became a warm dessert. A thin sauce of sweetened water was poured on top.
It was humble, but comforting. Some still remember the cinnamon steam rising from the oven.
8. Ration Loaf
This dense meatloaf used scraps of offal, grains, and breadcrumbs to stretch tiny portions into full meals. Savory, sturdy, and resourceful.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it filled stomachs. Cold slices were common in lunchboxes the next day.
9. Potato Coffee
Ground roasted potatoes steeped into a bitter brew when real coffee ran out. It looked right, but the flavor was…different.
Strong and smoky, it gave the illusion of morning ritual. Few missed it when beans returned.
10. National Loaf Bread
A government-issued wholemeal loaf that was coarse, dark, and packed with wheat bran. It kept people fed but rarely excited.
It crumbled easily and dried out fast. Still, it was a staple that fed millions.
11. Cabbage Hotpot
Cabbage layered with onions, bits of meat, and drippings made a slow-cooked dish that softened with time. Cheap, warm, and easy to make.
It wasn’t elegant, but it filled plates. A working-class dinner from an era of doing without.
12. Brown Soup
Boiled bones, root vegetables, and leftover scraps made a murky broth called brown soup. A little of everything went in.
Flavor changed with each pot. Some found it hearty, others just called it “mystery soup.”
13. Mock Goose
Mashed potatoes and breadcrumbs shaped into a roast, sometimes stuffed with onions and herbs. It was baked until golden.
There was no goose, of course—just memory and wishful thinking. Still, it brought families to the table.
14. Liver Pudding Patties
Minced liver mixed with onions, oats, and flour formed patties fried in a pan. Iron-rich and strong-flavored.
They were dense and filling. Not everyone liked them, but they stuck around during lean years.
15. Turnip Hash
Chopped turnips, potatoes, and whatever else was on hand got fried into a hash. Crisp on the outside, soft in the middle.
It was peasant food turned practical. Many still remember the smell wafting from wartime kitchens.
16. Eggless Mayonnaise
Made with oil, vinegar, and starchy water from boiled potatoes, this mayo substitute held up in sandwiches and salads.
Creamy and a little tangy, it did the job. Once eggs came back, it faded fast.